Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse
Typed out by tsr
NES-VN-USA
How to play Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse
Konami(r)
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It's a cursed world we live in (thanks to Drac!)
The time is 100 years before Simon Belmont's birth. The moon burns red over-
head and black clouds loom large on the horizon. All is still and quiet. Only
the call of a distant crow stirs the cold night air. Suddenly, thunder roars
out of the Morbid Mountains and into the village of Warakiya. Like the yell of
an angry giant, the terrible sound shakes homes and shops as if they were sap-
ling branches.
But no one blinks an eye. The village is dead calm. For all the people have
fled after receiving warnings from the Great Beyond that Count Dracula has
assembled a mighty army of evil, and they're poised to march up from the
Valley of Graveyards to bury mankind in a Tomb of Terror. Unfortunately,
there's no corner on Earth that won't be gobbled up by this bloodthirsty
legion of Swamp Dragons, Slasher Skeletons and Forces of the Undead.
The last line of defense is you, Trevor Belmont - the forefather of Simon
Belmont and the origin of the Belmont Warlord Chromosomes. But your chances
are slimmer than Jim. In fact, the only real edge you have over this fang
sharpened freak is your power to transform into three different partner
spirits: Grant DaNasty, the ferocious Ghost Pirate. Sypha, the Mystic Warlord.
And Alucard, Dracula's forgotten son. Each of these spirits will confront you
as you fight through 17 possible levels of never-ending fright, including the
Haunted Ship of Fools, the Clock Tower of Untimely Death and Curse Castle. You
must also possess the strength to wield the mighty Battle Axe and Mystic Whip,
which were given to you by the Poltergeist King.
So go forth young Trevor into the cold black night, where death lurks around
every corner and evil lingers on every stone. And remember, if your courage
and cunning are any less than magnificent or if you fail to choose the correct
Paths of Fate, you'll be banished to the world of the undead, and zombies will
rule until the end of time.
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How to play in the graveyard
The adventure revolves around tough-as-nails Trevor Belmont. As Trevor, you
will find several locations throughout your journey where the road forks
(sorry, no spoons) in two directions. On these Paths of Fate you must make a
choice - Which way do you go, George? Which way do you go?
The spirits and the enemies you encounter, and your fate itself, will be det-
ermined by the path you choose. So try and remember your Cub Scout days and
give it your best shot. You will encounter three different spirits throughout
the game, each with special talents that can be used according to the situ-
ation at hand. Each spirit is waiting for Trevor in a different place, so keep
your eyes peeled at all times.
When you finally meet a spirit, he will join you in your quest to crust the
Count. (See below for details on how to transform into partner spirits.)
Choosing a Level of Terror
Depending on the Paths of Fate you choose, you will trudge through a variety
of Terror Levels, including the Murky Marsh of Morbid Morons and the Sunken
City of Poltergeists. To successfully clear a terror level, you must defeat
that level's Ultimate Evil and then grasp the Ball of Light to replenish your
Life Gauge. Remember, there are a total of 17 gruesome levels waiting to bury
you alive!
Trevor's Life Stock
You're given three lives at the start of the game. When all three lives are
vanquished by villains from the Great Beyond, the game is over, and Vampires
will have free reign over the world. Note: This vanquishing will occur each
time your Life Gauge dwindles to zero. Also, when you have transformed into a
partner spirit, you both will share the same Life Gauge.
Countdown to your Last Gasp
There is a time limit for each Terror Level. If the time runs out before you
finish a level, Trevor will lose one of his precious lives.
Boosting your Power and your Confidence
To boost your power, grab the item that appears after you have blown out a
candle or lantern, or after you have defeated an evil enemy.
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How to stir up the dead
Read through the complete message, then press the Start Button and the title
screen with the words Opening and Password will appear. Use the Select Button
to choose one of these messages, then press the Start button to enter your
selection.
If you are playing for the first time or want to start from the beginning of
the game, select Opening. A screen will appear for you to enter your name.
To enter your name use the Control Pad to line-up the cursor with the letters
in your name. Press the A Button to enter each of the letters. Press the B
Button to cancel a letter if you goof. You can also replace or change letters
by moving the cursor to the Arrow Symbol on the Letter Sheet and then pressing
the A Button to make your changes. Conclude the name entry stage by selecting
"End" and pressing either the A Button or the Start Button.
If you are continuing a previous game select Password. The name screen will
appear for you to enter your name just as you did for the previous game. You
must enter the identical name as the last time you played or the password won't
work. When the password screen appears, enter the password that you received
in the previous game. Now you're ready to begin playing from the beginning of
the Terror Level where you last finished. (For more details, see Password
Instructions below.)
When the Game Ends
When the game is over, you can continue your war against Drac by choosing
Continue with the Select Button. This allows you to start the game again from
the Terror Level where Trevor last perished.
To end the game, choose Password with the Select Button. Next, press the
Start Button and your password will appear. Be sure to write your password
down for safekeeping.
Turning the Spooky Sound Effects On and Off
Press both the A and B buttons and the Start Button simultaneously when the
title screen is displayed and the sound mode screen will appear. Here you can
choose the eerie background music you want to listen to during your adventure.
Press the Control Pad Up or Down to select your background music (press Down
to go forward and Up to go backward). Press the B Button and your favorite
tune will begin playing. You can turn the music off by pressing the A Button.
When you are through making your selection, press the Start Button to return
to the title screen.
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Meet your team of vampire hunters
Trevor C. Belmont
Trevor is the infamous forefather of Simon Belmont - the mighty warrior who
pulverized Dracula in Castlevania(r) and again in Simon's Quest(r). Trevor
has a number of oldie but goodie attack items that have been given to him by
the Poltergeist King. These include the Mystic Whip, Battle Axe, Banshee Boom-
erang, Dagger and Sacred Water. Trevor is also the master of special items,
including a Pocket Watch, Invisibility Potion and the Rosary.
"Spirit" Alucard
As the son of Count Dracula, Alucard once tried to prevent Trevor from accom-
plishing his mission. However, he reached a point where he could no longer
abide by his father's evilness, and is now looking for a partner to help him
put an end to his father's wicked plans. A resident of underground tunnels,
Alucard attacks with a Ball of Destruction, which he can also fire in three
directions (if he captures a special power booster). Alucard's primary
strength, though, is his ability to turn himself into a bat. However, he can-
not attack while he is airborne and will turn back into a human form if his
wings are clipped by an evil enemy.
"Spirit" Grant DaNasty
Count Dracula used his sinister powers to turn this Pirate Captain into a
ghost. And as one of Dracula's gruesome gang, he will attack you from the top
of the Clock Tower of Untimely Death. However, if you can defeat this scound-
rel, his spirit will join you. He's small, nimble and has a strong spring in
his step, so he's able to jump up onto walls or ceilings and stick to them
like glue. Grant's primary attack weapons are an axe and a dagger. Another of
his weapons is his skill to scurry along hidden routes not accessible to
Trevor. Unfortunately, both his body and his ego bruise easily.
"Spirit" Sypha Belnades
Sypha, the Mystic Warlord of Warakiya, is also a vampire hunter who walks
quickly and carries a big stick. Rumors of his death were spread throughout
Eastern Europe, but in truth he was captured by "Cyclops", the one-eyed
Ultimate Evil. Sypha uses his Warakiya Staff to attack. Other attack favorites
of his include flames, frozen crystals and lightning bolts. With these, he can
destroy evil enemies before they get close to him. However, his skin is very
thin and blisters easily when blasted by grotesque enemy attacks. To score
BIG, Sypha must attack before his enemies find him.
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The Password Screen (a message from the great beyond)
Press the Select Button to call forth the password screen. Use the Control Pad
to move the cursor around the Password Sheet. Press the B button to select
your password items (each time you press the B Button the cursor will move one
place to the right). Enter your selection by pressing the A Button. When you
have finished entering your password, press the Start Button. If you make a
mistake, press the Select Button to return to the name entry screen and start
over.
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How to control your Transylvania team
Control Pad
Press Left or Right to move characters to the left or the right. Press Up or
Down to climb up or down stairs.
A Button
Press to jump.
B Button
Press to attack with your Main Weapon. Also press the Control Pad up and the
B Button simultaneously to attack with a Warakiya War Item currently displayed
in the Warakiya War Item Window.
Start Button
Press to begin the game and to pause the action during the game.
Select Button
Press to select Opening, Password and Continue. Also press to transform into a
partner spirit.
Guiding Grant
Press and hold the Control Pad toward the wall you want Grant to cling to. Then
press the Control Pad in the direction you want him to move and he will climb
like crazy. NOTE: Depending on how hard you press the A Button, you can vary
the height of Grant's leaps and bounds.
Assisting Alucard
Press the Control Pad down and the A Button simultaneously to transform Alu-
card into a winged rodent...for those of you who aren't Biology Wizzes, that
means a Bat. (Repeat this procedure to humanize him.)
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An overview of terror (a guide to your hunting grounds)
Score
If your score exceeds 20,000 points, you will get another life. From then on,
you will gain a bonus life after every 50,000 points.
Time
When the time limit reaches zero, you will lost one of your lives.
Warakiya War Window
Warakiya War Items will appear in this window.
Heart Gauge
This will increase each time you capture a new heart. However, it will decrease
each time you use one of your Warakiya War Items.
Trevor's/Partner Spirit's Life Gauge
Your life gauge decreases each time you bump into an evil enemy or are hit by
an evil enemy's attack. When your Life Gauge runs out, you're history (or
should I say "toast"?)
Ultimate Evil's Life Gauge
Each time you successfully attack an Ultimate Evil, his Life Gauge will
decrease. When his gauge runs out, he is banished forever into the Land of
Limbo Spirits.
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Adding to your team (sort of an out-of-body experience)
At the start of the adventure your only player if Trevor C. Belmont. But as
the game progresses, you will meet partner spirits who Trevor will be able
to transform into at his will. The spirits who appear throughout the game will
vary, depending on the Paths of Fate you choose.
The partner spirit's appearance
Spirits will appear out of thin air when you have successfully defeated the
Ultimate Evil at the completion of a Terror Level. When a spirit enters, the
message screen will appear and the name of the spirit joining the battle will
be displayed. You can then choose whether or not you want this spirit for your
teammate. You can only have one partner spirit at a time. If you already have
a partner spirit and you meet a new spirit, you can choose either one and say
"sayonara" to another.
Choosing your friends wisely
Press the Control Pad up or down to choose whether you want to form a team
with a spirit. Then press the A button to enter your decision.
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Gifts from the poltergeist masters
These items may appear when you knockout/blowout a candle or lantern, when you
have clobbered certain evil enemies, or when you destroy certain walls. Note:
The Pocket Watch, Invisibility Potion and Rosary will appear in the Warakiya
War Item Window, and are used exactly like a Warakiya War Item.
The Heart of Stone
The number of hearts collected determines how many times you can use your
Warakiya War Items and also how long Alucard can soar like a bat. The more
hearts you possess, the better!
Leg of Werewolf
Capture these and restore slices of your Life Gauge.
Bonus Bag
Your score will increase when you grab one of these bags. The number of points
varies according to the value of the bag's contents.
1-Up
This gives you a bonus life (a big plus!).
Double Trouble
This item allows you to fire a Warakiya War Item twice in a row. Note: Sypha
and Alucard cannot use this item.
Triple Threat
This allows you to fire a Warakiya War Item three times in a row. Note: Again,
Sypha and Alucard cannot use this item.
Pocket Watch
This item stops all evil enemies dead in their tracks.
Invisibility Potion
This makes you invisible (and therefore invulnerable) for a limited period of
time.
Rosary
This gives you the power to destroy all the evil enemies on the screen in the
blink of an eye.
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Trevor C. Belmont's attack methods
Trevor's Main Weapon
Mystic Whip
The Mystic Whip is Trevor's main weapon. It has three different power levels.
By advancing a certain distance and capturing certain items, you can boost its
power to a Chain Whip and then a L..o..n..g Chain Whip (ouch!).
Trevor's Warakiya War Items
These are weapons Trevor will find as he journeys down his Paths of Fate. You
can only possess one at a time. When you obtain a Warakiya War Item, it will
appear in the Warakiya War Item Window and replace the one you previously had.
Battle Axe
The Battle Axe flies through the air along an arc. This is a very powerful
item.
Dagger
The Dagger flies straight and fast, but is not very powerful.
Banshee Boomerang
The Banshee Boomerang flies straight through the air with the greatest of
ease. When it reaches the end of its path, it will come flying back. Though it
moves slowly, the Banshee Boomerang is very powerful. (Banshee Fever.. Catch
it!)
Sacred Water
The Sacred Water flies along an arc until it crashes into the floor, where it
spills out and begins to burn, baby burn.
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Sypha Belnade's attack methods
Sypha's Main Weapon
Warakiya Staff
Sypha uses his Warakiya Staff to attack enemies. The power of the staff can
never be increased.
Sypha's Warakiya War Items
Flames
The flames are very powerful as they annihilate everything in its path.
Frozen Crystals
This item lets you shoot frozen crystals in all directions to freeze your
enemies for an instant. While your enemies are quick-frozen, climb in top of
them and destroy them with a blow from the staff.
Goodness Gracious Great Bolts of Lightning
The lightning bolt shoots zapping balls in three directions.
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Grant DaNasty's attack methods
Grant's Main Weapon
Dagger
Grant can use the dagger to stab his enemies or he can hurl it at them. When
thrown, the dagger flies to the right and left. When Grant is stuck to the
wall, he'll hurl it backwards, so be ready to duck, Chuck. Likewise, when
Grant is stuck in the ceiling, he throws it down.
Grant's Warakiya War Item
Axe
The axe is a very powerful weapon that can be used if Grant is lucky enough to
find it.
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Alucard's attack methods
Ball of Destruction
At first, this weapon can only be fired in one direction. However, you can
boost the firepower to shoot in two or three directions. (You can't fire a
shot when you're at the top of the stairs.)
Although Alucard cannot fire double or triple shots and has no special Wara-
kiya War Items, he does have the power to transform into a bat and fly around.
Each time he goes "batty" he uses up a certain number of heart marks while in
flight. If the supply of hearts runs out while Alucard is a bat of if he's
hit by an enemy attack, he will immediately turn back into his human form and
fall to the ground with a thud. (This is definitely a "fly by night" attack
method.)
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Count Dracula's cast of evil characters
There are an unknown number of evil characters lying in wait in every part of
this cursed adventure. Only a few of them have ever been seen by the human
eye. The rest of the undead remain shrouded in a veil of mystery. A sample of
these assorted evils include:
Bad Bat
Skeleton Dragon
Frankenstein
Pillar of Bones
The Gates of Death