Topic: Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia *** NO SPOILERS

[Kamirine]

I believe you can backtrack (as stated, how do you complete certain quest if you say, miss them the first time?) I just think it's more or less not as required like in previous games.  (Like with DoS where you had to go back to the Demon Guest House just to fight Paranoia so you could have the soul to actually beat the game.)

I think that's more of what he meant.  Because judging by the world map, it seems like you can pick your stages right from there. 

Oh, and for those wondering: The game will be in stores (Gamestop/Eb anyway) on Weds. not Tuesday. I checked our browser and it said it's shipping to arrive on Weds. As for the pre-order bonus, nothing on that yet. 

[RichterB]

What the hell!?  If there is no backtracking, then aren't we returning to the oldest format of the game design in which we go level by level?  No matter I' still getting the game.

According to Nintendo Power, you can backtrack to places you've already been, but there's not as many secret areas and such.

Personally, I think Castlevania NEEDS to go back to a level-by-level format, which is where it really shines. It can be just as dynamic as MetroidVania style, as seen in games like Dracula's Curse and Rondo of Blood. Level-by-level can have alternate routes that force you to make a decision and stick by it. (The meandering of the MetroidVania style ticks me off at this point; there's no sense of driving forward). A level-by-level format also allows for more levels with rising water or destructable environments because you don't have to backtrack and thus the level can morph drastically and provide a variety of challenges. Plus, CV64 demonstrated that level-by-level can still have adventure elements of finding items, hitting switches, etc.

This OOE still doesn't feel like it's level-by-level, as each smaller level seems to be a mini-MetroidVania. By and large, I don't think this is a huge departure from the SOTN-types. In fact, it sort of seems like SOTN mixed with Megaman ZX. (At the very least, I'd hope for a compromise by now. With self-contained levels that you can return to, there's no reason you couldn't mix the old level-by-level format's environmental strengths with SOTN-style. But this appears to have missed that mark, as it looks like you're just fighting enemy after enemy without really dynamic level layouts).

[azielsatori]

You can return to any part of the map you have already been to, it's basically like the other metroidvanias, the difference is that each section of the "castle" is seperated into different map locations.

From what has been said, the game is larger overall than the other recent vanias.

[jimmay17]

From everything I've seen so far, it looks like OoE is going to be more like Rondo of Blood than anything, which certainly isn't a bad thing. The level designs seem to be linear with the possibility of branching paths.

I'm a little disappointed there doesn't appear to be a central castle, but then I'm one of few who actually enjoys the MV concept, I just feel it hasn't been done very well lately.

I'm most intrigued by the villager quests. The arbitrary minutiae of side quests and collecting/drop grinding appeals to my compulsive nature, and I'm glad this game will accommodate it. It can't be any sillier than collecting chairs and furniture (ala HoD and CoD).

[azielsatori]

We don't know if there is a castle or not.

The second half of the game isn't even talked about, however it is said that the last third of the game isn't even accessible if you don't complete all the quests.

Maybe the bad ending doesn't even involve making it inside Castlevania.

[jimmay17]

That's certainly a possibility, and I think it would actually be a pretty cool move. There really does need to be a Castle in there, and we've seen the clocktower in videos, as well as a shot of Shanoa running up to some fog-drenched Castle steps. I just hope the castle isn't broken up into tiny separate

[azielsatori]

I'm thinking that is what the last third of the game is, the actual castle.

Somewhere some journalist mentioned that you can only unlock the last third of the game if you rescue all the villagers.

Which would mean there is a boss at that point and defeating it without rescuing all the villagers gives you the bad ending, or you literally can go no further and you have to get the villagers just to see any ending at all.

In any event, I have a feeling that the castle will play a part, and I would not be surprised if the last third of the game took place inside the castle.

In any event this is all purely hypothetical. I don't have enough information to make more accurate conclusions.

Not sure I want more info.

[Ahasverus]

I have a question about Aeon.
Is he really  the same that is in the Judgement?, If he is, is he disguised?, is he the bad of the Ecclesia?
And other thing, why OOE and Waltz of the prophet are so close?, they have any relation?

[Oralox]

In Reply To #2198

Well in fact he's in every CV there is ya newbie.
IF you just look closely in one of the RoB stages of the game. In the background you see a guy in darkness with a cape blowing off. Thats Aeon thinking about snatching Richter but instead it seemed he got Maria.

[paletteswapmonster]

In Reply To #2198

What?

[Reinhart77]

Well, you can play as Aeon in Judgment if you use the wii-connectivity, so he probably is the same person in both those games.

[Gunlord]

In Reply To #2200

I think Oralox is just joshin'. The guy with the cape in RoB *might* be Aeon, but we don't rly know, unyuu~

[paletteswapmonster]

It's not clear if that big guy is Ecclesia Aeon or not, but there is some evidence.

The big guy is Kokkion(Kokion/Kockion?).

[darkwzrd4]

You can return to any part of the map you have already been to, it's basically like the other metroidvanias, the difference is that each section of the "castle" is seperated into different map locations.

From what has been said, the game is larger overall than the other recent vanias.

Ok, I think I get it.  The format of this game will be something like a combination of SotN format and the megaman series from capcom, correct?

[azielsatori]

No I don't think it will be like Megaman at all.

Aeon is a character exclusive to Judgement and Judgement's storyline.

It would make zero sense for him to be in Ecclesia.

That is like thinking there is a level 255 cap in Judgement and an item called "Queen of Hearts", not a very logical path of reasoning is it?

Aeon was made just for Judgement.


Anyway, I want to know if OoE will be available Weds. morning.