Your quest begins outside the castle, starting in a forest that serves as a graveyard. Even here, far from the inner terrors, you will find little peace. Mud Men and Eagles drop from the sky. Big Eyes tumble down on you as you climb, and Bats hover over your head. But you can gain advantages here too. Collect extra lives and power up your whip so that you have both the Morning Star and Fire Balls. Use this stage to learn the attack patterns of your enemies, and how to outwit them.
- A: Mud Men aren't much of a threat if you know how to deal with them. Once they drip down from above and land on the ground, they'll begin to grow into human form. Hit them when they're still growing. If you don't attack them, they will follow you and may sneak up from behind when you're battling another enemy.
- B: After facing Creepers and Eagles, you'll need to climb up the rope to reach a giant staircase. Big Eyes will drop down from the area above and threaten to flatten you. Even worse, they'll catch you in their giant explosion if you whip them too close. But fear not, for the candles in these areas contain crosses which make you invincible. While you are flashing, you can pass harmlessly through the Eyes. But don't waste time, as the invincibility won't last forever.
- !: There is a secret nearby! Check the secrets page for more information.
- C: Sometimes the candles are placed in positions that seem impossible to reach. In fact, you can't reach all of the candles, bu you can still knock them out and take the item. Claim the candle shown here by using your Fire Balls while standing on top of the wall to the left. Then jump down and retrieve the item., which happens to be an extra life in this case.
- D: The platforms in this area won't stay elevated for long. As soon as you jump on them, they will begin to drop into the pit below. Don't waste any time; walk to the right and leap for the next platform, which will similarly fall into the pit. Once you reach the safety of a secure ledge, take a breath, but prepare to jump very carefully to the next platform when you're ready.
- E: Jumping from block to block looks easy enough, but it takes time and patience. You'll have to stand right on the very edge of the right side of a block and jump. If you fall below, return to the left and start over. A few of the candles below the blocks are valuable, but it's more important to not waste time. Be extra careful of the bats that like to hang out here. Remove them before they interfere with your jumps.
Boss[edit]
This servant of Dracula is huge and strong. One strike from his chain whip can cause a lot of damage. You are much faster by comparison. Duck in close, whip him, then dart back a step. With a strong enough whip, you can defeat him before he corners you. If he does, use the ledges to get over and around him and attack him from the other side. But beware, he can also fling his chain upwards to attack you if you try to sneak over his head.