Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse
NES-VN-USACastlevania 3: Dracula's Curse Instruction ManualKonami(r)---It's a cursed world we live in (thanks to Dracula!)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. Onlythe call of a distant crow stirs the cold night air. Suddenly, thunder roarsout of the Morbid Mountains and into the village of Warakiya. Like the yell ofan 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 havefled after receiving warnings from the Great Beyond that Count Dracula hasassembled 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 SimonBelmont 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 fangsharpened freak is your power to transform into three different partnerspirits: Grant DaNasty, the ferocious Ghost Pirate. Sypha, the Mystic Warlord.And Alucard, Dracula's forgotten son. Each of these spirits will confront youas 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. Youmust 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 aroundevery corner and evil lingers on every stone. And remember, if your courageand cunning are any less than magnificent or if you fail to choose the correctPaths of Fate, you'll be banished to the world of the undead, and zombies willrule until the end of time.---How to play in the graveyardThe adventure revolves around tough-as-nails Trevor Belmont. As Trevor, youwill find several locations throughout your journey where the road forks (sorry, no spoons) in two directions. On these Paths of Fate you must make achoice - 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 andgive it your best shot. You will encounter three different spirits throughoutthe 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 keepyour eyes peeled at all times.When you finally meet a spirit, he will join you in your quest to crust theCount. (See below for details on how to transform into partner spirits.)Choosing a Level of TerrorDepending on the Paths of Fate you choose, you will trudge through a varietyof Terror Levels, including the Murky Marsh of Morbid Morons and the SunkenCity 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 yourLife Gauge. Remember, there are a total of 17 gruesome levels waiting to buryyou alive!Trevor's Life StockYou're given three lives at the start of the game. When all three lives arevanquished by villains from the Great Beyond, the game is over, and Vampireswill have free reign over the world. Note: This vanquishing will occur eachtime your Life Gauge dwindles to zero. Also, when you have transformed into apartner spirit, you both will share the same Life Gauge.Countdown to your Last GaspThere is a time limit for each Terror Level. If the time runs out before youfinish a level, Trevor will lose one of his precious lives.Boosting your Power and your ConfidenceTo boost your power, grab the item that appears after you have blown out acandle or lantern, or after you have defeated an evil enemy.---How to stir up the deadRead through the complete message, then press the Start Button and the titlescreen with the words Opening and Password will appear. Use the Select Buttonto choose one of these messages, then press the Start button to enter yourselection.If you are playing for the first time or want to start from the beginning ofthe 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 lettersin your name. Press the A Button to enter each of the letters. Press the BButton to cancel a letter if you goof. You can also replace or change lettersby moving the cursor to the Arrow Symbol on the Letter Sheet and then pressingthe 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 willappear for you to enter your name just as you did for the previous game. Youmust enter the identical name as the last time you played or the password won'twork. When the password screen appears, enter the password that you receivedin the previous game. Now you're ready to begin playing from the beginning ofthe Terror Level where you last finished. (For more details, see PasswordInstructions below.)When the Game EndsWhen the game is over, you can continue your war against Drac by choosingContinue with the Select Button. This allows you to start the game again fromthe Terror Level where Trevor last perished.To end the game, choose Password with the Select Button.  Next, press theStart Button and your password will appear. Be sure to write your passworddown for safekeeping.Turning the Spooky Sound Effects On and OffPress both the A and B buttons and the Start Button simultaneously when thetitle screen is displayed and the sound mode screen will appear. Here you canchoose 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 Downto go forward and Up to go backward). Press the B Button and your favoritetune 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 returnto the title screen.---Meet your team of vampire huntersTrevor C. BelmontTrevor is the infamous forefather of Simon Belmont - the mighty warrior whopulverized Dracula in Castlevania(r) and again in Simon's Quest(r). Trevorhas a number of oldie but goodie attack items that have been given to him bythe 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" AlucardAs 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 longerabide by his father's evilness, and is now looking for a partner to help himput 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 threedirections (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 hiswings are clipped by an evil enemy."Spirit" Grant DaNastyCount 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 topof 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 inhis 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 ofhis weapons is his skill to scurry along hidden routes not accessible toTrevor. Unfortunately, both his body and his ego bruise easily."Spirit" Sypha BelnadesSypha, the Mystic Warlord of Warakiya, is also a vampire hunter who walksquickly and carries a big stick. Rumors of his death were spread throughoutEastern Europe, but in truth he was captured by "Cyclops", the one-eyed Ultimate Evil. Sypha uses his Warakiya Staff to attack. Other attack favoritesof his include flames, frozen crystals and lightning bolts. With these, he candestroy evil enemies before they get close to him. However, his skin is verythin and blisters easily when blasted by grotesque enemy attacks. To scoreBIG, Sypha must attack before his enemies find him.---The Password Screen (a message from the great beyond)Press the Select Button to call forth the password screen. Use the Control Padto move the cursor around the Password Sheet. Press the B button to selectyour password items (each time you press the B Button the cursor will move oneplace to the right). Enter your selection by pressing the A Button. When youhave finished entering your password, press the Start Button. If you make amistake, press the Select Button to return to the name entry screen and startover.---How to control your Transylvania teamControl PadPress Left or Right to move characters to the left or the right. Press Up orDown to climb up or down stairs.A ButtonPress to jump.B ButtonPress to attack with your Main Weapon. Also press the Control Pad up and theB Button simultaneously to attack with a Warakiya War Item currently displayedin the Warakiya War Item Window.Start ButtonPress to begin the game and to pause the action during the game.Select ButtonPress to select Opening, Password and Continue. Also press to transform into apartner spirit.Guiding GrantPress and hold the Control Pad toward the wall you want Grant to cling to. Thenpress the Control Pad in the direction you want him to move and he will climblike crazy. NOTE: Depending on how hard you press the A Button, you can varythe height of Grant's leaps and bounds.Assisting AlucardPress 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, thatmeans a Bat. (Repeat this procedure to humanize him.)---An overview of terror (a guide to your hunting grounds)ScoreIf 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.TimeWhen the time limit reaches zero, you will lost one of your lives.Warakiya War WindowWarakiya War Items will appear in this window.Heart GaugeThis will increase each time you capture a new heart. However, it will decreaseeach time you use one of your Warakiya War Items.Trevor's/Partner Spirit's Life GaugeYour life gauge decreases each time you bump into an evil enemy or are hit byan evil enemy's attack. When your Life Gauge runs out, you're history (orshould I say "toast"?)Ultimate Evil's Life GaugeEach time you successfully attack an Ultimate Evil, his Life Gauge will decrease. When his gauge runs out, he is banished forever into the Land ofLimbo Spirits.---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 asthe game progresses, you will meet partner spirits who Trevor will be ableto transform into at his will. The spirits who appear throughout the game willvary, depending on the Paths of Fate you choose.The partner spirit's appearanceSpirits will appear out of thin air when you have successfully defeated theUltimate Evil at the completion of a Terror Level. When a spirit enters, themessage screen will appear and the name of the spirit joining the battle willbe displayed. You can then choose whether or not you want this spirit for yourteammate. You can only have one partner spirit at a time. If you already havea partner spirit and you meet a new spirit, you can choose either one and say"sayonara" to another.Choosing your friends wiselyPress the Control Pad up or down to choose whether you want to form a teamwith a spirit. Then press the A button to enter your decision.---Gifts from the poltergeist mastersThese items may appear when you knockout/blowout a candle or lantern, when youhave clobbered certain evil enemies, or when you destroy certain walls. Note:The Pocket Watch, Invisibility Potion and Rosary will appear in the WarakiyaWar Item Window, and are used exactly like a Warakiya War Item.The Heart of StoneThe number of hearts collected determines how many times you can use yourWarakiya War Items and also how long Alucard can soar like a bat. The morehearts you possess, the better!Leg of WerewolfCapture these and restore slices of your Life Gauge.Bonus BagYour score will increase when you grab one of these bags. The number of pointsvaries according to the value of the bag's contents.1-UpThis gives you a bonus life (a big plus!).Double TroubleThis item allows you to fire a Warakiya War Item twice in a row. Note: Syphaand Alucard cannot use this item.Triple ThreatThis allows you to fire a Warakiya War Item three times in a row. Note: Again,Sypha and Alucard cannot use this item.Pocket WatchThis item stops all evil enemies dead in their tracks.Invisibility PotionThis makes you invisible (and therefore invulnerable) for a limited period oftime.RosaryThis gives you the power to destroy all the evil enemies on the screen in theblink of an eye.---Trevor C. Belmont's attack methodsTrevor's Main WeaponMystic WhipThe 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 itspower to a Chain Whip and then a L..o..n..g Chain Whip (ouch!).Trevor's Warakiya War ItemsThese are weapons Trevor will find as he journeys down his Paths of Fate. Youcan only possess one at a time. When you obtain a Warakiya War Item, it willappear in the Warakiya War Item Window and replace the one you previously had.Battle AxeThe Battle Axe flies through the air along an arc. This is a very powerfulitem.DaggerThe Dagger flies straight and fast, but is not very powerful.Banshee BoomerangThe 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 itmoves slowly, the Banshee Boomerang is very powerful. (Banshee Fever.. Catchit!)Sacred WaterThe Sacred Water flies along an arc until it crashes into the floor, where itspills out and begins to burn, baby burn.---Sypha Belnade's attack methodsSypha's Main WeaponWarakiya StaffSypha uses his Warakiya Staff to attack enemies. The power of the staff cannever be increased.Sypha's Warakiya War ItemsFlamesThe flames are very powerful as they annihilate everything in its path.Frozen CrystalsThis item lets you shoot frozen crystals in all directions to freeze yourenemies for an instant. While your enemies are quick-frozen, climb in top ofthem and destroy them with a blow from the staff.Goodness Gracious Great Bolts of LightningThe lightning bolt shoots zapping balls in three directions.---Grant DaNasty's attack methodsGrant's Main WeaponDaggerGrant can use the dagger to stab his enemies or he can hurl it at them. Whenthrown, the dagger flies to the right and left. When Grant is stuck to thewall, he'll hurl it backwards, so be ready to duck, Chuck. Likewise, whenGrant is stuck in the ceiling, he throws it down.Grant's Warakiya War ItemAxeThe axe is a very powerful weapon that can be used if Grant is lucky enough tofind it.---Alucard's attack methodsBall of DestructionAt 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 ashot 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 inflight. If the supply of hearts runs out while Alucard is a bat or if he'shit by an enemy attack, he will immediately turn back into his human form andfall to the ground with a thud. (This is definitely a "fly by night" attackmethod.)---Count Dracula's cast of evil charactersThere are an unknown number of evil characters lying in wait in every part ofthis 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 ofthese assorted evils include:Bad BatSkeleton DragonFrankensteinPillar of BonesThe Gates of Death