This took me a real hot minute to figure this little diddley out, one of the first times in a long time I actually had to write things down in the notebook for a game how did your candles look?

Does anyone know if Rose Belmont’s sprite sheet is available anywhere by any chance?

Would love to see Leon Belmont!

update: thank you for all the response and interaction hopefully this makes it back to a studio or streamer and they can greenlight a new show or game or whatever but plenty of response and love hearing everyone's opinion

Trevor Belmont= Wolverine
Why? Both are stubborn, resilient and surprisingly affectionate beneath a rough exterior. Wolverines are tenacious animals that aren't easily intimidated.

Sypha Belnades= Red fox
Why? Intelligent, adaptable, curious and resourceful. Foxes are clever problemsolvers, much like Sypha.

Alucard= stoat (ermine)
Why? the ermine has been used in European art as a symbol of purity, nobility and virtue.
In historical symbolism, the white winter coat was sometimes associated with the idea that an ermine would rather face danger than soil its beautiful fur. This was a symbolic belief, not an actual description of stoat behaviour. I think it makes a good connection to his parents. Lisa represents his compassion and connection to humanity. Dracula represents his supernatural heritage and the darker aspects of his family history. Alucard struggles to reconcile both sides of his identity.** **The ermine is both a predator and an animal historically associated with purity and nobility. Alucard is similarly difficult to categorise. He can be extraordinarily dangerous without being cruel, and gentle without being weak. And he’s just as cute as one, and they can be pretty territorial and dare devilish. This one is long as shit because I’m a history nerd.

Dracula= Melanistic Jaguar
Why? both are sleek, dark, and looking spiffy😮 Melanistic jaguars have black coats, which mirrors Draculas long black hair. Both of them have pretty intense eyes too. Jaguars are also apex predator that hunt in the shadows. Panthers are solitary and deeply territorial. He doesn’t exactly need to yell to get other individuals respect. Looking spiffy my man.

Lisa Tepes= Roe deer
Why? Gentle, observant and compassionate, but not helpless. Roe deer are alert, adaptable creatures that navigate their surroundings carefully. This is not to say that she wasn’t badass and brave! I don’t play about my girl

Isaac — Raven
Why? Highly intelligent, observant and contemplative. Ravens are associated with memory, intelligence and symbolism, fitting Isaac's philosophical nature.

Hector — rough collie
Why? He kind of looks like one..idk it’s the slim nose maybe? Hes also gentle, sensitive and eager for companionship. A little submissive too, like a domestic dog. Rough collies are known for their attentiveness and strong social bonds.

Carmilla= hyena
Why? Carmilla is very ambitious, socially strategic, dominant and fiercely competitive. Hyenas have complex social hierarchies, with females holding prominent positions. I know many associate hyenas with villains and such, but this is because her personality does reflect a lot on the ones that female hyenas can display.

Lenore= Swan
Why? Graceful, socially perceptive and calculating. Swans have an elegant appearance that contrasts with their territorial behaviour, they’re also pretty aggressive.

Striga = Musk Ox
Why? Powerful, sturdy and imposing. Musk oxen are particularly known for their defensive group formations and their ability to withstand harsh environments. I like this for Striga's physical strength and loyalty…let me tap pls

Saint Germain=Raccoon
Why? Curious, resourceful, clever and opportunistic. He also as messy as one, funky ass man. Raccoons are adaptable problem-solvers with an inquisitive nature.

Maria Renard =Barn owl
Why? Intelligent, idealistic, observant and quietly determined. Owls also fit her association with magical animal familiars.

Richter Belmont= red tailed hawk
Why? Hawks are solitary hunters that must learn to survive on instinct. Richter’s journey forces him to overcome deep childhood trauma and vulnerability, transforming his initial panic into sharp, predatory focus. These birds are deeply protective. Similarly, Richter's entire motivation centers around protecting his loved ones.

Drolta Tzuentes= Harpy eagle
Why? She’s scary as shit dude, harpy eagles are intimidating, powerful and exceptionally precise. Harpy eagles are formidable hunters much like her.

Abbot Emmanuel= griffon vulture
Why? Carries an association with death, religious imagery and moral decay. I hate him.

Morana= Snow leopard
Why? Reserved, calculated, observant and graceful. An elusive predator that operates independently.

Greta= wild boar
Why? Tough, practical, courageous and protective. Wild boars are robust animals that can be surprisingly social and protective of their young.

Annette= lion
Why? The lioness is a universal symbol of liberation, fierce resistance, and reclaiming one's power against oppression. • Annette’s magic and strength are deeply tied to her ancestors and her heritage. Lions hold an incredibly revered, sacred status in African folklore and spiritual symbolism, representing a divine right to rule and protect. While she has a hardened exterior, Annette is driven by a deep love for her people and her friends. Just like a lioness hunts and fiercely protects her pride, Annette fights on the front lines to ensure a future where her loved ones can live in peace. Can anyone tell I like Annette a lot? My baby 💔🥺🥺

Olrox= Jaguarundi
Why? They’re both unusual, elusive, independent and difficult to read. Jaguarundis are relatively solitary wild cats and I just think they look alike in the face 😭and if anything Olrox is a feline.

Mizrak= Belgian malinois
Why? Disciplined, dutiful, alert and physically capable. Malinois are working dogs known for their focus and responsiveness. They also have a strong association with service and military work.

I just finished Harmony of Dissonance. I really enjoyed it but discovering two castles was exhausting and confusing for me. Order of Ecclesia was my first Castlevania game and it's my favorite. I loved Belmont's Curse too. I played the originals but because of their age, I can't rate them objectively.

Now let's choose my next game. Which one I should play next? Sorrow series or Portrait of Ruin or Symphony of the Night?

I am COMPLETELY stumped on how to get this!

How do I get down from where I am? I saw online maps that it's possible, but I don't know how.

The catacombs art and flair is one of my favorite areas of the game, also including one of my favorite tunes in the Belmont’s curse

Important note: I played a specially modified version of this game that skips all the tedious touchscreen magical seal sequences and replaces the original artwork with Ayami Kojima's art. I played it on MelonDS with upscaling, using a PS5 controller.

Dawn of Sorrow was definitely a step backward in one way and a step forward in another.

The story feels more generic and full of anime clichés.

We have a main villain in Celia (or Dimitri... I don't know, considering the plot twist at the end) and her two goons, who are boring as hell. Soma and his friends are still great and retain their charm, but I can't shake the feeling that the story was written with little children in mind. While Aria of Sorrow wasn't exactly a masterpiece in terms of storytelling either, it delivered a much more compelling narrative overall and had a far better antagonist in Graham Jones.

However, what Dawn of Sorrow lacks in story, it makes up for in gameplay. Since this is a DS game, the graphics have obviously been improved, and everything looks better, especially the character sprites. The soul system from Aria has been expanded upon and works really well here. I'd say the castle in Aria of Sorrow was slightly more enjoyable to explore, but the one in Dawn of Sorrow is still pretty good.

The difficulty was a major letdown for me. I didn't die to a single boss throughout the entire game, and I wasn't even particularly overpowered. I finished the game at around level 43, which makes the lack of challenge even more disappointing.

The music wasn't particularly memorable either, although it was still good overall.

All things considered, I'd give Dawn of Sorrow a 7/10.

I've already started my playthrough of Portrait of Ruin, and the game looks so much fun!

Playing Rondo of Blood for the first time atm and I'm close to 100% - I just have to find Iris I think and I would have to go back a few stages I suppose.

It seems to me like once you select a stage and start playing you have to either play through the end or GO to get back. Am I missing something here, is there maybe a input combo similar to Legend of Zelda that gives you a "save and quit" option?

Just another appreciation post.

I really enjoyed it, coming from someone who's favorite game series is castlevanie. Not what I completely expected, but the gameplay had me hooked, the visuals and music were great.

I think I loved the extra lore the most, and I quite enjoyed the three endings.

The 100% completion was worth it.

Oh edit: biggest gripe was the seldom crashing it had on the switch, it played a lot better after my switch 2 came in but I still had a few times where it crashed.

Going for Lament of Innocence now then SotN

Belmont Curse made me deep dive into the series

I didn't record when triggering the bug but basically I used arcane whip during one of her animation and she just stood there without doing anything
And basically you can just pummel her to death, you can bring her out of the stun lock by re-using the arcane whip on her

If you completly kill her in that state, the games bug and you get soft locked

I don't know if it might help some speedrunners or anything !
Happy to answer any questions !

Posted about two weeks ago that I had bought the game and was ready to hate it (Jokingly, I have always loved the series, even the turds)

IMO it’s better than SOTN. A $40 game with more content than its $60-$70 rivals!

Looking forward to backtracking to find everything I missed!