Providing you're up for the challenge, this is the high point of the DS Castlevania series.
Yes, Order Of Ecclesia is tough, especially in the opening stages where you've got a limited range of weapons at your disposal and a health bar that'd empty if someone even blinked in your general direction. But is it too hard? Not really, no. In fact, we'd say that Konami has done a fine job of creating an adventure that's perfectly pitched for the Castlevania fans and for that, it deserves a massive pat on the back.
An Acquired Taste
Of course, that distinction in itself could be considered a criticism. Despite looking spookily similar to the previous handheld Castlevania titles, Order Of Ecclesia really isn't friendly to the average DS gamer. Gone is the ability to hack, slash and then hack some more at any enemies in your way, with physical weaponry replaced with magical ones whose uses are tempered by your magic meter. Gone is the endless supply of hearts for use with your sub-weapons, with the new Union glyph attacks draining your heart count faster than ever. Gone even are the easily-accessible save points, made more elusive by the decision to have many unique stages instead of one giant map covered in warp points.
On top of that, you've got the increased difficulty that will see many players wanting to give up long before they've even dealt massive damage to the giant enemy crab living in Dracula's lighthouse (only about an hour in, by our count). Yup, if ever there was a Castlevania game designed for people who like and, more specifically, are good at Castlevania games, it's Order Of Ecclesia.
As we said before though, we don't have a problem with that in the slightest. True, we were a tad concerned that some of the tweaks present would do irreparable harm to the proven Symphony Of The Night formula. Reverting back to smaller levels, for instance, could have shortened the game's life dramatically and reduced the opportunities for exploration, while dropping physical weaponry altogether potentially removes the replay value provided by trying to collect all the rare items.
Despite moving the goalposts quite considerably though, Order Of Ecclesia manages to be not just the best Castlevania experience on DS yet, but perhaps even since Super Castlevania IV on the SNES.
For We Are Many
How that's come about is less about one element and more about a combination of things. The added strategy that comes from timing attacks to avoid being hit while striking effectively so as not to leave your magic meter empty is extremely satisfying, especially during the boss fights which require some serious concentration to survive.
The large number of shorter levels, while initially jarring, actually works in Ecclesia's favour. Not only does taking the action out of the castle allow for greater variety in environments, but the discovery of the game's final big surprise only makes what's come before even better. And even though it's clearly tougher in places than a whole bag of old boots, ultimately it's just so damn playable.
From working out the best combinations of glyph spells and figuring out the weaknesses of particularly nasty monsters, to discovering secret areas and earning medals for beating bosses without being hit once, there's very little to fault Order Of Ecclesia.
Of course, we don't doubt that plenty of people will disagree. They'll moan about the music not being haunting enough, the fact that the hero is a lady or, more likely, that it's just too hard for them. But we'll say this: ignore those fools and just go experience Order Of Ecclesia for yourself. You'll thank us for it in the end, we guarantee it.