Releasing in 2007 for the Sony PlayStation Portable, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is arguably one of the greatest compilation titles in Konami’s long-running action-platformer franchise. Combining both a reimagined version of the PC Engine classic Castlevania: Rondo of Blood plus 1997’s Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, The Dracula X Chronicles features two of the most highly-regarded games in the Castlevania franchise. Coincidentally, both titles would mark a pivotal moment in the Castlevania franchise. Rondo of Blood would continue to push the envelope in terms of the series’ non-linear elements introduced in Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, while Symphony of the Night would be longtime series producer Koji Igarashi’s first game in the franchise and help birth its own subgenre of action-platformer: the Metroidvania.
Interestingly, The Dracula X Chronicles is the second port of Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. The first would be the SNES title Dracula X, which reworked several elements of the title for the PC Engine release to work on Nintendo’s 16-bit hardware. As a result, the 2.5D remake of Rondo of Blood that The Dracula X Chronicles features is the first official Western release of the true Rondo of Blood. Additionally, the title contains the original PC Engine version of the game as a secret unlockable (similar to how players must uncover a secret item to unlock the ability to select and play Castlevania: Symphony of the Night).
The release of The Dracula X Chronicles would be met with considerable critical and commercial praise thanks to the caliber of its content. Additionally, Dracula X Chronicles would become something of a sought-after game thanks to it serving as the first official port of Symphony of the Night on (at the time) modern hardware.
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles Premise
©Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles gameplay screenshot – Original
The Dracula X Chronicles is an outlier in terms of Castlevania compilation titles in that it crosses two distinct eras of the franchise. Half of the collection (Rondo of Blood‘s 2.5D remake and the original PC Engine release) represents the last and best game in the “Classic” Castlevania era. These are strictly side-scrolling action platformers that feature some non-linearity but lack the complexity and depth of the later “Igavania”/Metroidvania entries in the series. Levels are all self-contained and feature midpoint and endpoint boss enemies. New to The Dracula X Chronicles’ reimagining of Rondo of Blood are three maidens Richter can rescue, with the first two granting items that aid in destroying new environmental obstacles.
Aside from the new visual style and some assorted additions to the base game, Rondo of Blood still plays like its original PC Engine release. Players control Richter Belmont, wielding the powerful Vampire Killer whip along with a variety of collectible sub-weapons. Beating stages and completing certain conditions unlocks Alternate versions of stages that players can go back and replay, typically featuring new and different boss enemies. Players can also unlock Richter’s ally Maria as a playable character, similar to her appearance as a secret playable character in Rondo of Blood‘s sequel, Symphony of the Night.
Once players complete the in-game conditions to unlock Symphony of the Night, the original, unaltered PS1 version of the game is contained in full as part of The Dracula X Chronicles. Like the original release, Symphony of the Night is a Metroid-style action platformer with a vast, interconnecting map and some light RPG-style progression. Like Super Metroid, areas of the map are ability-gated, requiring players to clear certain areas before backtracking to previously visited biomes within Dracula’s castle.
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles Main Characters
©Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles character artwork – Original
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles features two of the most important games in the overarching Castlevania lore, and their stories directly connect to one another. Richter Belmont is the latest in a long line of vampire hunters sworn to protect the world against Dracula, and Rondo of Blood is the hero’s first starring role before routinely showing up in other games in the series. Symphony of the Night picks up years after the events of Rondo of Blood, with none other than Dracula’s son Alucard springing into action to enter Dracula’s castle and rescue Richter. Main characters in The Dracula X Chronicles include:
- Richter Belmont: The latest in a line of legendary vampire hunters, Richter Belmont is the hero of Rondo of Blood and an important character in Symphony of the Night. His skill with the Vampire Hunter whip makes him one of the most powerful members of the Belmont Clan.
- Maria Renard: Maria is Richter’s ally and a fellow vampire hunter. She appears as an important hero in both Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night.
- Alucard: The son of Dracula, Alucard is half-vampire and half-human, swearing to destroy his father to protect the lives of humans everywhere.
- Shaft: An evil priest and cult leader intent on resurrecting Dracula and ushering in the end of the world. He and Richter are at odds in both Castlevania titles in The Dracula X Chronicles.
- Dracula: The dark lord of all vampires and the primary antagonist of the Castlevania series. After his defeat at the end of Rondo of Blood, rumors of his resurrection begin to stir leading up to the events of Symphony of the Night.
Games in the Castlevania Series
The Castlevania series continues to be one of the more influential franchises in history, acting as half of the Metroidvania portmanteau and inspiring multiple generations of game developers. The Dracula X Chronicles is an important release in its own right, collecting two of the more pivotal games in the Castlevania franchise as the series transitioned from traditional action-platformers to non-linear experiences with light RPG mechanics. Both Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night would have a huge impact on the direction of the Castlevania franchise moving forward, and having both titles in a single collection makes The Dracula X Chronicles a monumental release in the series’ history. 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: The Dracula X Chronicles Cheats & Secrets
There are plenty of secrets for players to uncover in The Dracula X Chronicles, as well as some useful cheat codes. Additionally, there are some unlockable bonuses (such as full versions of classic games) and a valuable glitch to exploit.
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles Cheat Codes
Similar to other games in the Castlevania series, Dracula X Chronicles allows players to enter special cheat codes as their character names to unlock various bonuses.
Original Rondo of Blood Character Name Passwords
Once players unlock the original PC Engine version of Rondo of Blood, they can use the following Level Select password when entering their character’s name:
| Character Name | Effect |
|---|---|
| X-X!V”Q | Level Select. Allows players to skip to any level in the game. |
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Character Name Passwords
After unlocking Symphony of the Night in Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, players will need to beat the game once. After, players can enter any of the following character name passwords to unlock their effects:
| Character Name | Effect |
|---|---|
| AXEARMOR | Play as Alucard with the Axe Lord armor |
| MARIA | Play as Maria Renard |
| RICHTER | Play as Richter Belmont |
| X-X!V”Q | Play as Alucard with 99 Luck and the Lapis Lazuli accessory (which adds +20 Luck). Note: This code works without beating the game once |
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles Unlockables
Complete any of the conditions below to unlock the corresponding bonus feature:
Unlock Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Before players can access Symphony of the Night in Dracula X Chronicles, they will first need to unlock it. In Stage 2, during the Minotaur chase sequence, purposefully fall down the first pit. This will land Richter in a sewer area. Complete the stage in this lower area and fight an alternate boss. Players will then enter Stage 3′, an alternate version of the normal Stage 3. In Stage 3′, there are several areas where the path splits. Always take the upper path. Find the Axe sub-weapon and hang on to it.
Eventually, players will come to an area with a White Dragon enemy (the snake-like skeletons attached to walls). Just past this enemy is a cage with vines covering it. Use the Axe to hit the cage, causing it to fall down and become a platform. Have Richter jump onto the cage, gaining access to the upper ledges. Continue through this area until arriving at a gravestone. Attack the gravestone to break it and obtain the item that unlocks Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The game will now be selectable from the main menu.
Unlock the original Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (PC Engine version)
Similarly, players can also unlock the original PC Engine version of Rondo of Blood. In Stage 4, players will arrive at an area with 6 flame-shooting skulls in a stack. Just past these skulls is a swinging platform, with a spiked ball just past the platform. Jump over the skulls, landing on the swinging platform and waiting for the right point in its swing to jump off and over the spiked ball. Richter will land on the ground next to a wall. Attack the wall to break a portion of it, revealing a bomb inside. Then, attack the bomb to ignite it, with the explosion breaking the wall and revealing a secret area.
Continue through this area, avoiding the spike traps and using the platforms to reach the upper area. Along the upper area, continue to avoid enemies and environmental hazards. At the end of this area is a candle, and attacking it unlocks the original Rondo of Blood.
Unlock Akoumajou Dracula Peke
The secret bonus game Peke that’s part of the original Akoumajou Dracula: Chi No Rondo (the PC Engine release of Rondo of Blood) is also unlockable in The Dracula X Chronicles. To unlock Peke, players must first have Normal Boss Rush Mode available. Clear Normal Boss Rush twice to earn two Sound Discs, then play it a third time and defeat Shaft and the final boss after him to obtain the Peke game. Players can access it from the main menu like Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night.
Boss Rush Modes
Players will gradually unlock all three versions of Boss Rush Mode by beating the various stage bosses in The Dracula X Chronicles.
| Boss Rush Mode | How to Unlock |
|---|---|
| Boss Rush Normal | Defeat the Primary Boss of each stage |
| Boss Rush Dash | Defeat the Secondary Boss of each stage |
| Full Boss Rush | Defeat every boss, including Dracula |
Unlock Alternate Stage 5
To unlock Alternate Stage 5, players must first beat the normal Stage 5 and defeat Death. After, go back and play Alternate Stage 4 and defeat Camilla.
Unlock Maria as a Playable Character
During the chase sequence in Stage 2, attack the candles until Richter obtains the Key sub-weapon. Proceed through the stage as normal, heading down into the sewers after the Behemoth is blocked by the wall. Use the Key on the locked door at the end of the sewers to view a special cinematic and unlock Maria as a selectable character.
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles Secrets
Save Annette
Annette is one of several maidens Richter can rescue. Players will find her in Stage 7, but only after rescuing Tera (Alternate Stage 3) and Iris (Alternate Stage 4). At the very beginning of the Clock Tower section of Stage 7, break the red pillar statue in the first room and push the switch behind it. After, climb to the top to find a small cogwheel and a locked door in the upper right corner. Attack the cogwheel until the door opens and enter. Kill the Hawk in this room to obtain a Key.
Proceed through the rest of the Clock Tower section as normal until you come to a locked door. Do not use the key here, but continue upward until arriving at a crystal pillar blocking another switch. Break this pillar to reach the switch behind it. After, head back down to where the locked door is to see a new area with another locked door below the first one. Use the Key on the lower of the two locked doors to rescue Annette.
Save Iris
Iris is one of three rescuable maidens in The Dracula X Chronicles that players will find in Alternate Stage 4. Note that players must defeat Death and clear Stage 5 before unlocking Alternate Stage 4. In Stage 4, progress through the level as normal, choosing to avoid the waterfall and the raft. Move through the stage as normal until you spot a blue frog. Do not attack the frog, simply jump over it and let it follow you. You will eventually reach a long row of frog statues, with a single empty pillar for the blue frog to jump on. This will lower a platform that leads directly to Iris.
Save Tera
Tera is another maiden that players can rescue and can be found in Alternate Stage 3. Proceed through the stage as normal until you reach a dead end with a door and a small platform beneath it. Jump onto the platform and strike the wall underneath the door, revealing a hidden staircase. Go down the stairs to reach Tera.
Richter’s Long Whip Attack
Richter’s whip can actually extend to have a greater range. Just after pressing the attack button, quickly tap Right on the D-Pad twice to see Richter’s whip change color and extend slightly further. This is great to use when trying to take out hard-to-reach enemies from a safe distance.
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles Glitches
Once players unlock Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, there is a classic glitch they can exploit to make the early hours of the game much easier.
Keep Alucard’s Equipment in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Similar to the PS1 version of Symphony of the Night, players can keep Alucard’s starting equipment if they’re fast enough. When Alucard walks into the room where he is greeted by Death, he normally loses all of his powerful equipment. To keep it, back dash out of the room as soon as you enter (before the cut scene starts).
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles Cheat FAQs
How do you unlock Symphony of the Night in Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles?
While it’s known that The Dracula X Chronicles contains both Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night, unlocking SotN takes some work. During Stage 2, players will need to fall into the first pit during the Minotaur chase sequence. This will land Richter in the sewers, which leads to an alternate boss battle and Stage 3′ (not to be confused with the normal Stage 3). Take the upper path when given a choice, acquiring the Axe sub-weapon and hanging onto it. Eventually, you’ll use it on a vine cage that will fall down and become a platform. Jumping on this cage allows Richter to reach the upper ledges. At the end is a breakable tombstone containing the item that permanently unlocks Symphony of the Night.
How do you unlock Rondo of Blood in Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles?
It’s possible to unlock the original PC Engine version of Rondo of Blood during Stage 4 of the PSP version of The Dracula X Chronicles. In Stage 4, you’ll see 6 fire-spitting skulls in a stack, with a swinging platform just past them. Jump over the skulls and onto the platform, then jump over a large spike ball to land on the ground next to a large wall. Attack the wall to reveal a bomb, then attack the bomb to ignite it and cause the wall to come tumbling down. From here, players will need to make their way through a secret area with plenty of spike traps and enemies. At the end of the area is a candle, hit it to unlock the original version of Rondo of Blood.
Can you play as Maria in Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles?
Maria is playable in both Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night (once players unlock the game). Players will get the rare “Key” subweapon in Stage 2 of Rondo of Blood. Using it on the locked door at the end of the chase sequence will unlock a cinematic sequence. After that, Maria is available as a selectable character.
To use Maria in Symphony of the Night, players will first need to beat the game normally as Alucard. After, when starting a new game, enter “MARIA” as the character name to play through the game as Maria.
How do you do a backflip in Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles?
Players can successfully execute a backflip by quickly pressing Up twice while playing as Richter.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles key art.