Castlevania Circle of the Moon Challenge (Iron Golem Beaten)

**Rikuthemaster**

Seeing some of these game challenges inspired me, and I kind of wanted to challenge myself with a game I'm moderately good at. So I thought a Castlevania game is in order.

For challenges, I couldn't really think of one for any other Castlevania game, but then I thought of Circle of the Moon's "DSS Cards" which grant you power ups in the game if you find a good combination of them.

DSS Cards can grant you different power ups with different combinations. For example. Mercury and Salamander give you the fire whip, and Jupiter and Manticore give you a poison gas shield. These cards can help tremendously in the later bosses.

So, my challenge is to complete Castlevania: Circle of the Moon without the use of DSS Cards. Anyone that's played this game knows how much of a help these cards can be. I will have a log of my progress below. Adding things as I go along.

I only have a video of Cerberus, but I can't do anymore videos because VBA gets very choppy when I make movies. Screenshots are the best I can do now.

Rules:
Can Collect DSS Cards, but cannot use them.
Must complete the main story line (i.e. Beat the fuck out of Dracula)
I may use save states, however, I cannot use them in the middle of a boss battle.
I may use sub weapons (i.e. knives, holy water, crucifixes, etc.)
May use Items, but cannot over do it (No more than 50 HP Healing in Battles)

Day 1 (5/19)
Started The Game
Advanced to Level 8
Beat Cerberus (Video!)
Double Jump Obtained
Got to Necromancer's Area Save Point (In Audience Room)

END DAY

Day 2 (5/20)
Advanced to Level 9
Realizing Necromancer's battle sucks because I'm used to the GBA, not VBA.
Hardly played at all

END DAY

Day 3 (5/21)
Advanced to Level 12
Defeated Necromancer
Accessed the Machine Tower
Made it to Iron Golem Area

END DAY

Day 4 (5/22)

Advanced to Level 14
Defeated Iron Golem
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Did somebody say [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker]?

**Strykerx** · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 3110 Location: Pants

Good luck. That should definitely make things tougher, but its by no means impossible. You should have added no sub weapons

Seriously though, its your challenge.

And you picked a really great game/series to do it on.
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STRYKERX.COM

**Rikuthemaster** · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:35 pm Post subject:

**N.T.F.** · Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 613

what are dss cards?

**Rikuthemaster** · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject:

**Strykerx** · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 3110 Location: Pants

**Rikuthemaster** · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject:

Ok, I just beat Cerberus. Wasn't too tough, but I had to kill him twice because my first movie file was corrupt. Luckily Cerberus is easy. Movie will be up soon.

EDIT: Here is said Video
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Did somebody say [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker]?

**ShinobiAC** · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 1065 Location: Raleigh, NC

Ooooh, I want to play some Castlevania 1 now! I'd agree with Stryker on beefing it up a little challenge-wise. Battle Arena basically sets the same "no spells" limitation, and it's not that rough. What would be really fun is "old-school" challenge. No equipment, no items, no cards. Just you, your whip, and your subweapon like the old days!

It's been a while since I played through CotM. I remember going through as a magician and skipping a few bosses by using unicorn to heal in the spike damage room and getting to the other side that way. Good times.
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**Strykerx** · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 3110 Location: Pants

I feel like doing a Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow challenge now. I'll go gauge how difficult that will be and get back to you. It will at least give me something to do while my 360 is gone...

Good work on Cerberus, I want to see you take on Drac

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STRYKERX.COM

**Rikuthemaster** · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 2:50 am Post subject:

And I'm finished for the day. I got to the save point by the Necromancer's Boss Room.

I would've played more, but I was out for 3 hours.
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Did somebody say [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker]?

**Rikuthemaster** · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 1:09 am Post subject:

Just defeated Necromancer. I'm now at Level 11 after that. I can't get videos because VBA gets very choppy now when I make videos. So screenshots are the best I can do. I'll take a group during the battle, after the battle, etc.

Necromancer (OWNed like a n00b!!!)
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Did somebody say [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker]?

**gregarwolf** · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 38

Correct me if i'm wrong, but after you beat the main game, you spell your name as something, then you can only use DSS cards. If you beat that, you can play a mode where there are no DSS cards, right?

**Mogwai** · Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 1219 Location: Bowling Green, KY

I personally think it's enough of challenge just to play that game.. Not because it's hard or anything... I just thought that was a pretty bad game

.. So sad... Castlevania games are usually amazing, too

**Rikuthemaster** · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 8:25 pm Post subject:

**TJShultz** · Joined: 13 Dec 2007 Posts: 1261 Location: Seattle, WA

I've created a new sticky for video game challenge threads. Please make a post there for your thread, and edit that for updates. Thanks!

Official Video Game Challenges Thread
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nickb611 wrote:

Alright, let's review.

1) You're using numbers in place of words.
2) You're spelling at the second grade level.
3) You're posting in CAPS.
4) This post is in the wrong place, and should have been in Software.

Conclusion: Custom songs are not your "cup of tea", and I'd suggest undertaking a much more simpler hobby. Perhaps tree watching.