I picked this game up earlier today (after finding out just yesterday that it was coming out today) and so far (I'm like 2 hours in) it's pretty good. At first it seemed to be a tad too linear (there were 2 places, a forest and crossing the water, that were just straight lines) but the areas I'm in now seem to have more paths like it should (in fact that crossing the water part has revealed itself to have alot more paths now that I have something that allows me to move freely underwater). I'd say it's about as non-linear as Portrait of Ruin.

As far as being better than SotN well I'll say that gameplay-wise it is. I love the glyph system (although I wish combos had more purpose), unleashing waves of magic, a raining deathstorm of axes or simply rapid weapons attacks with only a quick refilling MP bar to stop you definately makes you feel more powerful than you have in previous-CV games. And you'd think this system would make the game easier but you'd be wrong. I dunno if it's just me but this game actually feels harder than the previous 2 DS CV games. Not too hard mind you (I like harder games) just harder. SotN still has other factors that could make it better than this game though and because I'm so earlier in the game I can't really say if it wins in these areas yet but so far it seems atleast better than the other 2 DS CV games. Hell just the fact that it's outside the castle (even though you'll probably end up there I'm sure) wins it points with me.

I do agree, some of the levels are straight but if you think about it, when has a forest ever had floating platforms? I can forgive some of the level design but i am kind of bummed that alot of the levels don't really need exploration sadly but what i am happy about is that castlevania is bigger than Portrait.

also, some buddies told me that major grinding is required to beat the game.  some villagers or something ask for RARE drops (and those of you castlevania fanboys knows how long it can take even with MAX LUCK to get a rare drop) and this is necessary just to finish the stupid game.  also there's supposed to be something called a GLYPH system that limits how many times you can attack with your MAIN weapon??

god dammit i'm not buying this piece of shit.

Well from my experience so far the villager missions are side-quests (pretty much like the missions from that ghost guy in PoR) so you don't have to do them.

And as for limiting your attacks it actually works alot better than you might think. See in this game you don't just equip new weapons but use glyphs on both your arms and back as weapons. These glyphs can be anything from a sword to the ability to shoot lightning bolts. Since you can pretty much dual-wield any glyph (or even 2 different glyphs), which allows you use them at a much faster rate than in previous CV games by alternating your attacks (not only that some of these regular attacks are equavilant to the special attacks in previous games) MP is used when you use your regular attack because if it didn't well you'd be to damn powerful.
Heh I know, this still sounds stupid doesn't it? Well what makes it not stupid is the fact that if you stop attacking MP automatically refills, very quickly. This makes it feel more like a limiter (kinda like Secret of Mana's % system but... not) instead of a crutch. Tell you the truth they probably should have called it stamina or something instead of MP considering how it works.

But yeah this game is alot more linear than the other Metrovanias (or however the hell you spell that) and I take back what I said about it being atleast as non-linear as PoR cause it's not. Really I'm not sure if I'd call it a Metrovania since because of the world map there's usually like just 1 or 2 exits from an area and there's hardly any backtracking at all. It actually reminds me more of Demon's Crest... damn that game was awesome, Capcom needs to make a new Demon's Crest for the DS!!!

I do agree, some of the levels are straight but if you think about it, when has a forest ever had floating platforms?

When has an abandoned monestaery (or however you spell it) had skeleton soldiers, zombies, and floating horse heads as its inhabitants? I really don't play Castlevania for the realism, so I wouldn't mind a forest with floating platforms.