Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

[DANGERMAN]

The best series on any Nintendo console is back

Things have changed a bit this time too. Rather than having weapons you acquire Glyphs (by killing enemies I think, possibly more ways) which can be equiped to buttons for your attacks. In a way it's kind of like the skills aspect of Dawn of Sorrow, except there are now no weapons at all. Every attack you unleash uses magic which quickly refills (same magic bar system as all recent Castlevania's) but this time rather than just refilling your magic meter a bit, hearts work like in the old style vanias, the more you collect the more you can potentially use.

A few things have struck me so far. Firstly it looks immense, the backgrounds in particular are very nice. There's new enemies even on the first stage, and a couple of fancy new moves too. Second someones not done their job properly as loads of names are in []'s e.g. [Dracula]. Either there's a reason for it I've missed or someones translated them and forgot to delete the insertion boxes. Thirdly, Castlevania always has a bad ending, a point where you can complete the game without completing the game, and it was obvious before the training missions what that's likely to be with this game

[illdog]

The best series on any Nintendo console is back

Amen.

Thirdly, Castlevania always has a bad ending, a point where you can complete the game without completing the game, and it was obvious before the training missions what that's likely to be with this game

Ha, i was thinking exactly the same.

I also found that the music jumped out at me from the off aswell, the first mapable area is played to a remix of the original Vampire Killer theme which made me stop and listen.

The combo system is nice, equiping weapons to X and Y and then hammering them alternatly unleashes a devestating combo but leaves you a little prone to distance attacks. Ive sucked up a Knife Dude Gliph so i have a handy throwing knife mapped to Y.

[DANGERMAN]

The combo system is nice, equiping weapons to X and Y and then hammering them alternatly unleashes a devestating combo but leaves you a little prone to distance attacks. Ive sucked up a Knife Dude Gliph so i have a handy throwing knife mapped to Y.

Yeah later on thats going to be a tasty little system i reckon, same with combining attacks too. Got the knife myself but stopped using it when i got to the boss because it's weak. I probably need to read up on this but if you absorb more than one of the same glyph does it make that attack stronger? I've had the blue skeletons drop a few (tho mostly they disappear before i get a chance to get them), just wondering if i get them whether it'll speed up their glyph which is pretty powerful early in the game

[illdog]

Yea, youve got to be quick on the mark to get some of those glyph's huh? I was going to drop the throwing knife aswell, it slows your attacks down a bit. Cant wait to get my teeth into this a bit more.

[DANGERMAN]

As illdog knows from my ranty text (and because he's done it himself) the 3rd boss in this is a twat and very long. Good in a way, just another sign that they're doing something different with this game as it seems to be effectiveally a level on its own. The glyphs have started to come more regularly now, and I've got one that is hyper damaging but also saps my health a bit, might use it against a boss in an all or nothing deathrace to glory.

The only downside so far is that some of the levels are a bit of a nothingness, the water one I cant fully access yet, but the woods just seems to be a straight line. Still great stuff so far and as its a Castlevania game its only going to get better the closer to the end i get

[illdog]

It opens up a bit more after that stinking crab. Ive just got this Light glyph thats making all the difference - RADIANCE!

The level structure is odd, but I kinda like it - im loving the village that becomes more populated once you rescue someone in another level.

I must admit i found myself a little bored when i first started playing this, it seemed no different than the previous four handheld outings but its really started to come into its own now. Got some good glyphs, got some good armour and im ready to kick ass.

[DANGERMAN]

Yeah did the crab, satisfying watching him bite the big one after he caused me so much stress.

I've got the light glyph too, it's probably the best weapon so far, seems to start off a bit weak, but it's better than the sickle I've also got equipped if i use it right. I'm up to a level called Misty Wood Road, and it's tough, giant elevator crab tough. I get to the second screen before either dieing or scarpering, I could use potions I guess, but I'm not exactly loaded on it so I'm loathed to. Might be time to call out the incapacitating glyph or try out the shield i got

[illdog]

and it's tough, giant elevator crab tough.

That made me laugh. That sickle weapon is tough but too slow, im sticking with sword and RADIANCE! Have you ever thought what your character would look like if she was pictured wearng what you equip? Mine would be wearing a twee red bonnet, a sequened red gown and a fuck off pait of army boots. Bets she'd still look hot tho.

[TopGunKnacker]

thats something ive always wanted castlevania to start doing, visual changes on the character. they reuse so many resources, music, sprites and backgrounds youd think they could find time to add one more visual flair. even if it just swapped out the colours of the jacket, shoes, headgear whatever rather than changing the actual sprite

[DANGERMAN]

There's even a villager that chats to you about making you a dress. I guess vanias characters are so stylised that letting you dick around with them isn't worth their effort.

Ive just done another boss, started off easy then i got a bit slack and took loads of damage and resorted to using my combination move (that uses hearts but is much more powerful) and nailed it. I keep resisting using the combi move and I think thats a mistake, I've got 100 hearts now and there's always more knocking around to refill, whereas spare health is much harder to replace.

My advice once you get the move to walk underwater is

Head back to the road that leads to the lighthouse. You can go underneath or at the top, go at the top and sink to the bottom and theres a few health and magic powerups dotted around. Same with the underground section, it's a pain in the arse first time round, but theres plenty there to make it worth exploring. Also the jail, on the last room kill the two flying things then get caught in the spotlight. A robot will attack you, use your heart special (you're on the last screen so you can head back to the village and get a refill) to quickly kill it and a chest will appear in the middle of the room There's actually a few hidden chests knocking about, I've found a few so far including a couple of records

Edit to say: ill have you been looking at your stats? I dont know what all the images are (theres definately a sword, electricity, fire) and they all have numbers next to them. They go up depending how often you use that type of glyph. I've started using an axe i got off an axe armour, it's pretty good, strong, not too slow and a good reach, since then my hammer numbers have shot up. I've had a look in the manual and there's no extra detail for any of this sort of stuff that i can see

[illdog]

I just thought those numbers were how many enemies youve killed with that glyph but i didnt make the game.

Ben:

On those hidden chests, im a bit gutted, i activated that robot with the spotlight but at the time i was weak as Stephen Hawkins legs so i pegged it. Good find tho.

Ive got to a part where my tried and tested Hammer/RADIANCE! combo isnt working, damn you change. Lots of orange/yellow cats and robots who laugh at my attacks. I rushed through the level trying to find a save point and i found one right outside a boss door. Im crapping it now, if i cant deal with minions the boss is gonna rape my arse.

Im not wrapping this part in spoilers for a reason, its handy to know for early leveling. In Skeleton Cave, theres a long room to the far left of the map from the entrance that chucks about 15 skeletons at you, plus a single skelton with a magic wand thing that fires blue spells. If you slide immediately as you enter and then duck, release your light balls and swipe away with your chosen weapon, the skeltons just jump over you again and again untill youve wiped them all out and the magic skeleton doesnt come near you and his spells go over you. Rinse and repeat, i went up three levels in ten minutes.

[DANGERMAN]

in that room I've just been taking a slight step forward as you enter the room, there's a slight dip. Crouching there they've been jumping over me as though they were jumping out of the room, but dont and take masseve damage from radiance. I'm too high uf for the skeleton to reach with its attack, so it's just a matter of timing heading down to attack him without getting hit

Also the spoiler made me lulz

[TopGunKnacker]

i love reading this thread, creaming my pants with all the talk of skeleton levelling and glyphs. there was a room in Symphony of the Night that was full of laser skeletons that was awesome for levelling up too.

[DANGERMAN]

You need to hurry up and get it TGK, it's bizarrely familiar yet loads of stuff has changed, something I thought was impossible for them to achieve. I've not actually intended to play it at any point because I've stuff that needs to get done (for reviews and to give back to Swallow ), but I keep finding myself playing it for 30 minute spells. It was a life saver this morning though, my pc got a virus and started having a bit of a fit, my anti-virus sorted it but it took 2 hours But a cup of coffee and playing Castlevania while wrapped up warm in bed is what life should be about

Forgot to reply to this

"I just thought those numbers were how many enemies youve killed with that glyph but i didnt make the game."

I had a read of a faq before, and it looks like each enemy gives you points towards the glyphs. Glyphs can have multiple attributes (I guess a fire sword, maybe an axe=sword+hammer?). Also the disappearing glyphs arent due to us being to slow, they just wont necerssarily hold. Apparently if you check the enemy stats by pressing select you can see if they have a 3rd drop, which will always be a glyph, so you just need to just keep killing them.

[stoobie]

Second someones not done their job properly as loads of names are in []'s e.g. [Dracula]. Either there's a reason for it I've missed or someones translated them and forgot to delete the insertion boxes.

Doesnt this just mean that the term in brackets has an entry in the dictionary - thats what it usually means.

I have just beaten the first boss and am trotting through a forest where annoying red things keep landing on my head and draining my hit points until I die. I have never been very good at Castlevania games

[DANGERMAN]

Second someones not done their job properly as loads of names are in []'s e.g. [Dracula]. Either there's a reason for it I've missed or someones translated them and forgot to delete the insertion boxes.

Doesnt this just mean that the term in brackets has an entry in the dictionary - thats what it usually means.

Yep, I still dont see the need but you're right

Those red things are annoying, just take your time with them, you wont be able to hit them everytime you attack so try to get behind them

[illdog]

I think this is the first Castlevania that requires serious grinding. Im dreading opening up each new area now, knowing full well my ass will be kicked.

Thats no bad thing tho, there are some good grind spots and when you start spanking previously unspankable opponents you get a nice sense of achievement.

I beat the Skull boss with the worms coming out of his OCULAR CAVITIES with ease, the next boss was a pain in the ass, a Fishy Mermaid Woman. Made me laugh, her tidal wave isnt that much more powerful than her friendly (albeit deadly) watersplash move. Took me about 10 goes to beat her, she was a cunt.

[illdog]

Double post INSANIA.

I just had an epic fight with boss from

Giants Dwelling

, he's one of those bosses that at first seems impossible, then when you work out his pattern you think 'i can do this without getting hit', then you get too impatient/cocky for your own good and end up dying a thousand times. Fuck he had some energy. I beat him with 1 point of lifeforce left. Still, it took a good 5 minutes of almost constant battering.

[DANGERMAN]

Fishy Mermaid Woman. Made me laugh, her tidal wave isnt that much more powerful than her friendly (albeit deadly) watersplash move. Took me about 10 goes to beat her, she was a cunt.

Not to brag but I beat that boss first time, lightning is usefull, you can stay out of the way and land some attacks. While it was doing

its water hose move thing I'd nip down and get some cheap hits in, then use my combi move before diving onto a rock again.

I only just managed it and used all my heal items, but so long as I wasnt hammering attack i had enough time to dodge the attacks

Edit to say that the next boss tried 3 attacks, all 3 hit me and I was dead

[illdog]

As a rule, if there's a save point near a boss, i never use heal items. I dont think i have for a single boss. Not bragging, quite the opposite, its pretty stupid actually.

Just going back through some early levels and rescued a couple of extra villagers. One asked me for some horse hair which i got the very first time i killed a certain enemy but went on to die in the next room. Never got it again since.

Oh, im level 22 atm. Whats anyone else? Thats a polite way of asking Ben but including Stoobie.