Originally released in October 2008, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia marks the end of an era for the Castlevania franchise. Not only is it the final game in a trilogy of series titles for the Nintendo DS, it’s also the final Castlevania game to feature involvement from Symphony of the Night mastermind Koji Igarashi. Additionally, it’s the last mainline Castlevania game to adhere to the “Igavania” style of gameplay established in Symphony of the Night and carried throughout the series’ handheld entries on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS.
Following the release and reception of Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, Koji Igarashi revealed that the team was working on yet another entry in the series in an interview with WIRED magazine. Just a few months after the October 2007 interview, the first screenshots of Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia would leak online, and the game itself would arrive just a few months later in the latter half of 2008. Similar to both of its DS-era predecessors, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia would end up being a major critical success as well as a modestly successful title in terms of its commercial sales.
Order of Ecclesia would sell roughly 20,000 copies in just its first week, but its overall sales would end up being the lowest of the three Nintendo DS Castlevania games. Still, the title is often considered one of the best games in the franchise due to its excellent mechanics and unique female protagonist. Additionally, many of the elements of Order of Ecclesia would show up again in Koji Igarashi’s next game, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
Castlevania: Order Of Ecclesia Premise
The story of Order of Ecclesia takes players to the 1800s during a time in which the Belmont clan is absent. Following the events of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, in which Richter Belmont and Dracula’s son Alucard are successful in preventing the Dark Lord’s resurrection, the Belmont clan mysteriously vanishes. In its wake, a powerful sorcerer going by the name of Barlowe founded the mystical Order of Ecclesia. After years of studying magical glyphs capable of destroying Dracula once and for all, Barlowe calls on his most gifted pupil, the enchantress Shanoa, to wield the Dominus Glyph and end the evil vampire’s reign of terror.
The gameplay in Order of Ecclesia is similar to other handheld Castlevania titles in that it is an “Igavania”. These are games in the Castlevania series featuring either direction, design, or production from Koji Igarashi, the lead designer and director behind Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Accordingly, all “Igavania” titles are Metroidvania games with large, interconnected maps, light RPG systems, and plenty of secrets to uncover. However, what sets Order of Ecclesia apart from previous entries is its new take on combat and magic through the Glyph System.
Similar to the Tactical Soul System from Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow, Shanoa can equip three different Glyphs that each grant various abilities in combat and traversal. There are over 100 different Glyphs that Shanoa can equip to her arms and back, with some acting as weapons or magic spells while others grant her special abilities that aid in exploration and movement. Additionally, players also have special Union Glyphs that consume Hearts to make certain attacks more powerful.
Castlevania: Order Of Ecclesia Main Characters
Similar to Portrait of Ruin before it, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia introduces several new characters alongside some returning favorites. Interestingly, Order of Ecclesia‘s setting takes players back to the 1800s in the era just after the events of Symphony of the Night. As a result, the two games can almost be considered as two halves of a singular whole. Further, Order of Ecclesia is one of the only games in the Castlevania series to feature a female protagonist. Main characters in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia include:
- Shanoa: Shanoa is the heroine of Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia and a powerful enchantress. As a member of the Order of Ecclesia, she belongs to a group of mystics who take on the responsibility of stopping Dracula in the absence of the Belmont clan (who mysteriously disappeared following the events of Symphony of the Night).
- Albus: Albus is the Order of Ecclesia’s chief researcher and a close friend of Shanoa’s. Trying to prevent Shanoa’s sacrifice at the cost of using the Dominus Glyph, he becomes a rogue agent and escapes with the Glyph to find an alternate means of stopping Dracula.
- Laura: Laura is an ally of the Order of Ecclesia and a descendant of the Belmont clan. She resides in Wygol Village, occasionally giving out quests to Shanoa and helping her grow in power.
- Barlowe: Barlowe is the founder of the mysterious Order of Ecclesia. Searching for a way to defeat Dracula using magical Glyphs, Barlowe discovers the Dominus Glyph, training the members of the order to make them powerful enough for its use. He begins as a protagonist but eventually becomes the game’s primary villain.
- Dracula: The Dark Lord vampire and primary antagonist of the Castlevania series. During the time of Order of Ecclesia, his remains are scattered around the world.
Games in the Castlevania Series
As the last handheld Castlevania game in a long line of titles, Order of Ecclesia caps off one of the series’ best eras that began with the 5th-generation entry Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Since the release of Order of Ecclesia, the Castlevania franchise has dabbled with some other genres (most notable character action) and has yet to return to its side-scrolling, Metroidvania roots. There is now a full decade between the last mainline Castlevania game and now, and the success of Metroid‘s return to its 2D roots with Metroid Dread makes a great case for a new “Igavania” style franchise revival. Mainline games in the Castlevania series include:
- Castlevania (1986)
- Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest (1987)
- Castlevania: The Adventure (1989)
- Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse (1989)
- Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge (1991)
- Super Castlevania IV (1991)
- Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (1993)
- Castlevania: Bloodlines (1994)
- Castlevania: Dracula X (1995)
- Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)
- Castlevania Legends (1997)
- Castlevania 64 (1999)
- Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness (1999)
- Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (2001)
- Castlevania Chronicles (2001)
- Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (2002)
- Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (2003)
- Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (2003)
- Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (2005)
- Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (2005)
- Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (2006)
- Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (2007)
- Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (2008)
- Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth (2009)
- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (2010)
- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (2013)
- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (2014)
- Castlevania Requiem (2018)
- Castlevania Anniversary Collection (2019)
- Castlevania Advance Collection (2021)
Castlevania: Order Of Ecclesia Cheats & Secrets
Like the other GBA and DS Castlevania games, Order of Ecclesia has plenty of secrets for players to uncover and bonuses to unlock. Additionally, there are several cheat codes that players can take advantage of as long as they have a Pro Action Replay device for Nintendo DS.
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Unlockables
Castlevania Judgement Connection Bonuses
In order to unlock the following bonuses, players need both a Nintendo DS and a Wii, as well as copies of both Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia and Castlevania Judgement. Select “Connect to Wii” or “Connect to DS” from either console with both systems on and copies of both games inserted. Follow the prompts to successfully connect the titles and receive the following bonuses:
Unlockable | How to Unlock |
---|---|
Courses 1, 2, and 3 | Connect to Castlevania Judgement |
Increased Level Cap | Connect to Castlevania Judgement (No longer need to beat the game on Hard Mode Level 1) |
Queen of Hearts | Beat Hard Mode after connecting to Castlevania Judgement |
Royal Crown | Complete “The Job of a Lifetime” quest after connecting to Castlevania Judgement |
Unlockable Game Modes
Players can unlock several new game modes in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia by meeting certain conditions.
Mode | How to Unlock |
---|---|
Albus Mode | Beat Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia after saving all Villagers |
Boss Rush Mode | Beat Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia after saving all Villagers |
Sound Mode | Beat Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia after saving all Villagers |
Hard Mode | Beat the game once on Normal Mode |
Hard Mode Level 255 | Beat Hard Mode on Level 1 cap OR connect to Castlevania Judgement |
New Game + Mode
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia has a New Game + Mode that allows players to carry over all their progress from a previously completed save file. First, players will need to beat the game on Normal Mode. After beating the game, save the “Game Complete” file. On the main menu, select the file and press Right on the D-Pad to select the “Clear” symbol. Press A to start New Game +.
Boss Medals
Players can earn special Medals for each Boss in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia. During each boss fight, defeat the boss enemy without letting Shanoa take any damage. If players defeat the boss without ever being hit, a treasure chest containing the Boss Medal will appear after the fight.
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Exploits & Glitches
Fast XP Farming
Players can take advantage of an easy XP farm as long as they have certain equipment and can access certain Modes/areas. To start, players will need the following:
- New Level Cap Hard Mode (Level 255)
- 2 Hierophant Rings
- Rapidus Fio Glyph
- Slash Attribute at 65,535
With the above conditions met, players should be able to one-hit skill Skeleton Hero enemies using the Rapidus Fio Glyph.
Head to the Skeleton Cave and make your way to the hall on the middle floor with several Skeletons. Equip Rapidus Fio, two Hierophant rings, and any strength-boosting equipment or Glyphs. Run from one end of the hall to the other, leaving and re-entering the room. Each pass-through of the room will result in approximately 1,000 experience points, or approximately 23,000 XP each minute.
Fast Gold Farming
Similarly, players can make use of a clever exploit to quickly farm Gold. In order for this method to work, players will need the following:
- 2 Gold Rings (Players can loot these from Rare Chests in Kalidus Channel)
- Double Jump
- Inire Penicula Glyph (Players can find this in Tristis Pass)
Equip both Gold Rings and the Inire Pecunia Glyph, then head to the screen with the bridge in Tymeo Mountains. Double Jump over the candle resting on the bridge’s right-side post. While over the candle, hold Down and press B to kick it, then mid-air jump to ascend upward into the next screen. Here, do another downward kick (holding Down on the D-Pad and pressing B). Shanoa will drop back down into the candle, kicking it and netting 1,000 Gold. Double Jump to leave the screen again and repeat as many times as necessary.
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Pro Action Replay Cheats
There are quite a few cheats players can access as long as they have an Action Replay device for the Nintendo DS. Alternatively, players using an emulator can enter any of the following cheats into the emulator’s “Cheat” menu. As always, use caution when activating several cheats at once, as this can cause the game to crash.
General Cheats
Cheat | Code |
---|---|
Bypass Save Check | 2202d060 00000001 |
Enable Double Jump | 92109934 00000000 12109934 00000004 d2000000 00000000 |
Infinite Double Jumps | 92109932 00000001 12109932 00000002 d2000000 00000000 |
Enable Glyphs (Press Select to activate) | 94000130 fffb0000 d5000000 00000091 c0000000 00000031 d8000000 021003ea d2000000 00000000 94000130 fffb0000 d5000000 00000091 c0000000 00000018 d8000000 02100420 d2000000 00000000 |
Unlock all Modes and Bonuses | 121dd060 00003fff |
Max Kills | 021005e8 3b9ac9ff |
All Enemy Data (Press Select to activate) | 94000130 fffb0000 d5000000 000000ff c0000000 0000000e d8000000 02100344 d2000000 00000000 94000130 fffb0000 22100353 00000001 d2000000 00000000 |
All Items (Press Select to activate) | 94000130 fffb0000 d5000000 00000099 c0000000 000000ea d8000000 0210045e d2000000 00000000 |
Max/Infinite Gold | 02100310 3b9ac9ff |
Stat Cheats
Cheat | Code |
---|---|
Max Stats | d5000000 0000270f c0000000 00000004 d7000000 0210031c d2000000 00000000 120ffd38 0000270f d5000000 000003e7 c0000000 00000003 d7000000 020ffd3a d2000000 00000000 |
Max HP | 121002b6 0000270f |
Infinite HP | 121002b4 0000270f |
Max MP | 121002ba 0000270f |
Infinite MP | 121002b8 0000270f |
Max Hearts | 121002be 000003e7 |
Infinite Hearts | 121002bc 000003e7 |
Experience Multiplier Cheats
Cheat | Code |
---|---|
Fast XP Gain | 2210030c 000000ff |
Super Fast XP Gain | 1210030c 0000ffff |
Max XP | 0210030c 3b9ac9ff |
Castlevania: Order Of Ecclesia Cheat FAQs
What’s the level cap in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia?
The level cap in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia depends on which mode players are experiencing. Initially, the game’s Normal Mode has a Level cap of 99. This decreases to 50 when playing on Hard Mode (which players unlock after beating Normal Mode). Beating Hard Mode on the Level 1 cap (in which players are permanently at Level 1) unlocks the new level cap of 255. After, players can play New Game + (including Normal Mode) and level up both Shanoa and Albus to Level 255.
How long to beat Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia?
An average playthrough of Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia should take roughly 10.5 hours. However, if players are attempting to fully complete the game (100%), they can expect a playtime of about 22 hours on average.
How do you walk through walls in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia?
There is a Glyph that players can obtain that allows Shanoa to walk through walls containing glowing portals. Players can steal the Paries Glyph from the Wallman boss inside Dracula’s Castle. After, Shanoa will be able to walk through certain walls.
What’s the best way to farm Gold in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia?
An alternate method for farming Gold involves repeatedly killing enemies in the Misty Forest Road area. Using this method, players will need 2 Gold Rings and be able to quickly defeat a White Dragon enemy. After meeting those conditions, players should be able to quickly earn 6,500 Gold for every White Dragon they defeat. Repeat the process by exiting and re-entering the area.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia official artwork.