Acquiring the Double Jump ability in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a significant milestone, opening up new traversal and combat possibilities. This ability becomes available after progressing past the halfway point of the game, allowing Rose Belmont to reach previously inaccessible areas and overcome formidable enemies with greater ease. To obtain it, players must conquer the challenges within the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, specifically by finding three Melody Sheets for the cathedral's organ and ultimately defeating the boss, Death.
Unlocking the Double Jump
The Double Jump is earned by defeating Death within Notre-Dame. Following this boss encounter, a cutscene will play, and upon exiting the area, Rose will acquire the ability, having absorbed it during the fight.
Before facing Death, several prerequisites must be met:
- Defeat Carmilla, Talos, and Brauner.
- Enter Notre-Dame.
- Find the three Melody Sheets.
- Play the correct melodies on the Notre-Dame organ.
- Defeat Death.
Prerequisites: Defeating Early Bosses
Access to Notre-Dame requires players to explore the Library and Clock Tower areas of Dracula's Castle. Here, three bosses—Carmilla, Talos, and Brauner—must be defeated. While Carmilla and Talos present significant challenges, Brauner is considered a less demanding fight. Successfully defeating these bosses is essential to progress.
Entering Notre-Dame
After obtaining Brauner's Tarot card, 'The Artist', equip it and proceed to the Gallery of Eternal Night. A large painting of Notre-Dame Cathedral, created by Brauner, is located here. Equipping 'The Artist' card will trigger an Arcanic Resonance, allowing Rose to enter the painting and access the cathedral.
Locating the Melody Sheets
Notre-Dame is a large and complex area. The entrance to Death's boss room is blocked by three energy pillars emanating from the cathedral's organ. To dispel these barriers, players must find three Melody Sheets, which provide clues for the 'The Shadow' Tarot card, representing Death. These sheets reveal the correct astrological sign combinations for the organ puzzle.
Fugue of Notre-Dame
This Melody Sheet can be found west of the organ itself, after speaking with a Spirit in the Great Organ Room.
Sonata of Notre-Dame
Located in the Stained Glass Gallery, an area with intricate stained glass in the center of Notre-Dame. Find a Spirit here to reveal the Melody Sheet. A secret melody is also hinted at within this area's stained glass and candle arrangements.
Concerto of Notre-Dame
Found at the summit of Notre-Dame, in an area called La Flèche. Reaching this location requires navigating a challenging platforming section.
Playing the Organ Melodies
Proceed to the giant organ at the base of Notre-Dame. Players must jump on the organ keys to play the correct astrological signs for each melody. The required combinations are:
- Fugue of Notre-Dame: ⭘ ☼︎ ⭘ ♍︎ ♌︎
- Sonata of Notre-Dame: ♐︎ ♑︎ ♓︎ ♒︎ ♑︎ ♐︎ ♑︎
- Concerto of Notre-Dame: ♊︎ ♋︎ ♍︎ ♌︎ ♍︎ ♌︎ ♊︎
Successfully playing each melody disables one of the energy pillars blocking Death's boss room. A secret fourth melody, <mark>⭘ ♎︎ ♏︎ ♒︎ ♑︎ ♍︎ ☼︎ ♌︎ ♋︎ ♈︎</mark>, can also be played by observing astrological symbols and candle counts in the Stained Glass Gallery. This unlocks a barred area containing the 'War and Famine' blades.
Defeating Death
With the organ melodies played and the energy barriers removed, players can now enter Death's boss room. A key mechanic to watch for is Death's glowing green finger, which signals a one-shot kill if Rose is too close. When Death vanishes, he will trace attack patterns on the arena floor based on Rose's last position; staying mobile is crucial to avoid these attacks. Successfully defeating Death rewards Rose with the Double Jump ability.
With the Double Jump unlocked, players can now explore Notre-Dame and other areas of the game with significantly increased mobility and combat options.