Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness Cheats & Secrets for PlayStation 2 and Xbox

Originally released on November 1, 2005, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness is the 4th 3D Castlevania game and the first title in the series to arrive on the Xbox. Though the game was released for both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in North America, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness would remain a PS2 exclusive in Japan when it was released just a few weeks later on November 24, 2005. Despite following its PS2 predecessor Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness makes many noteworthy departures in terms of both its gameplay and story.

Despite Curse of Darkness‘ changes aiming to appease fans looking for a 3D take on the beloved Symphony of the Night or other “Igavania” style games, the title would still receive a mostly mixed critical reception, with its review aggregate score coming in slightly lower than that of its predecessor. However, those middling critical scores did little to dissuade series fans from enjoying the game, with Curse of Darkness remaining a cult favorite that often gets brought up as one of the Castlevania games most deserving of a remake, remaster, or port to modern consoles and PC. Additionally, Curse of Darkness‘ main character, Hector, would go on to feature prominently in later seasons of the Castlevania animated series on Netflix.

Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness Premise

Three years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, the European countryside is once again suffering from the effects of the dark lord Dracula’s presence despite his slaying at the hands of Trevor Belmont. One of Dracula’s former Forgemasters, Hector, has settled into a normal life after betraying the vampire and seeking to turn away from a life of evil, but Dracula’s influence over his life is not yet complete. Hector’s former rival and fellow Forgemaster, Isaac, orchestrates a plan to draw Hector into the castle, framing his fiance of witchcraft and seeing that she is burned at the stake. With nothing left to lose, Hector heads back to Dracula’s castle to stop Isaac and to seek revenge against those responsible for his fiance’s wrongful death.

In terms of its gameplay, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness is much more like a 3D Symphony of the Night than its predecessor, Lament of Innocence. While Lament of Innocence adopts a hub world and gameplay similar to contemporaries like Devil May Cry, Curse of Darkness features a full interconnected map and RPG mechanics, similar to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Combat requires fighting game-style button inputs, with most attacks tied to a single button while another button is responsible for “Finisher” moves that close out combo strings. Defeating enemies rewards experience and item drops, and players’ stats improve by leveling up after reaching certain experience thresholds.

Players also have familiars in the form of Innocent Devils, which act as both abilities and magic that Hector can use against enemies and to aid in traversing the castle. The Innocent Devil system is similar in practice to the Tactical Soul System from Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow.

Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness Main Characters

The story of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness picks up just a few years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse and follows the adventure of Hector, Dracula’s former forgemaster who betrayed the count and left to live a normal life. Despite Trevor Belmont’s victory over Dracula, the evil vampire’s curse continues to ravage the land, leading to a general sense of unease and distrust among the normal citizens. Hector’s former rival, Isaac, seeks vengeance against him by helping to orchestrate his fiance being accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake, leaving Hector with nothing to lose and twin goals to take down Isaac and seek atonement for his past allegiance with Dracula. Main characters in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness include:

• Hector: The main character and player protagonist of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness. Hector is a Forgemaster who can craft and wield various weapons to fight against the inhabitants of Dracula’s castle.
• Isaac: Isaac is a rival Forgmaster and the current malignant force orchestrating events from within the castle of their former lord, Dracula. He is the primary antagonist of Curse of Darkness.
• Trevor Belmont: A member of the vampire-hunting Belmont Clan, Trevor is the current wielder of the legendary Vampire Killer whip and the most recent slayer of Dracula. Despite not being outright enemies, he is suspicious of Hector, and the two clash repeatedly.
• Dracula: Dracula is the dark lord vampire who serves as the primary antagonist of the Castlevania series. He also happens to be Hector’s former master.

Games in the Castlevania Series

After an initial failed attempt at bringing the Castlevania series into 3D, Konami would find more success a few years later with the series’ first entry on the PlayStation 2, Castlevania: Lament of Innocence. While that game was a major step up from the Nintendo 64 Castlevania, it still was seen as being a fairly average 3D action game, prompting Konami to attempt a sequel just two years later with Castlevania: Curse of Darkness. Since then, most Castlevania games have stuck to the series’ traditional 2D roots, though the most recent 3D Castlevania games from the Lords of Shadow subseries have earned some praise from fans and critics alike. Games in the Castlevania series include:

• Castlevania (1986)
• Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest (1987)
• Castlevania: The Adventure (1989)
• Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse (1989)
• Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge (1991)
• Super Castlevania IV (1991)
• Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (1993)
• Castlevania: Bloodlines (1994)
• Castlevania: Dracula X (1995)
• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)
• Castlevania Legends (1997)
• Castlevania 64 (1999)
• Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness (1999)
• Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (2001)
• Castlevania Chronicles (2001)
• Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (2002)
• Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (2003)
• Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (2003)
• Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (2005)
• Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (2005)
• Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (2006)
• Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (2007)
• Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (2008)
• Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth (2009)
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (2010)
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (2013)
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (2014)
• Castlevania Requiem (2018)
• Castlevania Anniversary Collection (2019)
• Castlevania Advance Collection (2021)
• Castlevania Dominus Collection (2024)

Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness Cheats & Secrets

While there are no official “cheats” for Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, there are plenty of secrets to uncover and unlockables to earn. Additionally, those playing the PlayStation 2 version have the option of using Game Shark/Code Breaker codes to alter their gameplay.

Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness Unlockables

Completing the following in-game conditions will unlock the corresponding bonus feature in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness.

Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness Secrets

Stealing Boss Items

With just a few exceptions, each of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness bosses has an item that players can steal during their encounters. Most of the items players can swipe from bosses include either valuable/ultra-rare crafting materials or restorative items.

Crazy Armor

• Steal: Galite

During the first phase of the boss battle, Crazy Armor will do a long-range attack where it will try to headbutt you. During this attack, it’s possible to maneuver behind it to steal its item. You will have a good amount of time if you time your dodge close enough to its body.

Wyvern

• Steal: Shortcake

At the beginning of the battle, Wyvern will burrow its head into the ground. During this animation, you must jump onto its body and stay on it while the Wyvern takes flight. You can use the opportunity to dish out some substantial damage while it’s mid-flight. After a few seconds, steal the Shortcake from the Wyvern’s neck. Note that you will take no damage when you fall.

Trevor Belmont

• Steal: N/A

Skeleton Diver

• Steal: Sushi

Towards the end of the battle, the Skeleton Driver and the Zombie Fish will jump onto the platform together and slide toward you. Dodge to the side, then jump and steal before they retreat back into the water.

Minotaur

• Steal: Devil Iron

In the latter part of the boss battle, the Minotaur will leap and try to slam directly on top of you. It usually will attempt this move if there’s a lot of distance between it and the player. Get far away from the Minotaur, wait for it to jump, then run backward a short distance. Just before the Minotaur lands, double jump into its face to steal the Devil Iron.

Isaac (First Encounter)

• Steal: Devil’s Vein

Isaac will occasionally use the attack where he slides and slashes upward from long range. This is a move he will most likely use toward the beginning of the encounter. Block or dodge the slide, then steal as he lands.

Saint Germain

• Steal: Immortal Fragment

Keep a strong Mage-type ID equipped. Occasionally, Saint Germain will freeze time and hit you with a giant slash or explosion attack. Using Time Stop while time is frozen cancels out the effect altogether and will allow you to steal the Immortal Fragment.

Trevor Belmont (Second Encounter)

• Steal: Curry

During the fight, Trevor uses a more powerful version of the Cross Heart weapon. You’ll know he is about to use the attack when he leaps into the air yelling “Holy Cross!”. Immediately after he lands, but before the light fades, it’s possible to steal from him.

Dullahan

• Steal: Purple Glitter

This is one of the more tricky steals to pull off, as mistiming it can result in Hector taking a lot of damage. At the beginning of the battle, Dullahan will leap into the air and send out a multi-hit shockwave. This is the opportunity to steal from him. To bait him into doing this move at close range, block or Perfect Guard his sword attacks. Occasionally, he will use a rush attack similar to the Great Armors in Eneomaos Machine Tower. If he does this, simply respond with defensive maneuvers. When he finally does the leap, do a normal jump and steal from him. If you are too far, delay your second jump or jump over the first hit and Perfect Guard the second.

Isaac (Second Encounter)

• Steal: Cheese

Isaac is very different the second time you fight him, with the encounter being much easier. Equip a fast weapon (e.g. the Bastard Sword, Laser Blade (if available), or a Knuckle-class weapon). Kite Isaac near a wall and use the first finishing move to send Isaac flying. Quickly press the button to steal while Isaac is airborne to steal from him.

Death

• Steal: Death’s Pulse

Successfully stealing Death’s item (Death’s Pulse) requires some skill with Perfect Guards. First, make sure to have a Fairy-type Innocent Devil. After losing the first life bar, Death will sometimes use a Supernova attack. He will condense a fireball in his hands for a brief moment, then throw it out onto the battlefield. Stay next to Death while he does this and prepare yourself. Block the first hit from the Supernova, then proceed to Perfect Guard for the rest of the hits, which are in a specific rhythm. Note that if you miss one, it’s possible to get the timing right on the subsequent hit.

That said, if you miss more than one of the additional hits you must Perfect Guard against, it’s best to start over and wait for the next Supernova attack. After successfully using Perfect Guard against all the hits from the Supernova, jump into the air (following the last hit but before the fire dissipates) and steal. The window will open, and then close, but the game will acknowledge that you have obtained Death’s Pulse. Fortunately, should you fail on the first attempt, Death will usually do this attack immediately after.

Legion

• Steal: Pizza

Fight Legion using a longer-range weapon with decent speed, like the Chavre-Souris or the Laser Blade, so you can take out both Legion and the corpses it uses against you. It’s also recommended to use a flying ID (e.g. Crimson, Indigo, or The End). After Legion’s shell collapses entirely, get on a ledge above the boss’ position. You have approximately 12 to 15 seconds to move to a higher point. Take a free fall into Legion when it glows with a malevolent purple aura, making sure to try and steal the Pizza mid-fall. Quickly run to the edge of the room to avoid Legion’s final shell from crushing you and prepare for Legion’s second form.

Nuculais

• Steal: Napoletana

Nuculais is the game’s ultimate optional Boss. As you might expect, it has several different moves that can one-shot you if you’re not careful. We recommend being no lower than Level 50 for this battle. However, it is possible to steal an item from Nuculais during its grab attack. When Nuculais rears his arm back and then extends it toward you, Perfect Guard the attack and then rush him to steal the Napoletana.

Dracula (First Encounter)

• Steal: Tomato Juice

Dracula will open a pair of demonic wings and disappear, saying “I’ll burn you to ashes!” He will then reappear for a grab attack that does serious damage. Dodge or jump away when he reappears and steal from his face. He does this attack quite often.

Dracula (Second Encounter)

• Steal: Vampire Blood

Dracula is now a huge vampiric black angel. Occasionally but rarely, Dracula will back away and rush the platform with a huge destructive punch. After he does it, jump into him and steal from his chest. The punch is easy to avoid, but a shockwave follows it which will mess up the steal and do serious damage. You can double jump the punch and the wave, or use the Fairy-type Tiramisu’s Invincibility Jar tech.

Secret Bosses

There are two secret/optional bosses in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness — Legion and Nuculais. To fight either of these foes, players must first obtain the 5th Innocent Devil, the Devil Type. With the Devil Type equipped, head to Garibaldi temple and slide under the crack in the wall near the four courtyards and Fencers. Proceed through the hallways, avoiding enemies as you travel, and eventually, you will arrive at a “living” hallway. Make sure to save before entering the boss arena, as both fights are incredibly challenging. It is recommended to be at least Level 50 before attempting either Legion or Nuculais.

The Tower of Evermore

It’s possible to access a hidden area with challenging enemies from the top of the Tower of Eternity. With a Bird Type Innocent Devil equipped, head to the top of the Tower of Eternity and face the moon. Jump off the ledge, using the Bird Type’s long glide ability, and glide all the way to the Tower of Evermore.

Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness Game Shark Codes (PS2 Only)

The PS2 version of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness has several compatible Game Shark codes that players can use. If playing on native hardware, players will need a compatible Game Shark device. Alternatively, players using an emulator can enter any of the following cheats into their emulator’s “cheat” menu or use a program like Omniconvert to convert the codes into a format emulators like PCSX2 can recognize.

General Cheats

Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness Boss Strategies

Defeating Isaac

Before you start the first battle with Isaac, make sure your second Innocent Devil is leveled up to Water Golem and put into Defense. Additionally, you will want to equip the Rapier. The Black Demon will mostly attack your Innocent Devil, but it will not be able to get through its defense because it’s in Water Golem form. When Isaac twirls his spear and slams it down, make sure to jump to avoid the shockwave. After his combo attack, attack him with the Rapier to land multiple hits.

When Isaac yells ”Kill him!”, the Black Demon will sink into the ground and follow you. Listen for Isaac’s laugh to know when and where the demon will emerge to attack. Do not attack Isaac while he has the demon attacking you. Instead, wait for his demon to attack your Water Golem, then attack Isaac. Whenever Isaac uses his tornado attack, simply run away. Countering each of his attacks using these methods will net an easy win.

Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness Cheat FAQs

Who is the secret boss in Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness?

There are technically two secret bosses in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, Legion and Nuculais. Both bosses can be accessed in the lowest part of Garibaldi Temple. Players will fight Legion first, with Nuculais arriving as the second form, born from Legion’s core. Surviving this fight can be challenging, but waiting to attempt it until you are Level 50 or higher can improve your chances.

Who is the main character in Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness?

In Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, players take on the role of Dracula’s former Devil Forgemaster, Hector. After Trevor Belmont defeats Dracula, Hector betrays his former master for a chance at a normal life but is drawn back to Castlevania to defeat his former rival, Isaac.

What is Beelzebub’s Seal in Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness?

Beelzebub’s Seal is one of many rare crafting materials in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness necessary to forge a powerful weapon. Players can obtain this material as a rare drop from Unicorn enemies and will need it to forge the 7-Bladed Sword.

How long to beat Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness?

While a normal playthrough of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness is fairly standard compared to most action-adventure games of the 6th generation, a completionist playthrough in which players unlock everything will take significantly longer. On average, an initial playthrough of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness takes roughly 12-15 hours. If players go back and play the game’s additional modes or level up enough to defeat the game’s secret bosses, expect to spend double that amount of time, with most completionist playthroughs totaling 30 hours.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©CheatCC/Matt Karoglou.