Every time I see a new Castlevania game, I get excited, but recent endeavours in the series (although games in their own right) have become to jade me due their teen angst storylines and dumbed down anime-styles.

These two factors seem to have lost sight of some of the game's strongest appeals amongst fan; the original Dracula concept, the games gothic stylings, and series' renowned art direction.

And then Konami decides to throw the Nintendo DS bound Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia on us, and for the first time in a long while, I'm truly excited about a new Castlevania game.

Although details are scarce on the game, some interesting facts are clearly apparent from the trailer below. For the first time in the series, fans will play as a female lead. More importantly though, it looks like this game will be resurrecting some of the game's previous strengths; a more mature art style, and Dracula himself looks to be at the forefront of this game's storyline.

Also, keep your eye on in the trailer for a characters that bears more than a passing resemblance to a much loved (and constantly charming) Final Fantasy character...

Gameplay seems to take on a more dynamic approach than previous titles, with the new Glyph system allowing for more than just standard attacks; skills are more original and unique, encompassing defensive skills and movement based skills, and impressions from the trailer clearly indicate that Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia will expand the gameplay mechanic by a pretty significant degree.

Look below for the first official Order of Ecclesia trailer, alongside a smattering of screenshots.

Tags : castlevania : Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia : Glyph : konami : Nintendo : nintendo ds : Order of Ecclesia : screenshots : Trailer

Comments

By: EvilxBunny

On: 06:15 May 31st, 2008
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Michael.. this isnt the first time you play as a female lead... You got Castelvania Legends, and Castlevania 64 the main character that you can choose is the female magic user. I believe there are others, but not off the top of my head. Yes, both of them are the MAIN characters ;p.

And I disagree with your opinions in this article, but I do humbly agree that I cannot wait for this game! :P Huge fan of castlevania myself.

Dracula has also been in the later Castlevania games, known as someone else though, for the ones that have been following the games :P.

[spoiler]Dracula stays alive by ressurecting himself into other bodies, by the help of Death (grim reaper). He entered Somas body, but is trapped! Soma is able to control Draculas power, but not succumb to him. Until Soma is killed, there is no Dracula, and with Dracula's power, he is immortal. Unless they explain in the game that Soma was killed, then that cannot be Dracula!... ASSUMING it takes place after :P...[/spoiler]

So many things to take into account :P.

By: Dragonfly

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On: 06:24 May 31st, 2008
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EvilxBunny;50006

Michael.. this isnt the first time you play as a female lead... You got Castelvania Legends, and Castlevania 64 the main character that you can choose is the female magic user.

Both of which are so universally hated they're not even considered part of the franchise anymore, Personally, I can't accept characters that aren't even recognised in the series' canon as playable.

If you want to be fussy, then no, she's not the first female lead, but she is the first female lead within a *proper* Castlevania game.

EvilxBunny;50006

Dracula has also been in the later Castlevania games, known as someone else though.

Yes, I know this. I'm talking about the actual core Dracula here though, and more specifically, the castle itself. The actual "Dracula" himself.

By: EvilxBunny

On: 07:41 May 31st, 2008
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By: Magus

On: 10:05 May 31st, 2008
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I found Portrait of Ruin, and the Sorrow games to be pretty good, although PoR was pretty much only a copy of Dawn of Sorrow, but with different characters and story. Then again, I wasn't that familiar with the Castlevania series, and what I do know of it I know from Wikipedia.

I hope in this game we will finally be controlling a true Belmont. Not some offshoot of the Belmont clan like Johnathan Morris was. I saw an interview with IGA on GameSpot and it seemed to me like the Vampire Killer would be in the game, hopefully wielded by the protagonist.

By: Dragonsoul

On: 01:47 May 31st, 2008
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My Castlevania-esque fangirlishness is all aflutter right about now. Although I haven't really been as into Castlevania ever since the 3D craptacular games have arrived and left me wanting, this seems like a game that'll really interest me. Looking very much forward to it.

But whoa, short release time. They didn't really promote this much, eh? oO

By: Mobius Zero

On: 04:19 May 31st, 2008
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No, some of you have forgotten Castlevania 3 with Sypha, she was a lead character as well even though you did not start off with her and last I checked, that game did not suck. Well, the Castlevania series has had the same problems as Sonic has when it comes to the 3D, but the 2D branches of the series have been excellent but now are getting mundane. I think this game will be excellent just as long as they don't go back to the crappy jumping style as well.

By: SwitchxA

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On: 04:29 May 31st, 2008
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I really want to get into Castlevania more. I have dabbled along the way of the series and picked up a lot from friends. That being said it really isn't the first time we have seen a female protagonist in the Castlevania series. I also think the factors you said that were lost in the series haven't really gone away. Gothic stylings especially have been present in just about every Castlevania game. Voicing my words.

By: EvilxBunny

On: 04:35 May 31st, 2008
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Ah yea! mobius is right, i forgot about her!