Level 9 – Devil Castle: The Inner Halls

BLK 9-01: Start by collecting Hearts and proceeding upwards. The next screen is challenging, with Harpies carrying Hunchbacks attacking from the upper left. Time your whip attacks carefully, or use sub-weapons like Alucard's spread. Ignore the upper-left candle. Head upstairs to a seemingly empty screen with some upper candles containing Money Bags and a big Heart, which may require sub-weapons to reach. Proceed to the next block.

BLK 9-02: This block introduces spike traps, which are instant death. You can jump on the first spike to reach upper candles. The next jump involves navigating a pit and walking under two rising spikes; wait for them to align before proceeding. Past a fourth set of spikes, grab the upper candle if desired and head upstairs. The next screen is a difficult ascent up stairs while Bone Pillars fire. Gargoyle enemies spawn on the sides, making it hard to stay safe. It's best to stay on platforms and only move when a Gargoyle is dealt with. Sub-weapons that can hit Bone Pillars from range (Sypha, Trevor, or Alucard with Pocket Watch) are helpful. Use Hearts here if needed. Save points or states are highly recommended. At the top, an Axe Guard blocks the path; whip at its feet to defeat it, collect the candles, and proceed.

BLK 9-03: Begin by defeating the Knights and heading up. The next screen is a long, slowly auto-scrolling horizontal section. Avoid the Fuzz Buster enemies and focus on the right side, defeating Sword Skeletons. A candle on the right contains Sacred Water, and a 1-Up is hidden in the right recessed wall; be quick to grab it. Continue upwards, watching for Fuzz Busters and Sword Skeletons. A big staircase on the right has a Fuzz Buster; move left quickly. At the end of this area, Bats appear, and the far right wall hides a Leg of Werewolf. The top candle contains a big Heart, which is not essential. Proceed to the next block.

BLK 9-04: This section features waterways. Sypha's freeze ability or Alucard's bat form can be used to bypass this area quickly via the upper-right exit. Otherwise, beware of Fishmen (shadows in the water), which can be attacked. Crows are a significant annoyance; the Axe, Pocket Watch, or Banshee Boomerang are useful. A candle to the upper left contains a Banshee Boomerang, and another to the upper right has a Dagger. Head up the stairs to a screen with flipping platforms and Medusa Heads. Cross slowly, time whip attacks, and don't worry about the candles. Keep heading left to reach the boss area. Before the fight, a big Heart is in the lower right wall.

BOSS: Doppelganger: This boss mimics the player character and uses sub-weapons. Utilize the stage's platforms by jumping to upper or lower levels and waiting for the Doppelganger to follow, allowing for multiple hits. Combine this strategy with sub-weapons like Sacred Water or Banshee Boomerangs.