Vampire Killer Bosses
ampire Killer's bosses are more or less the same as their Castlevania counterparts. While action has been mixed with puzzle and exploration elements, the bosses are as tough as ever . . . if you come ill-equipped. The further you progress, the more deadly the boss fights will be. However, in this adventure, Simon Belmont has some new tricks. For one, new items, like the shield, give a degree of defense against projectile attacks. Vampire Killer's equivalent of the stop watch, the Hourglass, affects all bosses. If you want to be rid of your monster foes, simply freeze them in time and whip them until they're ashes. Even Castlevania's most formidable bosses such as Death and Frankenstein's Monster can be quickly killed in this manner. Keep in mind, Vampire Killer's bosses have a nefarious ally - the game's own poor hit-detection and sluggish controls. If you have naught but the leather whip, you will have to stand very close to each boss in order for the game to register damage. So plan in advance and keep your courage up. Here's Vampire Killer's boss roster.
Phantom Bat
The classic winged baddie swoops from the Entrance Hall's ceiling to drain Simon of his blood. He will dive, pause in midair, and send a fireball hurtling at our hero before dive-bombing again. It's best to quickly move to the side as he flies down, and strike when he's level with Belmont. If you have the Hourglass, even better! Freeze time when he's level with Simon and thrash him until he's nothing but a greasy spot on the floor.
Medusa
At the end of the Chapel in a stained-glass sanctuary lays a lovely stone bust of a maiden. As the ominous boss music kicks in the bust is revealed to be that Grecian freak-show herself, the snake-haired Medusa.
On the bright side, this fight doesn't rely on skill as much as it relies on your mashing the attack button. Medusa's massive mug will slowly bob around before resting and releasing a snake or two after Simon. If you have both the Hourglass and Holy Water, this battle can last only for a few second. Freeze Medusa where she is and hurl a vial of the blessed water at her hideous countenance and watch her life bar quickly melt away. Rinse and repeat if she's still alive. If you lack these items, quickly run up to her and just keep wailing away at her until she goes down. Assuming your life bar is in good shape, you should win this quick battle of perseverance.
Twin Mummies
After clearing the battlements, Simon Belmont will eventually come to an abandoned brick room. What better way to celebrate your accomplishment of not dying by partying with twin Egyptian deadites? Apparently our bandaged friends decide three's a crowd as they initiate attack. The mummies' attacks are quite simple; they will pace for a bit before launching a flying bandage to smite Simon. The best strategy is to not even move; just stay on the top bricks you entered on and crouch down. Whip at each bandage attack the mummies send at you, and strike them when they get too close. Douse them with some Holy Water if you have it to shorten the battle. Keep this strategy up and before long they will go down in cursed flames.
Frankenstein's Monster and Igor
In Castlevania, this deathly duo were noted for their sheer difficulty. Igor hops around madly, pouncing on top of Simon while also sending fireballs. Frankenstein stomps back and forth, bashing our hero if he gets too close. But if you bring the right weapons, this fight will be over quickly with Simon standing triumphant. Before you reach their room, make sure you have the Holy Water and either the red shield or the brown shield - both work. Stay on top of the left block and focus on Frankenstein's Monster. He's the carrier of the boss health bar as Igor is an immortal, and a very deadly annoyance. Chuck Holy Water at him when he's farther from Simon and whip when he's close. Try to dodge Igor when you can. His threat is greatly reduced when you have the shield, since his fireball attacks are merely deflected. With enough hits on The Creature, both he and Igor will disappear in flames. Collect the orb to move on to the Dungeon.
Death
Awaiting at the end of stage 5 is Castlevania's number two himself - Death. If you come to this fight unprepared, you may find yourself slashed to pieces by the sickles before landing even a couple of blows on the grim reaper. But if you bring the right item, it will only take a few seconds to send Death back to Hades. Like his Castlevania incarnation, he bounces around the room while sickles materialize out of air and home in on Simon. The moment you enter the room, Death will be standing on the center platform while three sickles are already flying towards our unfortunate hero. The most efficient way to send Death back to the underworld is to make sure you have the Hourglass in your inventory. Unlike most Castlevania games, both Death and his sickles will freeze with the Hourglass, enabling you to make short work of him. Halt time when he's level with Simon, and whip him 'till he's a pile of dust and bones.
Dracula
The master of Castlevania is particularly striking in this title. This is perhaps his most unusual appearance. His head is like that of the classic widow's-peaked, Bela Lugosi-inspired vamp we all know and love. But underneath his tattered red robe is nothing but rotted bones. He must have gotten a little stale in his coffin. The moment you set foot in Dracula's chamber, his head will appear from the floor before the rest of his decayed body fades in.
Dracula will teleport randomly around the room and shoot three fireballs. The trajectory of this attack is wider than what it is in other games; you cannot easily leap over them and strike his head. Depending on what weapon you have determines your strategy. If you have the whip, this battle will be much tougher. You have to run up to Dracula as he teleports in, whip the snarl off his face, and immediately turn, run, and duck below the middle fireball. If this sounds easier said than done, then you are right; his attack are very swift, so there's a great chance you'll be hit the moment you land your own attack on him. So, if you have either the leather whip or chain whip, make sure your health is high before the confrontation or you'll wind up as Dracula's next victim. Wage a battle of attrition, hitting him as much as possible so that his life meter depletes faster than yours. If you have a ranged weapon, however, this battle will be much easier. Navigate yourself to be farther from Dracula when he begins to teleport in, and chuck your weapon at his head. Immediately duck down, as the middle fireball will take off your own head if you're careless. If you have the Cross or Axe, be sure to jump up and grab them again before they fly off-screen or you'll be reduced down to the leather whip.
Once Dracula has sustains enough damage, the killing blow will send his head flying off-screen and his robes rend themselves. Congratulations! Except now Dracula's portrait has come alive in a last-ditch attempt to rid himself of his arch-foe. The Dracula Portrait's main attack is to send a stream of bats out of his mouth before pausing and blinking prior to resuming his attack. If you have just a whip, crouch behind either corner of the tower of blocks and wait for the stream of bats to end. Then quickly scale the blocks, jump, and whip the flashing crystal on his forehead. Again, be prepared to take a lot of damage as the steam of bats last long enough that Simon will inevitably be hit. If you have a ranged weapon, things will be a little easier. Jump to the top of the bricks, crouch, and keep sending your weapon at the crystal. After incurring enough damage, the crystal will be destroyed and Dracula's demonic soul will be sent back to the grave.
