Castlevania Order of Ecclesia

🎮 Nintendo DS ⏳ 12 hours ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Innovative Glyph Combat #

This title is one of the most refined and challenging entries in the series’ handheld era. The MC is called Shanoa, a stoic heroine who harnesses magical glyphs to fight against Dracula’s forces, offering a fresh gameplay system that allows for deep customization and fast-paced combat. The Glyph system is the game’s standout feature, letting you equip and combine magical abilities for both melee and ranged attacks, giving battles a strong strategic element.

Gothic Visual Mastery #

Visually, the game is striking for the DS, with beautifully detailed environments, expressive sprites, and a dark, gothic tone that perfectly fits Castlevania’s identity. The soundtrack is equally memorable, mixing haunting melodies and energetic battle themes that enhance the atmosphere, it retains the same level of quality if previous entries in the franchise. Unlike some of its predecessors, Order of Ecclesia uses a mission-based structure rather than a single sprawling castle, which gives it a more focused pace while still offering secrets and backtracking opportunities.

Rewarding High Difficulty #

However, this focus on precision and combat comes with a price, a high difficulty level. Boss fights are punishing, enemies hit hard, and the game demands mastery of its mechanics to progress. While this makes victory satisfying, it may also frustrate people expecting a more forgiving experience. Despite this, its tight design, satisfying challenge, and distinctive protagonist make it one of the most rewarding and polished 2D Castlevania games on the Nintendo DS, and a standout title in the franchise’s later years.