The Solieyu Demon himself hand-picked these supreme forces of the Darkness to hinder Christopher's progress. Each miserably failed.

Yes! Welcome to the Primary Evil, or those not CVGB connoisseurs may call it, the BOSS sector. Listed are the 4 Castle Spirits chosen by the Solieyu Demon, as well as the Bone Dragon, appointed to keep groupies (and daddies) out of Soleiyu's flowing dark locks!

Note on Bosses: Names derived from the instruction booklet and the October 1991 issue of Nintendo Power, so you know that I know what I'm doing. Bosses arranged by the Castle order Crystal, Cloud, Plant and Rock. Screen shots captivated painstakingly by me, permission first, please.

Dark Side

At first, the fan in me is striken by Dark Side's similarity to Sypha Belnades, the heroic Warakiyan Mystic from CastleVania III on the NES. Years later, I realize that Konami was playing too much Super Star Wars when they were developing Belmont's Revenge. But cirrusly, folks, (and that is a pun) Dark Side takes from both the Belnades and Palpatine pages.

Once you summon the Spirit by capturing the flashing crystal ball, a dark cloud will appear above you. In keeping with the motif of this Castle, this Castle Spirit will first appear in the form of a giant crystal. This is your shot to hit it with everything you've got, which hopefully includes the Battle Axe. Dark Side will be invulnerable to your strikes once she settles into her humanoid form, so act with purpose!

Brandishing a lengthy lightning rod, Dark Side will cast a bolt upon you . When you see its clawlike tip open, MOVE IT OR LOSE IT!!! If you're too close to the bolt when it touches down, you'll be roasted by the flames it leaves in its wake. Usually one leap away will keep you clear.

There is a safe spot at the left side of the screen, at which the fires will reach your boots, but you'll be unburned. Evade her attacks and punish Dark Side's crystal to win! BEWARE: You CAN take damage ifwhen you touch Dark Side's crystal and human forms.

Angel Mummy

The dark threesome is on. This Castle Spirit is a Terror Trio in itself! Queen Medusa, the Bone Dragon Queen(?), and Puweyxil(?) join forces and have become the Angel Mummy! "Zankoku na tenshi no youni..." Before you awaken the Angel Mummy, the necks and skulls won't be out, but capped, Queen Medusa staring at you. When the attack begins, the two necks will come out and flips open their neck bones! During the attack, Queen Medusa will call to her appendages as they slowly slither, each spitting out fiery projectiles. The two bone dragons will then pause. THEN they'll use their neck bones as deadly weapons! Your best bet is to stay beneath the highest platform as the

Kumulo and Nimbler

Iron Doll

Not ANOTHER double trouble!!! Don't let the screensnap alarm you; you're only fighting one of him, but he's up for two rounds.

Bone Dragon

This spectacular skeletal serpent tunnels through the lower reaches of CastleVania. In an interesting move, so to speak, the screen will scroll during your battle with him, making it a bit tough to move around. You'll find yourself moving faster when moving forward rather than back. As a result, you may find yourself trapped when the Bone Dragon slinks its sharp segments by you. You'll find a Holy Water in a candle in his hall, but you're better off passing it up, as his weak point, his head, will rarely be in rang. Better to go on without it, best to go with the Axe.