First Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia trailer is awesome, whipless

by Griffin McElroy { May 30th 2008 at 11:00PM }

We've yet to play a DS incarnation of Konami's vamp-slaying franchise that we didn't thoroughly enjoy -- if this debut trailer for the next installment in the handheld series is any indication, that streak appears to show no signs of stopping. This stylish trailer introduces us to the protagonist of Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia -- the raven-haired Shanoa (who looks a bit too similar to Bullet Witch's Alicia for our comfort), and her many, many methods for murdering and dismembering ol' Vlad's minions. Sure, she may not wield the Vampire Killer whip made famous in other Castlevania titles, but she does dispatch a Giant Enemy Crab with a falling elevator, which arguably possesses a bit more panache than the Belmont family's legendary cord.

Tags: castlevania, castlevania-order-of-ecclesia, dracula, ds, konami, nintendods, order-of-ecclesia, shanoa, trailer, vampire

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Cahlito @ May 30th 2008 11:07PM

I miss CotM

Tiptup300 @ May 31st 2008 3:42AM

Why can't they make a real Castlevania, seriously mobile games are worthless.

Vidikron (FU) @ May 31st 2008 3:02PM

@Tiptup300

Ummm... no. The portable Castlevanias are awesome. I like them better than most non-portable games.

Tiptup300 @ May 31st 2008 3:37PM

Symphony of The Night

Boom, I just destroyed your entire world.

Vidikron (FU) @ May 31st 2008 6:37PM

SotN is indeed awesome... these DS games are very close to it though. The gameplay is identical.

Tiptup300 @ May 31st 2008 11:31PM

Except instead of a comfortable controller with actual ergonomic design and a tv that's bigger than a wallet, you have a portable game system.

When will they use portable projector technology, throw it into a comfortable controller (PS controller, Xbox 360 Controller, S-Xbox Controller, Dreamcast.)

Vidikron (FU) @ Jun 1st 2008 3:37AM

Fair enough... but is more an issue with the hardware than the games... the games are awesome.

Sinister Rouge @ Jun 1st 2008 5:20PM

Dawn of Sorrow is almost as good as SotN- nothing is lost in translation to the DS. Portrait of Ruin was a bit of a letdown though.

colin @ May 30th 2008 11:09PM

no whip = not castlevania

Fernando Rocker @ May 30th 2008 11:46PM

The other two Castlevania games on the DS also don't have the whip as the main weapon. It's an optional weapon.

Rick11 @ May 31st 2008 12:46AM

Symphony of the Night, considered by many to be the best in the series, didn't contain a whip. So you don't consider that Castlevania?

finaldarklord @ May 31st 2008 2:36AM

Richter used one. Both in the required opening and in his own mode.

Besides, best in the series is arguable. I have a certain love for LoD.

ZaxCG2 @ May 31st 2008 8:49AM

Play one of the DS games and tell me you didn't have an enjoyable Castlevania experience.

I love the DS games... they're the most Castle-vania-y of them all. The 3D ones are what you have to worry about.

And don't worry- there's probably a whip in there somewhere.

(ALSO, BETTER ART DIRECTION THIS TIME AROUND = WIN)

Duscrom @ Jun 1st 2008 5:14AM

I've played all the DS castlevania games and did not have an enjoyable experience. Though i really only needed to play one because they are all identical.

DangerMouse @ May 30th 2008 11:21PM

Nice to see it's looking better than PoR, and it looks less childish. Those grappling bit looks too much like super metroid. They keep milking this style out too much. Why can't they go outside the castle like Castlevania 2, just done right this time around? Take a goddamn risk, Konami, for crying out loud.

chris @ May 30th 2008 11:40PM

Did you not notice the whole "jumping around on crates in the middle of the ocean" and "running through a forest" parts? Pretty safe to say there are parts of the game taking place well away from castles.

flameofdoom666 @ May 30th 2008 11:47PM

What what I have read- 20% of the game is within the castle only.

Also, Portrait of Ruin took place in 4 other locals than the castle- about 50% of the game.

Learn the facts before you pass judgement.

Shadow Hog @ May 30th 2008 11:24PM

Was that supposed to be Dracula, or a guy from KISS?

kevinski @ May 30th 2008 11:26PM

Guys, it's a trailer. I'm sure that there'll be whips, as well as areas outside of the castle (seeing as how there's supposed to be a world map). I think it looks awesome so far.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 30th 2008 11:37PM

You know, Castlevania Bloodlines had a whip, but the Lance wielder was sooo much cooler.

helios_eclipsed @ May 30th 2008 11:41PM

Well, there probably won't be any whips. Of the last 6 2D Castlevanias, from Symphony to Portrait, only 3 had them, and Portrait only had them as optional weapons that were never the best available until near the end, and only if you wanted an extra challenge. I'm guessing they won't bother with them this time. Not that it's a make it or break it deal.

Fernando Rocker @ May 30th 2008 11:45PM

Amazing soundtrack...

But again, Castlevania is always equal to good music.

Gehodra @ May 31st 2008 2:37PM

I'm with you. Never played any of the games, but I gotta say the song at the beginning was bad-ass.

Gokie @ May 30th 2008 11:49PM

Trailer looked pretty good. Not liking the english voice acting too much though.

gamerprophet @ May 30th 2008 11:54PM

Looks good I might get this.

KeenCommander @ May 30th 2008 11:56PM

Am I the only one who's a bit disappointed not by the lack of whip, but the general sameness of the enemies and lack of any substantial graphics upgrade?

Kyattsuai @ May 31st 2008 11:32AM

Mario has goombas and koopas, Castlevania has zombies, mermen, and giant hovering demons. There's only so much mythology that the series can "borrow" from.

Jacksons @ May 31st 2008 12:00AM

Yeah, every portable Metroidish Castlevania has rocked. I'd love to see what they could do with a 2d sprite based version on the PSP with its widescreen, but that hasn't happened yet. A shame, really.

kagai @ May 31st 2008 12:12AM

I happily suckle at the teet that is Castlevania DS.

WRE (PSN: WorstReviewEver; Gamertag: HaloKissesBoys; Wii Friend Code: 4204-4590-6106-3583) @ May 31st 2008 1:42AM

Suckle if we're lucky.

HighFiveJesus @ May 31st 2008 12:23AM

i hope there's a sweet preorder packadge that comes with this too.

Obie @ May 31st 2008 12:45AM

I thank my lucky stars for my DS keeping 2-D gaming alive and well. :)

Backslash @ May 31st 2008 1:30AM

What makes this different from PoR or DoS?

Kerber @ May 31st 2008 1:52AM

Did no one else find the voice-overs super cheesy? "Now is the time of your demise...?" Seriously? And all the grunts and "Hiya"s seemed to be coming from a different person.

That said, my thumbs were twitching in anticipation the whole time. I'm such a sucker...

unfriendly_cat @ May 31st 2008 2:54AM

Cheesy dialogue has arguably become as much of a Castlevania trademark as the whip. But enough talk... have at you!

chez @ May 31st 2008 2:26AM

Holy hell I can't wait. Looks to play more like DoS than PoR (only good news). Beautiful graphics.

Psaakyrn @ May 31st 2008 3:27AM

a) Illustration style seems more Asian/Chinese based with a little bit of European (which granted is more likely because of the European setting than actual style). Definately an improvement over PoR.

b) Item/skill seems to be vastly closer to SotN than any other DS versions thus far.I wouldn't be suprized if there're certain button-combo based skills.

c) They hijacked the grappling component of metroid too now. What else more can they steal? (well, other than morph ball, but not holding my breath)

Kael @ May 31st 2008 3:58AM

Some of you may remember that I'm Castlevania's biggest fan. This is a pre-order/day-one purchase, and I know I'm going to love playing it dozens of times over, obtaining 100% items, map exploration, all the secrets and anything else in the game.

That said, I felt happy Castlevania's back, but also very sad watching the trailer because the series continues to be shackled by the DS. The DS is fine and all, but it's sad I live in a world where it's not an easy and financially-sound decision to make Order of Ecclesia a huge-budget, disc-based, AAA retail 360/PS3 game with all the graphics and features that come with games of that caliber. Castlevania has pushed the DS to its limit and needs more space in order to grow and seize all its potential.

chez @ May 31st 2008 5:08AM

I've already spent 30-odd hours getting to level 80 on DoS, how much bigger do you want these games? You can't keep an action game going for too long (to the end boss it took me about 8 hours) since they soon get boring and repetitive.

The DS and Aria games are perfect as they are in visual quality, length, music, gameplay etcedfeceteccetc. That's why it's only you and the whip-sobbers that are crying over this game.

RobLink (Return of the McElroy Defence Force) @ May 31st 2008 6:04AM

Then they'd make it a 3D platforming action adventure game. Remember Castlevania 64? Not as good as these, and what we'd end up with is a glorified version of that.
If they made it a hi-def 2D scroller with surround sound it's be lovely - but would we lay down £50 on that?

ZaxCG2 @ May 31st 2008 9:00AM

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/castlevanias-koji-igarashi-2d-games-will-never-die/

Hah, and there you have it. You know Igarashi is always going to want to produce on platforms that see fit for 2D art.

I COULD see a Castlevania in Hi-Def on XBLA and PSN... but if they could get a full huge 2D game made, I will nerdgasm. I want this HUGE. I'm talking 40+ hours of gameplay. An amazingly huge detailed map.

If 2D games want to compete in today's market, I believe they're going to have to do something BIG.

Kael @ May 31st 2008 1:50PM

Chez, you're absolutely right. That's why I love these games so much; they're totally awesome. I meant grow--not to mean "be longer", but evolve. If I have ideas for things that will only work in console sequels, I'm sure IGA does too.

RobLink, that's what I meant when I mentioned Order of Ecclesia by name; that it remain a side-scroller. Console Castlevanias are out there already; I don't need to lament a lack of them (only that they're not as good). To answer your question, though; I'd say yes to spending full price on Order of Ecclessia, the 2D game with Unreal-Engine 3D graphics and drop-in-drop-out, four-player, co-op multiplayer and fantastic features like that, yeah! But I know from you even asking if anyone would be willing to pay for that that it's not a foregone conclusion. Hence my disappointment and ZaxCG2's comment about how the only reason 2D games are still around is because they're cheap to make. Pretty sad.

And yet I'm so freakin' happy to be getting a new Castlevania soon. (Unlike Metroid, which has been missing for four years and counting.) Bah, I can't seem to end on a good note. :)

chez @ May 31st 2008 4:15PM

That's alright then :)

I wouldn't mind a PSP Castlevania (a proper one) but at the same time with all that power I'd be worried they would add many 3D enemies and objects. These games are the last great 2D games. I threw up a little when I saw the 3D Peeping Eyes (or whatever) in PoR.

The series is fantastic and I hope that they never resort to 2.5D on either the next DS or PSP.

RobLink (Return of the McElroy Defence Force) @ Jun 3rd 2008 8:05PM

4P drop-in drop-out online co-op would be fantastic, that is very true. As for the price side of it, I'd probably have to play a demo or something similar first, but I'd definitely consider it. And as for Metroid, wasn't Prime 3 just last year? And if we're talking 2D, which one was 4 years ago? The GBA one?

Levi @ May 31st 2008 4:49AM

What the hell is with you haters? This trailer looks delicious.

error2k2 @ May 31st 2008 5:51AM

She killed the giant enemy crab without flipping it over! :o Where's the massive damage?

joe @ May 31st 2008 6:22AM

Elevators deal Massive Damage!

shawn @ May 31st 2008 7:33AM

i wish they would bring back simon belmont

J.Goodwin @ May 31st 2008 10:10AM

Wow, that is pretty impressive.

I liked Bullet Witch for the record. If you've got an HDTV now, you should go back and give those Japanese 360 games that you hated on when they came out a second chance.

I do wish this was on either the PSP/360 or PS3 (...3rd choice, I'd rather the PSP or 360) though.