Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow Complete Guide (18 Sections) | AntMag

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Welcome to Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, a Metroidvania-style action-adventure where you play as Soma Cruz, a young man who finds himself trapped within Dracula's castle after a solar eclipse. You'll explore its sprawling, interconnected halls, battling demons and absorbing their souls to gain new abilities. This game is perfect for players who enjoy challenging platforming, deep exploration, and a unique combat system that lets you customize Soma's powers.

This guide is your key to mastering Aria of Sorrow. We'll help you navigate the labyrinthine castle, defeat formidable bosses like Graham, Dmitrii, and Celia, and uncover all the game's secrets. Whether you're aiming to achieve the best ending, collect every item, or simply survive the toughest encounters, we've got you covered.

- TABLE OF CONTENTS -

Alright, so you've booted up Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and you're ready to dive in! This section is basically your map to the rest of the guide, helping you jump straight to whatever you need. Think of it as the game's table of contents, but way more helpful.

We've got the whole game broken down, from the very start in the Castle Corridor all the way to the final showdowns in the Chaotic Realm. If you're looking for specific help, like tackling a tough boss or finding a hidden item, you can jump right to it. Plus, there are sections dedicated to all the gear you can find, enemies you'll face, and even the game's lore.

Don't forget, you can use Ctrl+F to search for specific codes if you know exactly where you want to go. Let's get started on your journey to 100% completion!

Things to Know Before You Play

Introduction — Get the lowdown on the game.
Controls — Learn how to move and fight.
Game Basics & Tips — Essential advice to get you started.

Main Walkthrough

This is where the real adventure begins. We'll guide you through every step of Dracula's castle:

Castle Corridor — Your first steps into the unknown.
Chapel — A sacred place with hidden dangers.
Study — Where knowledge meets peril.
Dance Hall — A ballroom of deadly encounters.
Inner Quarters — Explore the more personal spaces of the castle.
Floating Garden — Navigate this airy, treacherous area.
Clock Tower — Time is of the essence as you ascend.
Underground Reservoir — Brave the depths and waterlogged halls.
Forbidden Area — What secrets lie beyond this point?
Underground Cemetary — Rest in peace... or don't.
The Arena — Prepare for a true test of skill.
Unfinished Business — Tie up any loose ends.
Top Floor — The final approach to the castle's peak.
Chaotic Realm — Face the ultimate challenge.

Lists & Stuff

Need to know more about what you're up against or what you've collected? Check these out:

Bosses — Strategies for defeating every major enemy.
Bestiary — Details on all the creatures lurking in the castle.
Equips — A rundown of all the gear you can find and use.
Items — Discover every collectible item scattered throughout the game.
Extras — Uncover any bonus content or secrets.
Credits — See who brought this adventure to life.

FOLLOW ME!

Want to talk about some games!? Maybe throw out some ideas for what YOU want to see me write about next? I made a facebook account for just that reason!

You can 'Like' me at:

Facebook.com/Bkstunt

I also have a website you can visit to see what other guides I've written, as well as see upcoming projects. I've also written a TON of reviews that will go up there (You want to play GOOD games, right?!).

Bkstunt.com

So between those two sites, come on over and say 'Hi!' sometime.

Donations

First of all, let me say that my primary motivation for writing guides is, and always will be, for the gamer. However, as I've learned by writing just a few guides on new games, it can hit your pocket book! I wish they'd give me these games so I could crank out great guides, but they don't! Ah, maybe one day!

Until then, if you've found this guide helpful please consider donating to help me offset my costs. You can donate to my paypal account below:

PAYPAL:
Gregorio31 @ Gmail . Com

Hey, it's WAY better than paying $20 for a guide, right? Even the smallest amount will be appreciated.

AMAZON:

Hey there! So, you're diving into Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow? Awesome choice! Before we get too deep into Dracula's castle, let's make sure you know your way around the controller and what all those stats mean on the status screen. It's super important to get a handle on this stuff early on, so you're not fumbling around when things get hectic.

Think of this section as your quick-start guide to the game's mechanics. We'll cover all the buttons and what they do, how to use those cool Soul abilities, and what HP and MP are all about. It's pretty straightforward, but knowing it cold will make your journey through the castle a whole lot smoother.

Controls

Alright, let's break down what each button does. This is all standard stuff you'd find in the game's manual, but here it is in plain English:

BUTTON	FUNCTION
Control Pad	Move Player.
Control Pad Down-Arrow	Crouch.
A Button	Jump (Distance of jump changes depending on how long the button is pressed).
B Button	Attack with currently equipped weapon.
L Button	Use ability (Limited to certain abilities).
R Button	Invokes a Guardian Soul (Set using a BLUE SOUL).
Start	Display Status Screen.
Select	Display Map Screen.
Control Pad Up-Arrow + B Button	Bullet Soul Attack (Set using a RED SOUL).
Control Pad Down-Arrow + A Button	Jump down when floor is thin/Slide (After obtaining ability).

Status Screen Explained

Once you hit the Start button, you'll pull up the Status Screen. This is where you can check out your character's current stats. Here's what the abbreviations mean:

CHARACTER ATTRIBUTES:

ABBREVIATION

MEANING

HP

Game Start!

Alright, so you've just booted up Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, and the game's gonna kick things off with a bit of story. It's the year 2035, and everyone's hyped for a solar eclipse in Japan. You play as Soma Cruz, a high school exchange student who's chilling near the Hakuba Shrine with his childhood friend, Mina Hakuba. You're heading to the shrine to catch the eclipse together, but the path feels strangely long, almost like something's trying to stop you.

Once you finally get inside the shrine, things get weird. The eclipse darkens everything, and you get this eerie feeling, like something ancient is stirring. The game will show you Soma walking up to the shrine, and then BAM! The eclipse reveals a castle floating right there. Seriously, how is that even possible?!

After that, you'll finally get control. You'll see Soma being woken up by Mina, and then this mysterious guy, Genya Arikado, shows up. He's gonna question why you're at Dracula's Castle, and you'll be confused, thinking you're still in Europe. But nope, Arikado drops the bombshell: you're actually *inside* the solar eclipse!

You might not believe him, but Mina backs him up. Just as Arikado starts explaining more, some monsters jump out to attack you and Mina. He takes 'em all down easily, except for one straggler that threatens Mina. This is your cue! You'll instinctively attack it, obliterating it in one hit and, get this, absorbing its SOUL into your body. Pretty wild, right?

Arikado will then explain that you've got this new power to absorb enemy souls. Wicked! He'll tell you to head into the castle and find the 'Master's Chambers' if you want to get back to Japan with Mina. He sets up a protective barrier for her, but warns that staying too long is dangerous. Then, it's up to you to head into the castle and save yourselves.

You'll have full control now. You can chat with Mina and Arikado, but there isn't much new info there. Just take a look at the path leading upwards, and then it's time to enter the castle and get the game rolling!

First Enemy Encounter: