Begin your journey in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse by delving into the initial Parisian environments. This walkthrough covers the Paris Streets, including the sewers and the Prison Tower, guiding you through challenges, item locations, and boss encounters.
Entering the Sewers
After Trevor Belmont departs, Rose Belmont begins her mission in the fiery streets of Paris. Starting at the Bank of the River Seine, familiarize yourself with Rose's starting weapon, the Longsword, and her first Arcana, the Cursed Flame. Keep an eye out for environmental light sources like candles and lanterns, as they contain experience and mana refills. Passing through the first doorway leads you into the Sewers.
Within the Sewers, you'll encounter your first enemies, Zombies, and learn Rose's basic moves, including her wall jump, slide, and back-dash. Watch out for Skeleton Archers and manage your Potions for healing. After activating a lever, you will ascend into the Undercity and then the Ruined Market. Here, you will find a Spirit who provides the clue "A Lever for the Well," connected to "the Fallen." This clue directs you to a hidden lever near some barrels. Activating this lever opens a path into the Central Sewer Drain. After a descent, you'll find your first Mirror of Life, serving as a save point.
Uncovering Clues and the Arcane Whip
Proceeding from the Mirror of Life into the Sewer Reservoir, you'll need to raise a barrier using a lever, creating a shortcut. The Path of the Rat area contains more enemies and another Virgin Mary Statue. Near the boss door for "the Fallen," a Spirit will offer the clue "A Monster Terrorizes Paris," advising on how to counter his cross attack. Before this encounter, a hidden Wall Chicken can be found to restore health.
Defeating The Fallen
The Fallen is a werewolf-like boss. To defeat him, break his Holy Cross with your sword. His main combo involves a three-hit swipe. Dash through him to attack from behind. When he uses his whip and Anchor, crouch or slide to avoid damage. Upon his defeat, Rose gains his soul and the Holy Cross Arcana, along with The Fallen's Key.
Exiting the boss area, Rose acquires the Arcane Whip in the Abandoned Sewers. This new ability allows her to latch onto Anchors, enabling greater verticality and mobility. Use the Arcane Whip to hook onto enemies and traverse the environment. Be mindful of the difference between regular yellow Anchors and purple Sharpened Anchors, which pull Rose directly to them.
Backtracking and New Abilities
With the Arcane Whip, backtrack to previous areas to access previously unreachable items. In the Sewer Reservoir, you can now reach a Red ATK UP Book and several Virgin Mary Statues. A hidden Sharpened Anchor in the Sewer Reservoir leads to a chest containing the Cestus, Rose's first fist weapon.
Continue through the Court of Miracles and the Bridge of the Millers, manipulating levers to control waterwheels and access new paths. A drawbridge leads to a view of burning Paris and a Mirror of Life. This area also contains the clue "The Warrior is at the Top of the Tower."
The Prison Tower and Holy Light
In the Burned District, a Spirit provides the clue "The Warrior is at the Top of the Tower." Proceeding through Seer's Hovel, you'll find the Crypt Key Relic, which fully restores health and mana upon opening a chest. Following subsequent paths, you will eventually reach the Prison Tower.
The Prison Tower is a large, multi-level area requiring extensive use of levers, drawbridges, and Anchors for navigation. Here, you will find shortcuts, numerous Virgin Mary Statues, and combat encounters, including Red Skeletons. Within the Torture Level of the tower, after a challenging platforming sequence, you can find the Twilight Gem Relic.
Upon defeating Joan of Arc on the Roof of the Tower, Rose gains the Infernal Pyre Arcana and The Warrior's Key. Joan's weapon, the Burnt Sword of Fierbois, is also obtainable. Further exploration down the Stairs to the Tower Roof reveals the Holy Light ability, which dispels Chaos Shards and functions as a parry mechanic. Using Holy Light allows access to previously blocked areas, including a Wise Heart Fragment and a challenging platforming section yielding the Obsidian Fang Relic.
Completing Paris Streets
With Holy Light, return to other areas to collect remaining items. In the Prison Tower, locate a Brave Heart Fragment and the Shadow Veil Relic in the Burned District. Finally, traverse through the sewers and the Undercity once more to reach the Street of the Tomb Masons. Here, you can collect more Virgin Mary Statues, a Blue DEF UP Book, and access the Morgue. After defeating a Giant Skeleton, you can enter the Holy Innocents' Cemetery.
This concludes Part 1 of the walkthrough. For progress into the Holy Innocents' Cemetery and beyond, consult Part 2.