Summary

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia revolutionizes the series with the Glyph system, presenting a challenging adventure and a captivating story of destiny and courage.

• Release Year: 2008
• Genres: Adventure, Hack and slash/Beat ’em up, Platform, Puzzle, Role-playing game (RPG)
• Platforms: Nintendo DS
• Developers: Konami
• Publishers: Konami

Introduction

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is a landmark entry in the Castlevania series, introducing the Glyph system for dynamic combat and featuring a rich storyline centered around the protagonist Shanoa.

Synopsis

“Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia”, also known as “Akumajō Dracula: Ubawareta Kokuin” in Japan, is a platform-adventure game and the third Nintendo DS installment of the Castlevania franchise. Released in 2008, the game was directed by Akihiro Minakata and produced by Koji Igarashi.

The game’s plot unfolds in the early 1800s, after the events of “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night” and during the absence of the vampire-hunting Belmont clan. With the Belmonts gone, the world is thrown into chaos, and Dracula and his armies still thrive. In response, several organizations are created to research countermeasures against Dracula’s eventual return. Among these, the most promising is the Order of Ecclesia.

The Order of Ecclesia creates a triad of magical glyphs named “Dominus”, and a young woman named Shanoa is chosen by the order’s leader, Barlowe, to serve as the human vessel for Dominus. However, just before the ritual is performed, the glyphs are stolen by Shanoa’s best friend and fellow Ecclesia member, Albus. This disruption causes Shanoa to lose her memories and emotions.

Upon awakening, Shanoa is informed by Barlowe about the events leading to her memory loss. She is then ordered to retrieve Albus and the stolen Dominus glyphs. The game’s narrative follows Shanoa’s quest to recover the glyphs and confront Albus.

The gameplay of “Order of Ecclesia” is a single-player action-adventure game with role-playing elements. A new combat system called the “Glyph System” allows Shanoa to collect icons called “Glyph symbols”, which she can acquire by defeating enemies or conquering challenges. These symbols can be equipped to her arms and back, allowing her to perform special powers and skills. There are over 100 different Glyphs the player can wield, such as weapon and magic glyphs.

“Order of Ecclesia” is the first canonical game in the series in which the Vampire Killer whip does not appear in any form. The game also makes use of the DS-to-Wii connectivity with “Castlevania Judgment”, which unlocks content in both games.

In conclusion, “Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia” offers a unique blend of platforming, adventure, and role-playing elements, set against the backdrop of a rich narrative. With its engaging plot, diverse gameplay, and memorable characters, it stands as a notable entry in the Castlevania franchise.

Characters

Shanoa, Dracula, members of the Order of Ecclesia, various minions

Gameplay

Features the Glyph system with over 100 attack combinations, side quests, and item collection across 20 explorable areas.

Conclusion

Order of Ecclesia is a brilliant addition to the Castlevania legacy, offering a unique gameplay experience and a deep, engaging storyline.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

Fan Art

Fan Art Style: Normal

Fan Art Style: Retro

Fan Art Style: Modern