Castlevania Chronicles Stages
he areas of Castlevania Chronicles sometimes borrow from the original Castlevania, but most of these places are completely original. The first and seventh stages are closely based on areas from Castlevania, and the fourth stage is reminiscent of the second stage from Castlevania 1. There are vague parallels to other games, too. The sixth stage has a collapsing bridge similar to scenes from Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse and Haunted Castle, and the fifth stage has teeter-tottering platforms that were featured in III.
Notable events include riding a raft atop rapidly rising water, navigating through a crystalline ice cavern, and climbing a giant toy room filled with killer dolls. The stages are very deadly, so watch your step!
The Monastery
The hunt for Dracula begins on a path with broken arches, wrecked statues, corroded fences, contorted trees, and disheveled overgrown plants. The drawbridge leading to the Castle mysteriously opens, inviting Simon to the horrors of Dracula's estate.
The inside should be very familiar to Castlevania players. Pillared walls dressed in red drapes and green trimmed windows line the halls, and mauve garbed Zombies rush with hunger for Simon's brain. Underground is a flooded basement where Mermen propagate. The territorial lagoon creatures leap from the quagmire to harass Vampire Hunters. Once out of the wet cellar, Simon will meet one of his most well known foes - the Giant Bat. Kill the night stalker before it kills you, and continue your quest toward the Castle Keep.
Simon Belmont stands in Dracula's unkempt front yard ready for the horrors that wait in our long adventure ahead. Cross your heart, we're going in!
This stage is almost a duplicate of the original Castlevania's first stage. There are differences in where power-ups and secrets are placed, but gameplay mechanics are what really make this a different experience beyond the graphical face lift.
A huge painting is displayed for Dracula's guests to admire.
Just like the original Castlevania game, if you perform an odd deed in a certain spot, something magical will happen. Collect that crown to boost your point total by one thousand.
The Giant Bat appears on cue where you'd expect it, but the aerial critter has a few new tricks up its sleeve.
Enemies:
• Zombie
• Vampire Bat
• Peeping Eye
• Hunchback
• Merman
• Panther
Boss:
• Phantom Bat
Music Track:
The Underground Aqueduct
Our adventure leads us to a gravelly brown cave filled with stalactites, waterfalls, bats, and gremlins. Mischievous creatures can be seen fluttering about the craggy structures in the backgrounds, so prepare for defense because they're coming to attack. There is a large skeleton of a dragon tangled in the rocks where paths split. If you take an upper path you will meet a hooded figure that can leave useful items. The lower path leads to a large pool guarded by a living statue of a lion's head. Once the statue is destroyed water will surge through the cave and elevate a small raft ever higher. Stay on the raft and keep your wits about you as it speeds toward the top, because it isn't hard to fall off. Mermen will pursue you to make the situation even more worrying. A living dead Dragon rises from the water to serve as the ultimate obstacle in this cave.
There is a spongy green substance that blocks the path. It will not harm Simon, but it must be destroyed in order to continue on.
Plan the distance of your jumps well. You can see what happened to the less fortunate souls below.
The remnants of a giant winged dragon are affixed to the craggy walls of the grotto.
This unknown fellow is willing to part with one of many different items. If you're not keen on one set he advertises, whip him and he'll offer another. He could be an homage to the game Vampire Killer, in which players can whip quizzically placed merchants for items.
This is a great spot to build your points if you have a cross, though such showboating comes with the risk of being knocked off the raft by Mermen's fireballs. A safer approach is to stay in one spot and keep your head down.
Enemies:
• Peeping Eye
• Vampire Bat
• Skele-Dragon
• Wyrm
• Merman
• Gremlin
Boss:
• Skeleton Dragon
Music Track:
Courtyard
A heavy ill-omened sky looms above this verdant courtyard. It seems like a pleasant place from a distance, but once you step into it, spirits within trees lunge in attack, oversized caterpillars appear that would rather feed on human flesh than leaves, and bird-riding hunchbacks attack in swarms.
The grounds are well kept with many lush trees, well trimmed hedges, and lovely cerulean masonry. There is a fancifully sculpted fountain and many meandering statues in the garden. Even the stonework proves treacherous. The fountain will scatter deadly bubbles at Simon and the statues will come to life to fire arrows. Once past the initial stretch, you will come upon a walled in area filled with mud. Don't stand in the mire too long or it will drag Simon under.
At the end of the mucky path, a stone wall will open leading underground. There you will find a crystalline ice cavern filled with bloody booby traps and dangerously placed foes. Arcane structures glow with torchlight in the backgrounds.
These tree-men are a tribute to the arcade game, Haunted Castle. Don't move forward too quickly or one of these creatures may catch you unaware.
This fountain is another good place for building points if you have the cross or axe. At its peak is a sculpture of Count Dracula preying upon a woman.
This bemired section is corrupted by toads, mud creatures, and ravens. That candle at the bottom contains a useful and rare healing herb. Getting down there is chancy, as Simon will have to sink deep enough into the mud to get past the stone formations.
One of the biggest mysteries of Dracula's castle is these people that are frozen within the ice crystals of this underground area. Their stories are untold.
Many peculiar structures inhabit the background, including what appears to be large alters and a stone engraving of Olrox.
Enemies:
• Tree Spirit
• Vampire Bat
• Giant Centipede
• Hunchback
• Eagle
• Stone Archer
• Toad
• Ice Skeleton
• Water Blob
• Mud Woman
• Raven
• Anaconda
Boss:
• Necromancer
Music Track:
Red Brick Cathedral
This stage honors the second stage of the original Castlevania game. It has the characteristic red tone to the surroundings, Medusa Heads, and armored sentries that will try to encumber your progress. There is also a set of crushing traps near the end that can instantly kill Simon. Prominent features of this stage are the vertical scrolling challenges you will face, making this crimson area somewhat reminiscent of Castlevania III's Curse Castle. The first room you encounter has you climbing stair cases while dodging waving Medusa Heads. Get used to it, because the stage that follows is much worse.
This stage wastes no time. Right at the beginning you're pitted against staircases and quick Medusa Heads. Time your attacks well and don't try anything foolhardy.
There is a secret passage in this wall that leads to a nook with a pot roast and several sub-weapons. The most useful sub-weapon for this stage is the axe, which comes in handy when ascending towers where enemies are placed above you.
This room and statue seem to be based on Athena Parthenos – a massive sculpture of the Greek Goddess. The statuette cries bloody tears that form into blood skeletons.
This is another place that is reminiscent of the first game. The danger is heightened in Chronicles with the addition of even more lethal traps. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.
The stained glass from the center window in this room abruptly shatters and the shards assemble into a humanoid figure that obstructs the path. Do what you can to get past this dangerous foe.
Enemies:
• Medusa Head
• Vampire Bat
• Skele-Dragon
• Blood Skeleton
• Bone Pillar
• Knight
• Ghost
• Skeleton
• Stained-Glass Ghost
Boss:
• Medusa
Music Track:
Clock Tower
This is one of the most deviously designed stages in the entire series. Hazards include footing that will flip over and drop whatever is standing on it, teeter-tottering platforms, spikes, and well positioned enemies. Keep your wits about you as best you can, because all it takes is one false move and Simon is but a memory.
Once past the first tower, there is a level strip filled with more traps, like rapid spinning gears you must ride, but if you do not leap off them at the right time, they will carry Simon to his doom. There is also an unsteady pendulum that must be ridden over a long bed of spikes. One tap from a waving Medusa Head will send Simon to a prickly death.
The most perilous area is the final tower. You must climb many mobility-limiting staircases while dealing with Peeping Eyes and Bone Scimitars that are stationed above and waiting to strike. To make matters worse, certain gears will come loose and become dangers. Many adventurers never get past this point.
Dracula's most vicious and feral servant awaits whoever survives this giant death trap at the tower's peak.
Intense platforming action awaits you. If you fall off the pivoting platforms it may take them a while to get back into a position where you can jump on them again.
These gears are oscillating rapidly. You must ride them to the other side, but if you do not hurry off them, they will carry Simon into a bleak pit or a row of terribly sharp barbs.
Riding pendulums over valleys of death has become a tradition in Castlevania. This time is especially dangerous, as Simon must then leap to unstable platforms held by defective chains. Ante up, Vampire Slayer.
There are rusted gears everywhere and some are liable to unfasten and add to the list of perils. Move higher into the tower cautiously.
Waiting at the end of this tribulation is . . . a tall barefooted woman? Keep your guard up.
Enemies:
• Medusa Head
• Bone Scimitar
• Peeping Eye
• Hunchback
• Bone Pillar
Boss:
• She-Wolf
Music Track:
Floating Corridor and Tower of Dolls
At the Castle exterior a large yellow moon monitors everything below. Dracula's Chamber can be seen in the distance resting against the sky. The main attraction of this area is a long bridge that connects the Clock Tower with the Tower of Dolls. The bridge will break while Simon is crossing it, so you must guide him through a gang of Medusa Heads quickly. If you're too slow, you won't make it out alive.
The Tower of Dolls is probably the most curious place in Dracula's Castle. It is a colorful keep of blue and purple tones. Much of the ground is made of toy chests that will sometimes open to release deadly balloons, or vicious clown dolls.
When you reach the top of the tower, you will enter the Hall of Mirrors. This is an odd pathway filled with possessed mirrors that will come to life and attack. Don't move forward too quickly or you may be caught unawares.
The castle exterior. Dracula's personal quarters float below the yellow moon.
This collapsing bridge waits for no man. Hurry across, but watch out for the Medusa Heads. A stopwatch is very effective for this area.
Don't think the Tower of Dolls to be child's play. This kaleidoscopic play house is much more dangerous than it at first appears. To think that some of Simon's toughest adversaries are a gang of dolls.
It gets weirder and weirder. Now, looking glass mirrors are out for Simon's neck.
Something isn't quite right in this aureate chamber. Simon's reflection . . . isn't following him the way it should be.
Enemies:
• Medusa Head
• Bone Scimitar
• Winged Skeleton
• Doll
• Clown
• Toy Bat
• Balloon
• Axe Armor
• Mirror
Boss:
• Doppelganger
Music Track:
Torture Chamber and Laboratory
This is a ghastly and nightmare-like area where human prisoners are being driven mad within locked cells. Some desperately beg Simon for release, while the completely demoralized pace back in forth in utter despair. Blood and human remains are splattered everywhere, making for a grisly sight. Especially freakish monsters roam these dark halls. They are probably results of some perverse experiments on imprisoned humans.
This area has the same layout as the fifth stage from the original Castlevania. Just like before, once you pass the Dungeon, you will enter a gloomy laboratory where who knows what is going on. Human body parts and organs can be seen on tables with operating tools. What appear to be human infants burst out of capsules to attack Simon.
Past the laboratory is a bizarre art gallery where Dracula's friend awaits Simon.
This stage is like the fifth stage of Castlevania 1, except it is much grimmer and there are plenty of new threats to worry about. Skeletons stationed above will attempt to rain bones down on Simon. Stay on the move.
This beastie is an example of the depraved creatures that lurk these shadowy halls.
Rondo of Blood has a stage that is also based on the fifth stage of Castlevania, but Chronicles really eclipses it in the gruesome factor. Maimed human bodies dangle from the ceiling, some of which have been torn asunder.
The Creature is another product of the perverse experiments going on in this laboratory dungeon.
Paintings infused with black magic make up a hypnagogic gallery leading to the confrontation with Death.
Enemies:
• Medusa Head
• Skeleton
• Explode Skeleton
• Hunchback
• Blood Skeleton
• Two-Headed Beast
• Spider-Skeleton
• Axe Armor
• Fetus
• Frankenstein's Monster
Boss:
• Death
Music Track:
Dracula's Chamber
This is a warm colored area with wooden cabinets and suits of armor regally on display. Some of Dracula's most elite troops secure this area, like a company of knights and his personal attendants, a fierce group of maids that keep the grounds clean. There is an outdoor area with agitated crimson clouds that is haunted by phantom bats, which is reminiscent to Castlevania 1's final stage. Past Dracula's maids and his stately chambers lays the prominent staircase leading to the throne room.
Will Simon earn a place in legend as the greatest Vampire Slayer ever, or will he be remembered as the fool who challenged Count Dracula? The outcome depends on you.
Some of the armor is inhabited by apparitions. Beware the swordsmen that come dashing from the left and right.
There is what looks like a small abbey with an altar of Christ. It is left defaced and derelict in sacrilege.
High above ground Simon fights toward Dracula through a flock of Giant Bats. There are a few difficult jumps among these jagged ledges. Try to get Simon as close to the edge as you can without falling off.
The last line of defense between Simon and Dracula is a group of maid servants.
Simon meets his mortal foe at the castle's highest point in the battle of fate.
Enemies:
• Crossbow Armor
• Long Axe Armor
• Sword Armor
• Mace Armor
• Flame Armor
• Phantom Bat
• Panther
• Zombie Maid
Boss:
• Dracula
Music Track:
