Castlevania: Bloodlines Stages
loodlines makes its mark by stepping outside Dracula's Castle and taking the hunt all over Europe. Elizabeth Bartley, the niece of Count Dracula, is on a quest to resurrect the Dark Lord. She is journeying across the old continent causing nefarious acts, gathering the forces of darkness, and using her twisted magic to warp several locations. Hunters John Morris and Eric Lecarde are the ones who stand against her. The path splits at select spots for each hunter, but it's never anything too drastic. Hurry and follow the Countess through Europe and try to stop the resurrection of Dracula.
Castle Dracula - Romania
The Borgo Pass is a gateway to the realm of Count Dracula, resting high in the wild Carpathian Mountains. John and Eric's adventure begins in this accursed land. Though Dracula has not been resurrected, the ruins of his castle remain, and denizens of darkness still scrounge around them.
Developers can't resist revisiting the original Castlevania stage. Draped windows, putrid zombies, and a flooded crypt; everything you would expect and even more. The throwback to the original only lasts during the first segment of the stage; once the Hellhound appears the ruins transition into large blue bricked rooms with maimed corpses morbidly hanging from ceilings. This path can be taken all the way to what's left of the Count's Throne Room, where Drolta has left a Mecha Knight to slow you down.
Rather than having a "Welcome" doormat, Count Dracula has mutilated corpses strewn about his landscape to greet visitors. Don't let the vampire's intimidation tactics enfeeble you. Press on to do what must be done.
Halls, windows, and zombies. This place is very close to how you may remember it, but it's decked in chestnut and burgundy instead of the usual pallid walls and green trimmed windows.
As scheduled, Mermen attack in the clammy and mossy subterrane. They've had quite a change in appearance since the last time we saw them.
One of the neat things about Bloodlines is how much you can interact with the environment and even use it to your advantage. This massive swinging blade makes no distinction between friend and foe. Whatever it connects with, it harms.
The flight leading to Count Dracula's throne. The Master's Chamber looks like a maelstrom passed through it. The confrontation between Van Helsing's gang and Dracula must have been intense.
Enemies:
• Zombie
• Skeleton
• Peeping Eye
• Merman
• Ghost
• Golem
• Skeleton Flail
• Skeledragon
• Armed Skeleton
• Scimitar
Boss:
• Drolta's Mecha Knight
Music Track:
Atlantis Shrine - Greece
After the Romanian excursion, the heroes travel to a beautiful Grecian city, the remains of a great island civilization, much of which is only known to the mists of time. Most of the wreckage sleeps beneath the waves, but pieces of its past grandeur can be seen reaching out of the vast deep. The water rises and sinks, revealing and concealing the ruins. After passing through the first area, a cascade causes the water to rise quickly, and you must hurry to stay ahead of it. John's swinging ability and Eric's high leaping will prove useful here.
Upon reaching the top of the ruins, it's revealed that a weather wizard is causing the rapid fluctuation with the water. Defeat him and his entourage of armored cretins to drain the Shrine and descend into new areas. If you move down too quickly, your hero will fall into draining water and drown. Choose your moves carefully to get to the bottom intact and meet the Golem well prepared.
The sun casts warm coral and apricot tones across Greece as it sets behind the hills and oceans, making way for its nightly counterpart.
Ruins so resplendent. Rise through the blue maze of stonework before water claims your hero. Eric's leaping ability is very useful here.
At the ruins' peak, a mage resides among vegetated fountains and broken pillars. He is causing a torrential downpour. Slay this fiend to stop him from further flooding the ruins.
A large, forgotten vessel sleeps in the background. Who knows what stories it tells? It's a shame we aren't able to go onboard and investigate.
I bet you were expecting some sort of sea monster to be the boss here. Curiously, Elizabeth and Drolta have placed a stony Golem to stand guard over this aquatic city.
Enemies:
• Minotaur
• Merman
• Medusa Head
• Ball of Destruction
• Raven
• Skeledragon
• Golem Knight
• Bone Pillar
• Armor Lord
• Red Armor Lord
• Water Mage
Boss:
• Golem
Music Track:
Leaning Tower of Pisa - Italy
This bell tower is part of a cathedral in Pisa. It was meant to stand vertically, but mishaps with the foundation caused it to lean to one side. The battle begins on night cloaked lawns around the cathedral and baptistry. Beyond is a segment that is vaguely reminiscent of the Curse Castle from Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. Red hued stones are found in the background, and long staircases are guarded by Bone Pillars from side to side. After passing through dim halls guarded by a giant Skele-dragon, climb a wobbling tower with footing that shifts as the building shakes.
The fight is taken to the high skies surrounding the central tower. A series of eerie platforms are floating about the tower, and you must use them to make it to the tower's peak and face the Gargoyle, who has decided to use the crest as its roost. Destroy the flying foe to clear all of Elizabeth's evil taint from this area and continue following the Countess' trail.
The Minotaurs are versatile enemies. They'll tear pieces of the architecture off and use them as bludgeons. Occasionally, they'll succumb to their bullish instinct and try ramming the vampire hunters.
Up the stairs we go. There are some items set off to the side, but it's probably best to skip them and head directly up. Don't stop to battle the Bone Pillars.
The path splits in this room depending on what vampire hunter you choose. In this claustrophobic setting, Eric leaps higher into the tower as bloodthirsty harpies continuously pour in from above to harass him.
There are occult statues of Baphomet in the tower. Seeing as the Leaning Tower of Pisa's origins are in Christianity, those weren't originally put there. Perhaps they are a result of Elizabeth's magic.
Use these platforms to ascend miles high into the violet sky and reach the top of the tower. Beware the skeletal dragons that will try to knock you to your doom.
Enemies:
• Harpie
• Minotuar
• Bone Pillar
• Bat
• Medusa Head
• Mummy
• Skeleton Dragon
• Giant Skeledragon
Boss:
• Gargoyle
Music Track:
Munitions Factory – Germany
Up to this point in the series, this is the most mechanical stage that has appeared. This facility pumps out tools of death to support Germany and the Central Powers in the Great War. Many of the undead here seem to be those that fell in battle. Elizabeth's magical touch has reanimated them to serve her purposes.
Inside, the facility has a conveyer belt system, large pistons that may crush the careless and skeleton troopers that patrol the garrison. Eventually, the area turns into a maze of spinning gears and chains. To what end the mechanical intestines are working toward is a mystery. The gears have been enchanted by an evil hex left behind by Elizabeth, and a group of them are the ultimate adversary of this weapons factory. Defeat the spellbound cogs to free this area from Elizabeth's witchery.
A company of undead troopers defend this factory on both sides of barbed wire fences. A historic German castle is seen rising above the tree-laden scenery in the distance.
Conveyer belts are found throughout the first parts of the factory. Don't be too confident while riding them, they may drag you into a pit.
This is another area where overconfidence may lead to your demise. Don't proceed too quickly. All it takes is one mistake to get smashed by these dynamos.
Further in, the area begins resembling a clock tower. Ride spinning gears and cogs higher into the foundry, but watch out for skeleton swordsman and o'so'tricky Medusa Heads that will try to kill you in one shot with a well timed shove.
Frankenstein's Monster! Lamentably, this classic villain has been relegated to mid-boss status. It's really too bad, because he's far cooler than the regular boss of this stage.
Enemies:
• Skeleton
• Skeleton Mace
• Armed Skeleton
• Medusa Head
• Skeleton Knight
• Ghost
• Speed Demon
• Gears
• Frankenstein's Monster
Boss:
• Gear Steamer
Music Track:
Palace of Versailles - France
This opulent château is not particularly vertically high, but it covers an extremely large expanse of land. The gardens alone swell over 1,900 acres. It served as the seat of power in France from 1682 to 1789. It begins in the wicked gardens, which have been transformed from tranquil to treacherous by Elizabeth's evil magic. Giant rose petals release pollen that will distort the motor functions of the heroes, causing them to operate in reverse. Try to knock the blossoms off of the giant bushes before going past them.
The famous Versailles fountain warps into a vulgar pool of blood, which births red skeletons. Past the spring and inside the palace, beams of moonlight stream through the windows as axe armors defend the halls. Beware the faulty chandeliers; they will fall from their perches as you walk below them. With careful timing, you can use the coronas to your advantage and have them hit your enemies instead.
In the Chapel of Versailles, one of the grandest interiors of the palace, the path splits. Eric will need to go vertically, while John must go into a store room and swing across a large pit. Eventually, both paths will lead to the Queen of Moss - A horrid beast that fancies itself as a noble woman.
Versailles has quite possibly the most heart stirring gardens in the world, but the entire place has been magically distorted by Elizabeth's touch. Be wary; the mutated plant life will try to end your quest here.
Matching the beauty of the arranged plants is the immense fountain, which has been perverted by Elizabeth and begins vomiting a sea of blood that the hunters must wade through.
The shadowed halls are defended by ghostly armor. You'll see all kinds of troopers here, like axe throwing knights, archers, and even a knight that has a gatling gun mounted on his arm, like Barret from Final Fantasy.
The path branches in the angelic golden trimmed chapel. As Eric, leap high into the air and use the platforms to reach the rooftops of the chateau. As John, continue to the left and into the store room, where strange experiences await.
A suspicious floating noblewoman appears at the end. In the background, it looks like a giant bleeding venus fly trap is stuck between that broken arch. Either that, or it's the Queen's cocoon.
Enemies:
• Stone Rose
• Deadly Vine
• Circle Weed
• Blood Skeleton
• Ball of Destruction
• Death Swinger
• Harpie
• Flea Man
• Bone Pillar
• Axe Armor
• Wall Slime
• Sword Armor
• Bag Slave
• Hammer Hammer
• Gatling Knight
• Archer
• Blue Skeleton
• Wheel Knight
• Blue Armor Knight
• Evil Pillar
Boss:
• Queen of Moss
Music Track:
Castle Proserpina – England
This muted and dismal castle is the base of Elizabeth Bartley, and where you will finally confront the mysterious Countess. The rite for resurrecting the Dark Lord is almost complete, and the remains of Dracula are resting in a coffin in the castle's highest floor.
The invasion begins on a bridge where an English village is resting in the distance, being observed by an overpowering crimson moon. The bridge to the inside of the castle is guarded by Medusa Heads that will try to blast the heroes from a distance. Inside, the castle is rigged with devious tricks and traps. In the first room, watch your footing to make sure you don't accidentally fall down a whole. The room following that has been turned completely upside down. Once you're past those areas, Death and Elizabeth are the only obstacles between you and Dracula's coffin.
Gothic nightscapes as only Castlevania can do them. If you couldn't guess from this dramatic opening, this is where the adventure will come to an end. Someone has to die, either the hunters or Elizabeth.
Elizabeth has been a dutiful hostess and has adorned her sinister English castle with puzzling traps to stall or kill you.
The Count's most loyal servant, Death, makes his presence known. When this powerful spirit being is encountered, it is an omen that Dracula is nearby.
Dracula's shady niece realizes she must get her hands dirty and take care of you herself. Don't be mesmerized by her beauty. Answer her challenge and stay on the offensive.
What John and Eric have been trying to prevent has happened. Count Dracula is reborn. The only thing to do now is send him back to the underworld. John Morris may not have expected this moment to come in his lifetime, but destiny waits for no man.
Enemies:
• Raven
• Beam Medusa Head
• Axe Armor
• Ball of Destruction
• Mecha Knight
Boss:
• Death
• Elizabeth Bartley
• Count Dracula
• Drolta Tzuentes
• Dracula
Music Track:
• Calling from Heaven
• Theme of Simon
