Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles Secrets
here are quite a few secrets to be found in Dracula X Chronicles. If you're a Rondo of Blood expert and think that you will know your way inside out because you're familiar with that game, think again! DXC has tricks up its sleeve that you may not be prepared for.
Unlock Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Hidden within the Cemetery (Stage 3') lays the direct sequel to Rondo of Blood, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Play the level as you normally would, but stick to the upper route. Obtain the Axe sub-weapon before ascending to the upper area with the large spiked ball and chains attached to the ceiling. Progress through here, and take the stairs past the pit with the ghostly hands reaching out. You will see a platform snared by a mass of vines out of Richter's reach; use the Axe to strike it down (the Cross also works well here.) Jump on the platform to access the upper ledges. Proceed across them until you encounter a seemingly solid tombstone; shatter it with your whip and Symphony of the Night is yours!
(Note that in the original Rondo of Blood, the tombstone reveals a Giant Heart.)
The original so-called "Metroidvania" is located in the dank caves of the Cemetery. You'll be tested with a bit of platforming before you can grab this unlockable.
Unlock Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Considered a classic, the original Rondo of Blood has long been the rare crown jewel of any Castlevania fan's collection. However, it was fabled to be difficult to acquire and play, provided that you must also have the Turbo Grafx 16 to play it. The Dracula X Chronicles remedies this by providing the original Rondo to see what worldwide audiences missed out on, provided that you unlock it.
In Stage 4 in the path towards the Carmilla and Laura battle, you will encounter a noticeably tall stack of Bone Pillars, six in all. Beyond these skeletal menaces is a contraption consisting of a swinging platform and a spiked ball. Jump on the platform and jump again to avoid being bludgeoned by the ball. You'll then be face to face with a wall and flight of stairs seemingly out of reach above it. Whip at the lower part of the wall to reveal a cherry bomb, and strike it again to blast away the obstacle. Head into the new path, but watch out for the Axe Armor that will greet you. Past him and a Peeping Eye are two spiked blocks that will ascend and fall as if to crush you. Jump on the rightmost one, and leap onto the ledges above. At the end of the upper ledges is a lone candle- whip it and grab the item inside. Now you can relive the classic.
Ignite these explosives to break down the rest of the wall.
Here it is! At long last, Rondo of Blood is playable to fans outside of Japan.
Unlock Castlevania PEKE
PEKE is a small interactive error message that shows should your TG-16 not have a graphics card compatible with Rondo. Technically, it is the fourth game in Dracula X Chronicles, but lasts only a minute and consists of large, cartoony graphics. To experience this oddity firsthand, beat Boss Rush Normal three times.
This is a strange little game that may entertain you for a few seconds.
Level Select
Input X-X!V''Q as your name, and you can instantly play any level that you want.
Play as Maria Renard (Symphony of the Night)
After completing the game, enter MARIA as your name. Now you can roam the halls as this daring female vampire hunter.
Rescue Maria
At Stage 2, the Behemoth will smash through the wall and begin to chase you. Past the very first pit are two candles. The second one holds a key. Grab the key (you will lose your current sub-weapon), and flee the Behemoth whilst dodging the gaping holes underfoot until you come to the next door. Scale the wall until you are on the highest platform. The deranged monster will crash into the wall and dissolve. Destroy the Peeping Eye and bat that greet you, and step down the wooden staircase.
You will now be in a flooded basement. Hop across the pillars jutting out of the water and avoid the angry Mermen. At the end of the basement there is a gate; use the key like a sub-weapon to open it. After the cutscene, you can take control of the fiery-spirited child who packs a surprising punch!
The key is absolutely necessary for rescuing Maria Renard. Do not miss it.
Rescue Tera
Tera is held captive within the chasms of Stage 3'. After you have encountered the Giant Skull sub-boss, you will find yourself in a muddy area. The stone structure ahead has a door at the top; however, ignore this and position Richter at the area below it. Jump and whip at the wall to smash a chunk away. Keep doing this from top to bottom until you have carved a path. Now, you are below the fossilized remains of a dragon or dinosaur. Notice the wooden handles of a stairway in front of you? Descend the stairway into the room below, and walk up to Tera to trigger a cutscene.
This faithful nun prayers for a savior in an underground grotto of the Cemetery. She will give you a charm enabling you to destroy Red Skeletons.
Rescue Iris
Stage 4' is where you need to be. Past the first grate there are log-boats careening down a waterfall. Leap beyond the falls to the opposite area. Once you are passed the first two rope bridges, you will come across a curious blue frog. Walk under it when it performs a large leap, and proceed to the right. Shortly, you will find a small row of frog statues. Walk to the other end, and the blue frog will hop onto the broken center statue, sinking down below. Go left, and a piece of the bridge will have shattered. Jump down and keep walking left until you see a bit of a stairway poking out from the ground.
In this subterranean hovel, keep right, destroy the opposing Mermen, and skip across the rocks floating in the water until you arrive at a door. Within is Iris.
This oddly colored amphibian is the secret to rescuing Iris. Lead it to the group of frog statues.
Now you can break through crystalline barriers. With Terra and Iris' treasures, you can rescue Annette.
Rescue Annette
The other girls must be rescued before you can properly save Richter's beloved. In Stage 7, you will be chased across a crumbling bridge before you come to the interior of the Clock Tower itself. As you scale the gears, look to your left; you will see a red pillar sealing off a floor switch. Whip the pillar to shatter it, and step on the switch. Once this is done, look to your right. Above the skeleton facing you is an immobile cog and a locked door. Keep whipping the cog until the door opens. Through the door are a hawk and its nest. Within the foul fowl's clutches is a key. Slay the bird to retrieve the key (the Axe works wonders) and smash the eggs for sustenance. Exit back into the Tower and enter the next portion.
Once you pass the section with the harpies, you will find yourself in yet another vertical area. At the bottom is a locked door. Ignore it for now, for you must resolutely head upwards until you see a white pillar of crystals. Smash the pillar and once again step on the floor switch. Quickly head to the bottom, and you will find that a new floor has been opened up beneath the initial locked door. Head to the lower of these two doors- the top contains nothing but deceit. Use the key sub-weapon and enter for a heartwarming reunion.
