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E308: DS Fanboy's E3 Endgame Evaluation
In its second year as a diminished behemoth, E3 still manages to be packed full with news, media, and more. While there wasn't much from Nintendo themselves for the DS this year, third parties are still incredibly strong and we're faced with more games than we can possibly handle. We're also pretty sure we saw almost all of them at E3 this year. Relive the entire experience right from the convenience of this post! Check out our choices for show highlights right here, or hit the break for the full rundown of our E3 coverage. Of course, we're still adding things, and will be over the next few days; keep up by clicking the E3 graphic in the sidebar. GTA: Chinatown Wars shooting up the DS in winter! Transfer data from Animal Crossing: Wild World to new Wii game Highlights from Nintendo's keynote Rhythm Heaven bumped by Cammie Dunaway's wrist Konami booth tour DS Fanboy reacts to the Nintendo keynote Three DS news items you may have missed Chrono Trigger's controls explained (and hands-on) DS Fanboy enters the Retro Game Challenge Rhythm Heaven is the best musical microgame collection at the show
E308: Castlevania (aka Shanoa the vampire slayer)
Those of you who want to get to know Shanoa a little better should check out the vid up top, which features her kicking some undead butt. She might not bring too many new things to the Castlevania-verse, but she still looks like a pretty badass character. Besides, she "shall become the sword that clears away evil" -- what more do you want? Order of Ecclesia is currently one of our most anticipated DS games, though, so do we really need another reason to convince you to watch this trailer? Just look at the footage.
E308: DS Fanboy hands-on with Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
What can I say about Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia? You've played this game plenty of times before. Sure, there are some slight changes here and there, but, ultimately, this is pretty much the same as every other DS Castlevania title released. Don't take that as a bad thing, though.%Gallery-22992%
E308: Konami booth tour in photos
Click to head into the gallery When arriving at Konami's booth for our appointment this morning, we were surprised to hear that they did not mind if we took some photos. So, we did. And while we're still working on our impressions of their line-up and running to other appointments, we figured some of you would want to check out their games. In the least, you can see exactly what games we'll be writing impressions up for later. So, hit up the gallery below.%Gallery-27872%
E308: Get intimate with the Order of Ecclesia
There's just something refreshing about Castlevania. As long as we're not discussing Judgment (sigh), the games retain the look and feel that has marked the series for the last several years, but the style keeps improving in subtle ways. Not convinced? If the new shots in the gallery don't grab you, try some of the gorgeous video we've seen from Order of Ecclesia.%Gallery-22992%
Basically, Order of Ecclesia looks rad
There's a lot of truth to the complaints many have made about producer Koji Igarashi's direction with the Castlevania series -- mainly that every new entry seems like a slight update to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night's (1997) template -- but we've never let that get in the way of us taking in every bit of vampire-slaying media each new Castlevania title. As a team focused on digging up news on Nintendo DS games, we sift through dozens of videos and screenshots, glossing over most of them. With IGN's hands-on impressions and direct-feed clips for Order of Ecclesia, however, we took in every word, every second of animation. They're all embedded past the post break for you to do the same, of course!And, for those of you who are still grumpy about Order of Ecclesia possibly feeling too much like previous installments, you'll be happy to hear this bit from IGN's preview: "Between the glyph system's reliance on magic, the 'out of the castle' feel of the game, and the all new enemies, this is the first time since Symphony of the Night that a free-roaming version of the game hasn't felt like a direct clone of Symphony of the Night."%Gallery-22992%
Bonus content planned for Judgment, Ecclesia connectivity
With Konami currently developing two Castlevania titles, one for the Wii and the other for the Nintendo DS, it seemed obvious that the studio would add some sort of connectivity feature to the two games, especially considering that Shanoa, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia's protagonist, will be a playable fighter in Castlevania Judgment. Though Konami hasn't provided any specifics, the company has announced that connecting the two games, presumably through WiFi and not with a string, unlocks "bonus gameplay content." We don't know yet if that extra stuff will be limited to just the Wii, but we're hoping for some added DS perks! What could that "bonus gameplay content" be? New items/costumes/areas? The original Castlevania games for the NES? A minigame for raising your own pocket Castlevania monsters?!%Gallery-22992%
Seven minutes of uninterrupted Castlevideo
Konami is showing off Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia at the Interactive & Digital Entertainment Festival in Cannes, leading one Jeuxvideo.tv contributor to show off his ability to hold a camera steady on the DS screen while simultaneously playing. Or he brought a friend. The point is: hey, look!The backgrounds look more layered and detailed than the last couple of games, and the enemy sprites appear to be a mix of old and new. The skeleton hasn't changed since at least Symphony of the Night, but that new floating shade (or witch, or whatever the girl in the dress is) is pretty amazing. Of course, we're more than willing to look past the reused sprites because there's a different world map! With non-castle locations!This segment provides a better look at the Magnes glyph (which creates a powerful magnetic field, allowing Shanoa to pull herself up to certain metallic platforms, then slingshot herself offward) and its in-game tutorial. The glyph will act as a sort of high jump, to allow access to previously inaccessible areas of the castle.[Via Ruliweb]
First Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia trailer is awesome, whipless
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.
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia trailer has some bite
If you've sworn off Igarashi's Castlevania titles, frustrated with rehashes of the same Metroidvania formula, stay away from this Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia video! It might be enough to bring you back! You'll see some reused sprites, and the general format doesn't look too different from previous entries, but the art direction in the first cinematic half is, as we've noted before, all the way live.As for the in-game clips, there's plenty to keep you interested, like action scenes with the Manges Glyph, a field that envelopes female lead Shanoa and can be used to cling to metal rods or fling the heroine across the screen. One of the boss fights also seems to herald the return of ... Mr. Crabs?! Back from the dead!So, are you excited yet?%Gallery-22992%[Via NeoGAF]
A tantalizing glimpse of the latest Castlevania
Nintendo Power subscriber? Already got your copy? Goody for you -- we haven't! Which is why we're so completely fascinated by the artwork from Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia the magazine has on offer; we haven't seen it yet. Since some of you are probably in the same boat, we thought it might be worth sharing a peek.If you didn't see our earlier post on the details of the latest from the franchise, go check it out. For a few blurry bits of screens, jump to the ledge past the break. For better screens? See the gallery below.%Gallery-22992%
Nintendo Power's moon reveals its secret
And we totally called it. That's right: the meaning of the much-discussed moon that featured prominently in Nintendo Power had nothing to do with Disgaea, Metroid, Earthbound, or a ... Balance Board-compatible sequel to Michael Jackson's Moonwalker? You people are strange.So it's Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, which may seem like a disappointment to some (compared to, y'know, Earthbound), but hey: at least we get oodles of new details. According to Nintendo Power, this IGAvania is set in the mid-1800s and stars the series' first ever female protagonist, Shanoa. The magazine that there are "no real weapons in this game," with glyphs that can change form (for example, into a sword) Shanoa's weapon of choice.There's a mass of other details waiting for you after the break -- don't forget your whip glyphs.%Gallery-22992%
DS Daily: Simon says 'whip Dracula'
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia was (for real) revealed this week, as was its heroine, a member of the Dracula-hunting (in the absence of a Belmont) sect from which the game gets its title. She seems like a pretty good protagonist, with her imposing boots and ability to equip three attacks at a time, but she is no Belmont. She may kill vampires, but she doesn't have Vampire Killer.Are you at all disappointed when a Castlevania game features a non-Belmont? Or did Symphony of the Night convince you that switching up the formula is worth the lack of familiarity? Does it still feel like Castlevania if you're not some musclebound dude with a whip?%Gallery-22992%
Order of Ecclesia site reveals artwork, Nintendo Power's secret?
A quick word about the new art on Konami's Castlevania: Order of Eccelsia site for Japan -- badical. Several not-so-quick words -- we'd heard from early previews that series producer Koji Igarashi and his team were moving away from the anime character designs employed in the two previous Castlevania DS titles, but we weren't expecting the new art direction to impress us this much. Also -- hooker boots.As for the "Nintendo Power secret" hinted in the title, look at the glowing satellite behind Order of Ecclesia's protagonist, Shanoa. Notice anything familiar? Doesn't it look like the same mystery moon Nintendo Power used as a clue in the latest issue's preview page? Peer into a telescope past the post break to compare!%Gallery-22992%
Castlevania trades cards for Glyphs
1UP's preview of the new Castlevania game, Order of Ecclesia, is based on a Konami Gamer's Day demonstration from Koji Igarashi, who revealed the new weapon system at work. One of our favorite parts of any new Castlevania game (at least the 2D ones) is discovering the new weapon or magic system that's going to have us running in and out of the same room for an hour killing Waiter Skeletons. This time, it's the "Glyph System," which acts as both the main and subweapon systems for new heroine Shanoa, sort of. You equip glyphs to each arm, represented by the Y and X buttons, and her back, represented by R, and a press of the appropriate button will activate the weapon. Pressing multiple buttons will combine attacks. All of these attacks seemed to draw from a self-refilling MP meter, meaning that in essence all the weapons in Order of Ecclesia are subweapons.%Gallery-22992%
More DS Castlevania: 'Order of Ecclesia,' first screens
We're pretty sure that Castlevania series director Koji "IGA" Igarashi is out to claim an award for "most sequels in a series on Nintendo DS." His latest, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, was revealed by the long-bearded, whip-wielding IGA at last night's Konami presser (and before that, the ESRB), and is set to stir up renewed Castle-mania this fall.Order of Ecclesia stars a new female heroine who is a member of the ... wait for it ... Order of Ecclesia, a group out to destroy -- who else -- that vile Count Dracula fellow. The game introduces a new Glyph system that Konami promises will offer "more than 100 different combinations" of weapon and spell attacks. These attack mash-ups enable players to unleash two blows simultaneously. Buying and selling items and weapons via the Nintendo WFC is also pegged for this latest, characteristically beautiful addition to the classic 2D franchise.%Gallery-22987%
Images of Igarashi's new Castlevania leaked, look absolutely gorgeous
When the scans got leaked online showing off a new Castlevania title, we don't have to tell you how exciting it was. Our staff was all kinds of happy, sipping on champagne and even a few were making copies of their butt on the Xerox machine. Now, you have to prepare yourself, because looking at scans is nothing like getting your eyes all up on some direct-feed screens, right? Right.Well, thanks to a post over at NeoGAF, that's what we're looking at right here. And, we'll do you one more solid. We'll save you the trouble of having to say it: those sprites look utterly fantastic.%Gallery-22992%
Famitsu confirms new DS Castlevania, Igarashi at helm
Famitsu has revealed the next Castlevania game for the DS, confirming recent speculation over Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia. Judging by the screens in the scan above, those mysterious shots from last month were the real thing. The magazine also divulges the involvement of Koji Igarashi, producer on Portrait of Ruin and Dawn of Sorrow. As in those games, there will be support for two players, though the exact nature of the multiplayer (local play? WFC?) remains a miserable little pile of secrets.And that's it for now! Leap past the break, whip in hand, to see another snippet of a scan.
ESRB rates unannounced Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
The ESRB rated another unannounced title, informing us that we can expect Konami to release Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia at some point in the future for the Nintendo DS (it's rated Teen, for those who were curious). ShackNews notes that the title was also in the US Patent and Trademark Office's database with a title and logo.We've contacted Konami for comment, but still haven't heard anything back. We'll have to wait and see if this new entry in the Castlevania franchise stars a member of the Belmont or Beaumont family.
New Castlevania title: there's good and (potentially) bad news
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/New_Castlevania_DS_title_confirmed'; Mysterious Castlevania title Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia has just appeared on the ESRB website, where it's been rated as -- huzzah! -- a Nintendo DS title. Obviously, you shouldn't need us to tell you why that's good news -- just the fact that it's moar Castlevania should be enough -- but don't go letting the party poppers off just yet.See, there's something peculiar going on here. For games to be assessed and classified by the ESRB, they need to be in a more or less complete state. In other words, Konami must have finished Order of Ecclesia already. So either: The company has made a completely unique DS game and kept every aspect of it under wraps (which we found doubtful). Order of Ecclesia is (as was suspected in some quarters) a port of last year's mobile title, Order of Shadows. We could be entirely wrong, of course, and either way some Castlevania is better than no Castlevania. But we'd like it to be exclusive.
