Castlevania: Aria Of Sorrow

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Use no souls:
Enter NOSOUL as a name and start a new game.
Information in this section was contributed by xingdenburg7687.

Use no items:
Enter NOUSE as a name and start a new game.
Information in this section was contributed by xingdenburg7687.

Play as Julius Belmont:
Successfully complete the game with a good ending. Then, enter JULIUS as a name and start a new game.
Information in this section was contributed by jamie shuhyta.

Play as Julius Belmont in the normal game, complete it, and you will be able to play as him in Boss Rush mode.
Information in this section was contributed by Michael Nelson.

Language select:
Press L + R + A + B + Select + Start during game play. A menu will appear, allowing you to change the text display to English, French, or German. Note: When you select the language, the game will reset automatically, without saving.
Information in this section was contributed by Aurelio Maldonado.

Alternate ending sequence:
To see the true ending, obtain three of the souls described in the books Flame Demon, Succubus, Giant Bat. Then, battle the first Graham equipped with the three souls. After the two battles, the castle will recognize Soma as Dracula and will let you continue to battle Chaos in Chaos Realm. To get there, go to clock tower (with look-alike rooms). Those rooms are like three floors, and if you go to another room, it looks alike. To go the sealed door, go room to room by going right. Once you get to a different room with Rippers and those flying things, go down and find the room sealed with mist. Julius is inside. After the fight, you will be able to battle Chaos in Chaos Realm. Defeat it to end the game.
Information in this section was contributed by Lynx.

To see the best ending, equip the three souls as described above, then defeat both Bosses after defeating Graham.
Information in this section was contributed by benny6640.

To see the good ending, equip the three souls as described above, then defeat the first Boss after defeating Graham, but lose to the second Boss.
Information in this section was contributed by benny6640.

To see the bad ending, do not collect the Flame Demon, Succubus, or Giant Bat souls.
Information in this section was contributed by benny6640.

Hard mode:
Successfully complete the game with the "Good" ending. When you start a new game, you can choose either the normal or hard difficulty.
Information in this section was contributed by likk_of_GSCCC.

There are new items in hard mode, such as:Kaiser KnuckleDeath's RobeDeath Sickle.
Information in this section was contributed by Lynx.

Boss Rush mode:
Successfully complete the game to unlock the "Boss Rush" option under the "Special" menu at the title screen. You are timed on how long it takes you to fight through all the Bosses from the game. Items are obtained depending on how long it took to defeat all the Bosses. Each can only be obtained once. A Potion is the reward if you get a time you got once before.
Information in this section was contributed by likk_of_GSCCC.

Sound mode:
Successfully complete the game with the "Good" ending to unlock the "Sound" option under the "Special" menu at the title screen.
Information in this section was contributed by likk_of_GSCCC.

Bonus items:
To get extra items you must replay the game in Hard mode. This is easier if you use a previous saved game file. Go through the game as usual. Look around any place where you think that items should be. Two new weapons you can only obtain in Hard mode are Death's Scythe (more powerful than the Clamis Solaris)and the Silver Bullet Gun.
Information in this section was contributed by Cloud666333.

Hint: Defeating the Balore:
While fighting the Balore, when his hands go away and he starts the lasers, equip the Medusa Head Soul. This will allow you to freeze in mid-air, directly next to his eye. The fire from the laser will miss you. This way, you can smash away at his eye very easily until he is defeated.
Information in this section was contributed by Kensuke.

Hint: Defeating the Giant Mud Golem:
When fighting the Giant Mud Golem, (second or third Boss) make sure to equip the Giant Ghost Soul in the Blue Soul Set. When you see him arched over and drooling rocks, activate the soul. It will reflect all of the rocks he is spitting at you, and deal over 40 damage per rock.
Information in this section was contributed by James.exe.

Hint: Defeating Iron Golem:
Use the Killer Mantle Soul. The Iron Golem will go down very easily.
Information in this section was contributed by Chieh-Li Lee.

Hint: Defeating Legion:
To defeat Legion in under fifteen seconds you need the Biphron Soul and the Claim Solias sword. Equip both and enter the room. As soon as it completely forms and descends, use the soul you have equipped and keep attacking him. The flame is tall enough to hit every part of its body, and the Solias is tall enough to hit half of the entire thing.
Information in this section was contributed by James.exe.

Hint: Defeating red minotaurs:
To defeat red minotaurs easily, equip the Killer Mantle Soul. This will kill them in one attack.
Information in this section was contributed by Brendon.

Hint: Hippogriff ability:
After defeating the Iron Golem, walk to the right wall and attack it with your sword to break it down. This reveals a passage to another room. In this next room you will find the Hippogriff ability.
Information in this section was contributed by Brendon.

Hint: Easy money:
After defeating Julius Belmont, you can enter the Chaotic Realm. About two save rooms inside the Chaotic Realm, there will be a place that resembles the area before you first fought the "Manticore". There will be a lamp that will always drop an enemy called Mimic which looks like a blue money bag. Mimic's Soul ability gives you money every time you get damaged. The amount of damage you get is the same amount of money you receive. Keep killing it to get its soul. Once you have Mimic's soul, go outside of Chaotic Realm and warp to "The Arena". Save and rest at the save room and equip the Mimic's soul. Go to the elevator and choose your torture room. The middle one is recommended as it is faster for you to lose life. Be sure to always visit the save room whenever your life is too low. Use this method to get the Soul Eater ring that costs 300,000 (allows you to acquire souls with ease). This is the best way to get fast money.
Information in this section was contributed by LoOkySUP PETER.

Hint: Easy experience:
When you are in the Chaos Realm, equip your Roginus' Spear and the soul Erinys. When you encounter a Shadow Knight, kill him. You will gain roughly 3,300 experience points per kill. If you are near a door when you kill him, enter and exit to encounter the Shadow Knight again to keep getting experience.
Information in this section was contributed by Brian Palmer.

When you get to the Chaotic Realm, go to the room where there is a Demon Lord and two Erinys. Keep killing them to get about 4200 experience points in this area. Also, there are coffins here. Hit the one on the upper right to always get 500 gold. Keep entering and exiting the room to repeat the process.
Information in this section was contributed by Raphael Louis Rodriguez.

Hint: Defeating Graham:
You need the weapons Death Scythe and Silver Gun for this trick. In hard mode when you encounter Graham, equip your Death Scythe in the first encounter with the soul Giant Bat. Keep hitting Graham with your scythe, use the Giant Bat soul when necessary to dodge his attacks. When he moves to the center and makes his meteors revolve around the room, equip the Silver Gun and move to the far right. This way, you will not get hurt. Keep shooting him until he goes down. When he goes to his ultimate mode, equip your scythe again and keep low, striking while holding Down. Slide when necessary to avoid the laser at the top. Killing Graham this way will result in minimal damage and a fast kill.
Information in this section was contributed by Brian Palmer.

Hint: Defeating Manticore:
Manticore is a fairly troublesome Boss towards the beginning of the game. You will need the Zombie Soldier Soul for this trick. When you enter the Boss room Manticore is in, draw his attention and move all the way to the right side of the screen. Equip the Zombie Soldier Soul and throw grenades at him from atop the small staircase from when you entered the room. He cannot hit you with his poison tail or fireballs. If you are under level 14, the grenades should do the same amount of base damage as your current weapon.
Information in this section was contributed by James.exe.

Hint: Shoot fireballs:
When you have the Fire Demon, Giant Bat, and Succubus souls equipped, you can shoot fireballs as a bat just like Alucard from Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night.
Information in this section was contributed by Tony Klarich.

Hint: Jump forever:
You must first obtain the Ability Soul from the Hippogryph. It allows you to perform a high jump if you press R while in mid-air. It is obtained very late in the game. There are some rooms in the castle that are immense and have high, hard to reach places. If you want to reach them without using the Giant Bat Soul, either alternate by pressing A to jump then R to shoot upward, or just continuously press R. This ability does not require magic, so your character can keep doing it forever.
Information in this section was contributed by Katie Hanlon.

Hint: Alternate jump:
When you are standing on the ground (or an enemy), instead of jumping then pressing L to use the Hippogryph/Hippogriff ability, you can simply hold Up then press L. You will perform a vertical jump reminiscent of the Lancers in the Final Fantasy series of games.
Information in this section was contributed by C Bell.

Hint: Stop time:
Go to the Inner Quarters and go down the hallway where Chronomage (the rabbit with the stopwatch) is located. Kill the Chronomage then keep entering and exiting until you get his soul. It lets you stop time, like the Stop Watch sub-weapon from the original Castlevania. Note: You must have the Galamoth Soul to prevent Chronomage's stop watch ability. Otherwise, you will be sent back to the last room that you were in.
Information in this section was contributed by Stinkytaco.

Hint: Attacking enemies above you:
When you get the Hippogryph Soul (which allows you to do a super jump in mid-air), hit the bottom of something while still going upward to ram into it. If you do this when an enemy is above you, damage will be done to it. This is useful for attacking enemies with having to confront them.
Information in this section was contributed by Aida Kensuke.

Hint: Use the Red Minotaur soul twice:
To use the Red Minotaur soul twice with one use, face away from the monster you want to attack. The giant axe will hit the monster when going backwards and again when going forwards.

Hint: Saving HP:
By equipping Alura Une and Arc Demon, when you take a hit, your HP goes down and your MP goes up. When you use Alura Une, your HP goes up and your MP goes down.

Hint: Restore HP and MP:
Whenever you talk to Mina, she will refill your HP and MP.
Information in this section was contributed by Aida Kensuke.

Hint: Transform into Dracula:
Defeat Graham with the Flame Demon, Giant Bat, and Succubus souls equiped. When you defeat him, you will transform into Dracula. Note: There is a "Dracula's Tunic" in the next room.
Information in this section was contributed by jotavares.

Hint: Pass the large waterfall in the lower section of the castle:
Equip the three God-like spirits (Curly, Devil, Manticore) which should be in the blue spirit section, also Undine in the orange section to stand on the water. Get enough distance between you and the waterfall then transform into the God form. If you gave it enough room, you will go through the waterfall, pick up the Armor, and enter a small new section of the castle.
Information in this section was contributed by Stephen Jobe.

Hint: Entering the Forbidden Zone:
In the lower right-hand part of the middle of the map, you may have noticed a waterfall that constantly pushes you back if you try to walk through it. To enter into the Forbidden Zone from here, you must have the Undine Soul, and one of three more souls (Devil, Curly, or Manticore). From the entrance of the room, have Undine and one of the other souls mentioned equipped. Use one of the three souls and do not release R until you are through the waterfall. You now have access to a special, but optional, part of the game.
Information in this section was contributed by Chris Hardewig.

Hint: Chaos Ring:
Have 100% of all the souls, then go to the Chaotic Realm. At the room were you find the first Alastro (the invisible creature with the big sword), go to the room that is on the top left corner. You will find the Chaos Ring, which gives you unlimited MP while equipped.
Information in this section was contributed by ZERO8964.

Hint: Claimh Solais sword:
To the left of the sunken ship in the Forbidden area is a room with a few fish heads that appears to be a dead end. Break down the wall to the left to gain access to a secret room. Inside is the Claimh Solais, one of the best swords in the game.
Information in this section was contributed by Andrew Hagler.

Hint: Ninja Suit:
At the location in which you entered the Inner Quarters, make your way to the top of the flights of stairs. Enter the only door available, and hit the ground with a weapon of some sort. The ground will crack and reveal an area with a High Potion, and two Witches. Grab the potion and go to your right. Do not leave the area. Instead, hit the wall directly to your right. It will crack and reveal another secret passage. Inside is a Salem Witch, and a Ninja Suit on the floor.
Information in this section was contributed by James.exe.

Hint: Osafune Katana:
After you have collected the Bat Soul, or Hypogryph ability, move to the Underground Reservoir. Upon entering, keep moving to the right. You should see a fairly steep waterfall. When the waterfall bends to a straight angle, use either of the two abilities to get above the waterfall and onto the next ledge. In doing that, you should encounter a Flesh Golem, and two Nightmares. Kill them and keep moving right. As you enter this next room, there should be a boat. Keep moving until you reach the end of the hall. Use the Giant Bat to climb up. Enter the first room that you reach. Again, move to the right until you hit water. Equip the Skula Soul so you can move underwater. Fall in the water and make your way down to the hole on your right. There should be two fish heads. Kill them and keep dropping. When you hit the floor, swing at the wall to your right. It should become loose and soon tumble down. Enter the broken wall to find the Osafune Katana from Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night.
Information in this section was contributed by James.exe.

Hint: Rare Ring:
Once you have acquired the Giant Bat Soul, go into the lowest right torture room. Go all the way to the right and use the Giant Bat Soul to squeeze through the crack in the brick. In the next room is a ring called the Rare Ring. It has the same effect as the expensive Soul Eater Ring.
Information in this section was contributed by walshfam.

Hint: Samurai Armor:
In the Candle Lit Halls (Dance Hall), there is a transporter. Three blocks above it (two right and one up) is a room with a giant axe wielding Minotaur. After killing the Minotaur, go as far to the left as possible. Hit the wall as many times as necessary until it breaks. Inside is a suit of red armor labeled "Samurai Armor". It has a higher defense rate and the same bonus stats as the War Fatigues. It is excellent armor when level 19 and less.
Information in this section was contributed by James.exe.

Hint: Sherman Ring:
In the Candle Lit Halls (Dance Hall), there is an exit to the right of that area that enters the Inner Corridors. Just before you enter the door, double jump and swing at the ceiling (preferably with a weapon like the Claimh Solais, because of its reach and motion). You will need the Giant Bat Soul or Hypogryph Soul to enter the secret area. When you do, you will encounter a Catoblepas, Mimic, and White Dragon Skeleton. Kill them all and get the Sherman Ring. The ring gathers experience for you as you walk. Also, equipping the Enryis Soul and ring at the same time is good way to get quick level ups.
Information in this section was contributed by James.exe.

Hint: Toy duck:
In the arena of the bath of Lilith and Sucubus, go up above the save point (the only one in the area ), then go right to see a toy duck.
Information in this section was contributed by Watashinoyume.

Hint: Tsuchinoko:
Tsuchinoko can only be found in one room in the castle. It is the room to the left after the Golem Boss room. Keep entering and exiting the room until you see it lying on its tummy, and not digging. Note: The Tsuchinoko Soul is very useful; it gives you a big discount at the shop.
Information in this section was contributed by Raphael Louis Rodriguez, De silva.

Hint: Double soul activation:
Equipping the Bat and Giant Bat Souls simultaneously will activate both Souls when just one is used. In addition, if you do not have the Succubus Soul or the Flame Demon Soul, you can still do heavy damage, while looking for hidden areas and breakable walls.
Information in this section was contributed by Jeffrey Stockton and all_apologies112.

Hint: Stronger Julius Belmont:
If you are playing as Julius Belmont, you can increase your strength by collecting the floating object after defeating Bosses. He will grow stronger if you have 92.0-99.4% of the map completed. Note: When you fight Graham, instead of 84 damage per whip you will now do about 96 to 102.
Information in this section was contributed by Raphael Louis Rodriguez, De silva.

Hint: Boss Rush items:
Information in this section was contributed by jose tavares.

Completed too slowly: Simple potion
Less than four minutes: Valmanway Sword
Four to-five minutes: Positron Rifle
Five to six minutes: Excalibur Sword
Completed quickly, but already had the items above: Simple potion

Hint: Castlevania 2 reference:
When you complete the game and get to the part when Mina wakes up Soma, you will hear a small part of the music from Castlevania 2 after Simon Belmont says, "What a horrible night for a curse."
Information in this section was contributed by Benjamillion.