About Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (frequently abbreviated DoS) is a videogame for the Nintendo DS developed and published by Konami. The game is a direct sequel to Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, and features Soma Cruz as its protagonist. Other characters from Aria of Sorrow also return, including Soma's girlfriend Mina Hakuba, Genya Arikado, Julius Belmont, and Yoko Belnades. The game takes place one year after the events of Aria of Sorrow and details Soma's exploration of the castle of an egnigmatic cult which seeks to destroy him.
Publisher: Konami
Platform: Nintendo DS
Release Date (Europe): September 30, 2005
Release Date (Japan): August 25, 2005
Release Date (North America): October 4, 2005
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Controls and Gameplay
Basics
D-pad: move Soma and menu cursor
Select: toggle top-screen display mode
Start: pause/menu
Y: attack with weapon
X: switch equipment (only with Doppelganger soul)
B: jump
A: weapon special ability
L: Back-dash
R: guardian soul
Up + Y: bullet soul
Down + B: slide attack
The action in DoS takes place on the touch screen. During gameplay, the stylus is used to break "ice" blocks, and can be used to control certain familiars. The stylus can also be used to navigate menus.
The top screen operates in two modes. You can switch modes by pressing Select. The main mode displays Soma's status and souls currently equipped. It also provides information about your most recently encountered enemy. Upon defeating an enemy for the first time you obtain its name, information about its resistances and weaknesses, and the number of souls of that enemy you currently possess.
The second mode displays a map of the castle. Your current position is indicated by a pulsating circle. Save rooms are indicated by red squares, and teleport rooms are indicated by blue squares. Green partitions represent doors. Explored areas are tan, while unexplored areas which you have a map for are indicated by dark gray.
Advanced Moves
Jump Kick - Requires the Malphas soul. Perform a double jump and press B while holding down or diagonally-down on the d-pad. If you hit an enemy or breakable object you can repeat the jump kick.
Charged Jump Kick - Requires the Malphas and Medusa Head souls. Hit R as soon as you perform a jump kick and hold it. When you release it you will continue the jump kick, but it will do more damage than usual. Hold for as long as necessary, and have fun!
Tips & Tricks
Soul-Specific Tips
Succubus: The Succubus soul deals more damage, and therefore restores more health, with higher INT stats. It also steals hit points from inanimate objects! For instance you can "bite" breakable lamps, pots, statues, and chairs. So for maximum health recovery equip INT-boosting items and souls, and go through rooms full of breakable items.
General Tips
Easy Leveling Up
This trick is most effective late in the game, for maxing your stats to level 99. Get the Persephone vacuum soul, and level up until you are able to use it to kill a Merman (45 hp) in one hit. Next, go to the basement of the Wizardry Lab, to the room below the room with the Ghosts and invisible walls. There you will find 16 Mermen in a line; simply go in and out of the room, using Persephone's vacuum to continually kill the Mermen and gain an exorbitant amount of experience points. To maximize the effectiveness of this strategy, equip the Black Panther and Mothman souls, the Shaman Ring, and Nunchakus (acquired from Boss Rush Mode) and simply zip back and forth--each pass should take about 4 seconds. In this case, the Nunchakus are better than Valmanway because they can be used continuously. With the Shaman Ring and Mothman, you will gain 1488 exp per run; without, only 960 exp.
Another effective spot for both leveling up and gaining the Iron Golem soul is in the room left of the Ghost room in the basement of the Wizardry Lab. There, use the Bat Company soul to fly over the Iron Golem, then use the Buer soul (level 9) and the Nunchakus (Valmanway and Kaiser Knuckle also work well) to quickly destroy the Iron Golem and gain 2000 exp.
Boss Rush Mode Rewards:
Unlock Boss Rush Mode by completing the game and getting the best ending.
Unlockable :: How to Unlock
RPG :: Finish Boss Rush Mode under 5 minutes
Death's Robe :: Finish Boss Rush Mode under 6 minutes
Nunchakus :: Finish Boss Rush Mode under 7 minutes
Terror Bear :: Finish Boss Rush Mode under 8 minutes
Potion :: Finish Boss Rush Mode over 10 minutes, or if you have already obtained an item
The Three Money Doors
In the castle, three gold doors contain rare items. To activate a door, the last three digits of your gold must match exactly the three digits on the lock. The doors to be found are in:
The Garden of Madness - 777: Three’s 7 Armor
The Cursed Clock Tower - 573: Shaman’s Ring
Wizardry Lab (Basement) - 666: Gold Ring
