Surface Route: Level 7A – Castle Courtyard

Start by collecting Hearts from candles and defeating the Skeleton enemy.

Jump onto the stone blocks on the right. Wait for the descending platform to lower, then jump onto it.

Make a timed jump to the next ledge on the right, avoiding the Fuzz Buster spark.

This next part requires quick and precise timing: wait for the descending platform to reach a suitable height, then quickly jump across a series of descending platforms. From the fourth platform, jump to the ledge on the right.

Defeat the Pillar of Bones on the right and the Hunchback that may approach.

Whip the candle for a Heart. Climb the staircase on the right to the ledge above, waiting for the Pillar of Bones to stop firing. Collect a large Heart from the candle.

Go left, whip the fireballs from the Pillar of Bones, and defeat it. Head up the staircase to the next screen.

In the new screen, whip the candle at the top of the staircase for an Axe. Collect Money Bags from the candles on either side (be cautious of the pit on the right).

As you climb the staircase to the outside area, be prepared for Harpy enemies dropping Hunchbacks. Defeat them as they appear.

Continue right, defeating Hunchbacks and Harpies. At the end of this stretch, you will reach the door to the next block.

In BLK 7-0B, collect Hearts from the first two candles.

Look to the lower-right. Time your jump to the lower ledge to avoid being knocked into the pit on the left by the Pillar of Bones' fireballs.

Crouch and whip to destroy fireballs, then defeat the Pillar of Bones. Whip the candle for a Heart.

Go right, defeat another Pillar of Bones (using crouching whips), and collect a Money Bag from the candle.

Continue right, jumping over a pit. Duck and whip to defeat a third Pillar of Bones, then collect a Money Bag from the candle.

Defeat a fourth Pillar of Bones further ahead and collect a Heart from its candle.

Collect a Heart from the final candle on the right. Climb the staircase to the floor above.

Head left and fight two Axe Knight Guards. Collect a large Heart from the candle between them.

Continue left, whipping candles for Hearts. Before ascending the next staircase, whip the left wall to find a Leg of Werewolf if you need health.

Ascend the staircase to the next area.

In this area, navigate the tilting blue beams. Walk onto the left beam, jump onto it, and land on its left side to tilt it. Walk right along the beam, jump to its right side, and then quickly jump right to the stone block platform.

Drop to the next ledge, then jump to the next tilting ledge. Jump to its right side, then quickly jump to another tilting beam.

Jump along this beam, then right onto another stone ledge. Make a pixel-perfect jump at the last moment to reach the left end of a final tilting beam.

Jump across this beam to safe ground on the other side, where the exit door awaits.

In BLK 7-0C, navigate a long bridge segment, dealing with Red Gates of Death (which can only be momentarily incapacitated) and Crows.

Collect Hearts from candles if desired. At the end of the bridge, jump to the platform on the right and descend the staircase.

The screen will begin to auto-scroll downwards. Make your way down, avoiding falling past the bottom or staying too long at the top.

Purple blocks will crumble. Jump between appearing platforms, waiting for lower platforms to appear.

Reach the platform at the bottom-right with a staircase and descend to the next screen.

A Red Gates of Death patrols in the lower-left. You can momentarily disable it to get a large Heart from the guarded candle.