This fourth installment of the Castlevania: Belmont's Curse walkthrough guides players through the Main Hall, a sprawling and nostalgic area within Dracula's Castle. Players will need to navigate enemy onslaughts, confront Isaac, and discover the whereabouts of Queen Eleanor.
Surviving Notre-Dame Bridge and Defeating Isaac
The journey into Dracula's Castle begins on the shadowy Notre-Dame Bridge. Players must contend with Spear Knights, Anchors, and Mermen while traversing platforms. Upon reaching the castle drawbridge, an encounter with Malphas and Gargoyles precedes activating a lever to proceed. A final gauntlet against Spear Knights and Malphas guards the entrance to the boss room, where a hidden Wall Chicken can be found by striking a Sharpened Anchor above the door.
Inside the castle, Rose meets Carmilla and Isaac. Isaac, recognizing the Belmont lineage, engages in a fight. While his spear tracks the player's last position, a fast weapon like the Lance is recommended for quickly counter-attacking. Defeating Isaac allows passage into the castle proper, with Isaac mentioning a future encounter in the Clock Tower.
Navigating the Main Hall
Upon entering the Inner Courtyard, players proceed through the Entrance Corridor, where a new objective is given: find and defeat Dracula. Along the way, players will encounter Zombies and an Axe Armor guarding a Virgin Mary Statue, followed by a Mirror of Life. The Main Hall also features portraits of Alucard, whose sword indicates hidden secrets. Mirrors within the hall allow Rose to teleport and be shot out in different directions, crucial for activating levers and opening passages.
Key points within the Main Hall include the Grand Hall, marked by a statue of Slogra, an old Castlevania boss. Here, players can find the Ghostly Pendant Relic in the Abandoned Workshop, which reduces trap damage by 75%. The Ballrooms present falling chandeliers and a Peeping Eye enemy that shoots a targeting beam.
Further exploration involves navigating areas with fireballs and mirrors, leading to the Elevator Tower. A challenging platforming sequence is required to obtain the Rapiers weapon. After ascending the Elevator Tower and discovering a Clue related to the Builder card, players must descend and continue exploring the Main Hall. The Dungeon area requires careful navigation around saw blades and enemy encounters to reach a Mirror of Life and eventually obtain the Jewel Knuckles.
Unlocking the Grand Hall and Finding Queen Eleanor
Returning to the Grand Hall, players can backtrack to previously inaccessible areas, such as the Boudoirs, where a Spectral Sword fight occurs, and the Waterworks, featuring flooded sections and Mermen. The Forgotten Basement presents another difficult platforming challenge involving levers and saw blades, ultimately leading to the activation of mechanisms that open up more of the Grand Hall.
In the Torture Chambers, players will discover a hidden Virgin Mary Statue and navigate through hazardous areas using mirrors and levers. The route eventually leads to the Mirror Rooms, where Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine is found trapped. Her presence signifies the ability to fast travel between Mirrors of Life by crouching, though this particular mirror is a one-way passage.
Finding Eleanor also reveals symbols on her chains, hinting at a larger quest to free her by locating specific Mirrors of Life throughout the castle. After interacting with Eleanor and obtaining a Blue DEF UP Book, players can unlock a gate for easier access to her in the future. The path then leads east, out of the Main Hall and towards the Library, marking the end of this segment of the walkthrough.