Konami confirms Castlevania DS

Following last month's ESRB rating, publisher drops details on Order of Ecclesia, slated for Nintendo's platform this fall.

As a portent of things to come last month, a rating for Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia turned up in the Entertainment Software Rating Board's online database. Naturally published by Konami, the online listing indicated Order of Ecclesia would be the Belmont family's third trek onto Nintendo's DS behind 2005's Dawn of Sorrow and 2006's Portrait of Ruin.

Speak softly and carry a big sword.

As part of its Gamers' Day event today, Konami unsurprisingly confirmed Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia for the DS, saying the game would arrive on Nintendo's platform this fall. The ESRB couldn't be bothered with spilling details on the game when it rated it T for Teen, so Konami's announcement today shined more light on what gamers can expect later this year.

As a member of the oath-sworn Order of Ecclesia, players assume the role of a heroine named Shinoa, which producer Koji Igarashi called a code-name in an interview with GameSpot. Vampire hunting is once again paramount to the game's story, and players will employ a number of tactics, including the new Glyph attack mechanic, to defeat Dracula's minions.

Order of Ecclesia's single-player experience offers 20 different areas to explore, with environments ranging from forests to oceans. The game will also put to use the DS's Wi-Fi Connection for head-to-head multiplayer battles, and players will also be able to go online to buy and sell items they acquire during their journeys.

76 Comments

  • danwarecritic

    Posted Jun 16, 2008 10:59 am PT

    Why is it that people can't accept timeless gameplay!? I liked Dawn of Sorrow on DS. Unfortunately, something(I can't remember what.) spilled on our copy(I shared with my brothers) and it was ruined. I'm sure this will be great.

  • gameknight147

    Posted Jun 5, 2008 11:53 am PT

    Sweet. It's gonna freakin' rock!

  • akiwak

    Posted May 28, 2008 10:57 am PT

    It would also be awesome if we could see a release for the PS3 and 360 of a castlevania game just like symphony of the night!

  • FLEEBS

    Posted May 27, 2008 8:06 am PT

    This game looks awesome! I love Castlevania and can't wait to play this!

  • Dualmask

    Posted May 22, 2008 6:10 am PT

    Ooh, a female protagonist. And here I thought Igarashi hated female leads after he de-canonized Castlevania Legends (on Game Boy with a girl named Sonia Belmont as the main character) from the storyline.

    The game looks great. These 2D Metroidvania games never get old. Since I already missed out on Portrait of Ruin and now this is coming out, I have to replace my old, broken DS soon.

    What I would love to see though, is a 2D or 2.5D Castlevania game made with today's graphical horsepower on a console like the PSP or through PSN/XBLA the way Capcom is doing with Bionic Commando Rearmed.

  • silverborg13

    Posted May 20, 2008 2:54 pm PT

    Weeeee! this is nice! a new 2D castlevania i'd love to finish once more! hehehe even thou i haven't finish Portrait of Ruin yet hehehe when is the release date of this game?

  • TehPickle

    Posted May 20, 2008 1:50 pm PT

    If they do make a next gen castlevania, I'd like it to stay 2D, but have exceptional art quality, whilst at the same time, mammoth in size.

    I think that's my gaming wet dream tbh

  • Takibi

    Posted May 20, 2008 8:16 am PT

    Some DS games should be introduced to next-gen consoles

  • ZephyrSB

    Posted May 19, 2008 3:15 pm PT

    Maybe Castlevania just isn't going to work on next-gen consoles, like a certain blue hedgehog I could name. Also, I think I should point out what looks like a return to the pre-Dawn of Sorrow art style, which makes me very happy.

  • lew_0911

    Posted May 19, 2008 9:49 am PT

    Me very happy, me already played the Dracula X Chronicles (esp. Symphony of the Night) to pieces.

  • masterds64

    Posted May 19, 2008 9:12 am PT

    I agree with nic, profit would kill konami if short on sales, and it may even delute the product as a result...

    That is why so few metroid games, or rareware products, barey see light of day...
    Long live classic rehashes!

  • huntervaneg

    Posted May 19, 2008 8:02 am PT

    It's Castlevania and for me that's enough to be really happy, and for those who are waitin' for a home console (next-gen) version sooner or later will come...!

  • akiwak

    Posted May 18, 2008 8:16 pm PT

    NATE1222
    So you are happy just settling for the same stuff over and over again?
    What is the sense of bringing out new systems if no-one is going to want to push the envelope and test their creativeness and give us gamers something new. Konami has a large enough team that they have already found some ways of making games for both the 360 and the PS3. They should now use that staff and that knowledge gained to make a Castlevania game on those systems. If what you want is for us to give up moving forward then you are asking us to give up great games like Assasin's Creed, Bioshock, Halo 3, COD4, GTA4, Uncharted, MGS4, Gears of War..... Thanks to the 360 and the PS3 we have such games that make us laugh and entertain us. I like what I was able to experience with the games I mentioned. All i want is for Castlevania to be part of the list, if all they keep going is after the established fanbase; that list as years go by will get smaller and smaller because some may tire of the same thing once more. We don't need hardcore full production all the time. What we do need is casual games also as they will then be open to other forms of entertainment and might later on turn to the more hardcore. So whose with me? Go ahead Konami make the game for the DS but please also deliver us something for the other consoles!!!!

  • lostchildoftime

    Posted May 18, 2008 6:49 pm PT

    While it may be rehashed game-play from the previous two DS titles, Konami realizes they don't need to change much in order for a faithful followers of Castlevania to purchase this game. And I much prefer this series being developed mainly for the DS, as these games tend to be extremely short and the gameplay is well suited for the stylus and touch screen. It would be enjoyable however if they were to utilize the option of creating different classes for vampire slaying.

  • DesertClawX2X

    Posted May 18, 2008 6:47 pm PT

    I have no doubt that OoD will be a good game, but what more can it bring to the table? A little more info would help ya know.

  • nate1222

    Posted May 18, 2008 10:56 am PT

    Fellow Castlevania fans,
    We are a niche audience. I'm acyually proud and happy to be 'niche'. That being said, if Castlevania went "next-gen" it would cost too much to make given its small audience. The development costs on PS3 and 360 are too high for that gamble. Many PS3 and 360 games must sell 3 million copies just to break even. As much as I love Castlevania - it's not going to sell that many copies. This situation would put Konami at financial risk. This is one of MANY reasons I'm NOT going PS3 nor 360. Many of the 'niche' franchises I love either won't be released for them or would be half-ass produced to reduce financial risk. Eventually, most games on those two platforms will be slickly produced, highly predictable crap. Without a niche game in sight. Eventually, there won't be a place for niche gamers unless you go "Old School" with older consoles. I don't like where PS3 and 360 are pushing gaming. Go ahead and thumb my ass down for saying it.

  • madsnakehhh

    Posted May 18, 2008 9:55 am PT

    Great a new Castlevania, but where is my console version? maybe something like GOW and everyone will be happy, nevertheless a Castlevania its always a great news.

  • Sam-Jackson

    Posted May 18, 2008 6:27 am PT

    have you guys played castelevania for the xbox? it was pretty bad, we dont need more of that

  • naraku2099

    Posted May 17, 2008 9:24 pm PT

    I saw the words Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia and I got all excited thinking maybe it was a next-gen Castlevania game, but no. Don't get me wrong I'm glad to be getting Castlevania, as it's still one of my favorite series, but I really want a next-gen Castlevania title...

  • DaBu

    Posted May 17, 2008 6:16 pm PT

    "Come on Konami - where's the NEXT GEN version?"

    No kidding. That was the first thing I thought after seeing ANOTHER DS Castlevania game.

  • TrevSkyline

    Posted May 17, 2008 5:13 pm PT

    Come on Konami - where's the NEXT GEN version?

  • pencilpusher69

    Posted May 16, 2008 10:27 pm PT

    Can't wait. 2d is so well represented by this series. I really want to see what they do with this one. Seems like all of my favorite parts to DoS and PoR were outdoors, so a game that's mostly outdoors sounds snazztastic.

  • cfamgcn

    Posted May 16, 2008 6:28 pm PT

    I hope they improve the online mode... it was pretty lame on Portrait of Ruin...

  • vgplaya89

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:00 pm PT

    Im not dissing Gamespot in any way, but did anyone think "No **** Sherlock, There were already two Castlevania DS titles"?

  • hardyz

    Posted May 16, 2008 10:50 am PT

    I wouldn't worry about it. There is a next-gen Castlevania being worked on. It will probably be cross-console or PS3 if that's not the case. The last piece of info I heard was that it is not certain if a Japanese or American team is working on it. I also don't know if the story will involve the Belmont lineage. Hopefully it will since the last Belmont was seen in Lament of Innocence.

  • akiwak

    Posted May 16, 2008 10:43 am PT

    I have followed Castlevania since it's days on the NES. I liked the Lament of Innocence on the PS2 but felt it was a little short. I'm ok with this being a multiplat so bring this to the PS3, 360, and the Wii PLEASE!!!

  • insert-name

    Posted May 16, 2008 10:34 am PT

    I hope this has a cool pre-order bundle like portrait of ruin had, it looks pretty good from the screens but when will they return the series to the belmont family, dawn of sorrow did not have nearly enough whipping for my tastes

  • DrKill09

    Posted May 16, 2008 10:09 am PT

    Cool! I have a PSP, but never got Castlevania cause I simply never use it... the DS on the other hand I use constantly.

  • illkillyou

    Posted May 16, 2008 9:53 am PT

    I've always loved the 2D castlevania formula and will keep buying and buying as long as Konami puts them out. But I would like to see another 3D Castlevania come out. All the 3D ones up until now have come out half baked, I would say because Konami is reluctant to make radical changes to the gameplay, so instead all the 3D installments have just been 2D games dropped into a 3D graphics engine. Maybe they could take a cue from the Metroid series and give an American producer a shot at making a 3D castlevania

  • enoslives7

    Posted May 16, 2008 9:50 am PT

    Castlevania is the only reason I bought a DS. I hope Castlevania stays 2-D. The 3-D versions were kinda weak.

  • player_leo

    Posted May 16, 2008 8:22 am PT

    What would happen if they make a Castlevanie game with the Unreal 3 engine. I might want to see if that is possible

  • Hillsy_

    Posted May 16, 2008 7:04 am PT

    I agree, Castlevania should stay 2D for now. Good to hear this coming to the DS. Will grab it. There was talk about a Wii version using the Wii-remote for a whip. Hope it surfaces too.

  • Rect_Pola

    Posted May 16, 2008 6:05 am PT

    We are surprised by this? Castlevania is one those old school franchises that keep on giving, particularly stuff genuinely worth our time amidst newer properties (it didn't take to 3D well, but everything in this group had it's low points).

  • hochstreck

    Posted May 16, 2008 5:45 am PT

    i enjoyed the n64 castlevanias, if you are able to overlook some minor flaws - as most of them can be overcome by experience, these atmospheric adventures hold themselves pretty well

  • otanikun

    Posted May 16, 2008 5:29 am PT

    Please....for the love of god no more Castlevania, the series died to me when it furthered it's adventures on the PS2, and they keep going at it still? I know it's 2-D now but no more T_T

  • bandit7319

    Posted May 16, 2008 5:16 am PT

    Agreed with andersalsen. I couldn't care less if they took Castlevania to 3D, I'd actually prefer it to stay 2D considering the past 3D Castlevania forays. Symphony of the Night is still my favorite game of all time. I still have my PS1 disc of it. With the size of today's discs, they could a ridiculously huge Castlevania game.

  • andersalsen

    Posted May 16, 2008 3:32 am PT

    Why not a 2d Castlevania on WII, XBOX 360 or PS3? Not every game has to be in 3d on those machines, right? I'm hoping on a huge Castlevania game, in 2d. Instead of spending all the money on a 3d engine, they can instead focus on making the game big and player-friendly. I'm hoping for something in style of Simons Quest (Castlevania 2), but bigger, better and more beautiful.

  • eitremn

    Posted May 16, 2008 2:28 am PT

    Awesome news! I love the Castlevania series on the DS.

  • BlackKnightOfH8

    Posted May 16, 2008 2:13 am PT

    While i'm glad to see the series still going strong...it still saddens me that they haven't said anything about a new next gen Castlevania for 360 or PS3.

  • AzelKosMos

    Posted May 16, 2008 1:21 am PT

    I still need to play the others. I own them, just don't have the time

  • kavadias1981

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:41 am PT

    Me = Happiest guy in the world at this news

  • Icehearted

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:25 am PT

    I haven't even found a copy of the last one yet.

    Anyway, WOOHOO!

  • constant23

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:07 am PT

    VenkmanPHD says:

    "I'm still disappointed with the 3-D castlevania's unfortunately... The Nintendo 64 ones were so awesome!"

    ummm.... oxymoron, anyone?

  • CaptValor333

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:04 am PT

    Cool about time. I've been looking forward for another one

  • Kolt-Python

    Posted May 15, 2008 11:55 pm PT

    New glyph attacks eh? I hope that isn't a thinly veild way of saying HEY GUYS. WE'VE GOT SOME COOL INNOVATIVE TOUCH SCREEN FEATURES.

  • gazza_gamerNZ

    Posted May 15, 2008 11:32 pm PT

    I won't say no to more castlevania!

  • omnifas

    Posted May 15, 2008 11:10 pm PT

    ...I was hoping for more of a SOTN art direction but castlevania is fun no matter what.

  • guppieface posted May 15, 2008 10:29 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    guppieface

    Posted May 15, 2008 10:29 pm PT (hide)

    dumb .i hate castlevania. i hate video games

  • SorcererLance

    Posted May 15, 2008 10:21 pm PT

    I'm hoping this story takes place in 1999 as Aria of Sorrow, Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin have hinted at us for a long while now

  • destrozz

    Posted May 15, 2008 10:04 pm PT

    Castlevania on Nintendo handhelds have been gold, im happy with the 2D side scroll. some games can never make a sucessful jump to 3D, and this game is one of them.

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