Summary
Just as Dracula’s Castle changes in appearance across everyCastlevaniaentry, so too do the guardians that roam its halls. Aside from staples such as Death and Dracula himself, eachCastlevaniagame boasts different sets of bosses that protagonists such as the Belmonts and Alucard have to face before fighting the vampire lord himself.
While eachCastlevaniatitle boasts its fair share of challenging puzzles and fights, its roster of bosses determines just how challenging specific encounters can get for players. Each boss in the castle often possesses unique abilities that test how far the players have come in the game. However, across the franchise’s 37-year lifespan, just which games have the best boss galleries?
Arguably one of (if not) the most challenging classicCastlevaniagames, whereCircle of the Moonexcels in level design, it fails in terms of technical gameplay. Nathan Graves’s clunky controlswith the Hunter Whipand the game’s lackluster item drop rates makeCircle’s boss fights absurdly difficult, making each boss defeat worthy of bragging rights.
The game’s RPG-lite elements mean difficult boss fights require juggling Nathan’s janky tech with the right leveled-up stats and DSS card combos. While an easy fight with Cerberus is balanced with decent match-ups against Death and Golem, players need to get their cheese on to deal with the huge area presence of the Double Dragons and Camilla’s bullet-hell mechanics.
Hector’s peaceful life is torn to shreds when the actions of a former rival result in his wife being burned at the stake, forcing theCurse of Darknessprotagonist to rely on his relinquished Devil Forgemaster powers for revenge. As Hector is not a Belmont, he instead uses a variety of weapons alongside a “crafting” system to create allies in the form of Innocent Devils to aid him in the game’s decent share of boss fights.
Tedious3D environments aside,Curse of Darknessboss fights are some of the most balanced in the series. Game-exclusive bosses such as Crazy Armor, Dullahan, and the Wyvern utilize gimmicks to force players to think outside the box. Meanwhile, classic bosses such as Death, Legion, and even mainstay Dracula alluded to their classic 2D playstyles while taking advantage of the game’s 3D environments for more engaging mechanics.
Considered the first canonical game in the franchise,Lament of Innocencechronicles the adventures of Leon Belmont as he traverses Castlevania to save his kidnapped beloved fromthe clutches of Dracula. This straightforward premise extends to gameplay, with the castle entrance hub area leading to the game’s main locations. Even Leon’s kit prioritizes simplicity to pave the way for tactical plays, as players can enhance sub-weapons with elemental attacks, while his parrying gauntlet can house Relics for special abilities.
While not as action-packed asDevil May Cry 3for the same console, the PS2 title’s boss fights encourage strategic plays over hack-and-slash glory. Franchise staples such as Golem, Medusa, and Succubus offer a throwback to their 2D moveset, making Leon’s new attack offerings more satisfying. Likewise, finding hidden bosses such as the Elementals and the Forgotten One make the search worthwhile courtesy of their upgrade drops.
Having Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin on screen fillsPortrait of Ruinwith a delightful mix of whip-tastic melee and flashy spellcasting effects, extending to boss fights that require new approaches to overcome. Having an AI handle an ally while players focus on a main hero means choosing between Jonathan’s precision strikes or Charlotte’s more targeted spells, adding extra challenge even to classic bosses such as Medusa and Frankenstein’s Creature.
Moreover, the Dracula and Death boss fight tandem can test a player’s knowledge of the game’s mechanics, as they may need a combination of the right Charlotte buffs and Dual Clashes to make a meaningful difference after bypassing their attack patterns.
While not a Belmont, Soma Cruz’s access to Red Souls transformsAria of Sorrowinto an ability collection-fest. Theoretically, most bosses go down from weapon attacks aided with potion spams, especially since most bosses still telegraph their attacks. Thankfully, Soma’s responsive controls can help players facilitate dodges and attacks much faster. In turn,Aria’s more fluid combat also incentivizes experimenting with Red Souls to alternateCastlevaniafighting styles.
Frequent fightswith the Manticore and Great Armorshould get Soma used to tougher one-time bosses such as the Headhunter. Meanwhile, memorable boss fights with Graham and Belmont would test the player’s Red Souls arsenal, especially since their attack patterns alternate frequently.
The visual imagery of Soma tapping into his dark heritage makesDawn of Sorrowasatisfying sequel toAria, with the Tactical Soul System pushing a player’s ability-collection limits with screen-filling bosses that demand more tactical prowess. While players still collect and upgrade Souls, more versatile bosses require memorizing their patterns and forming counter-measures with the appropriate Souls.
For instance, gimmicks such as Gergoth’s cramped arena and Zephyr’s immense speed can turn fights into a world of hurt for Soma. Even if players manage to intercept their attacks, lacking countermeasures against them transforms fights into wars of attrition. Considering the presence of bosses with multiple gimmicks, such as swarming Abaddon and the rather tricky Dracula-Soma, players can’t simply depend on their main attacks inDawn.
Set during World War 1 in 1917,Bloodlinestasks Belmont descendant John Morris and his best friendEric Lecarde to venture into Castlevania to defeat Dracula. Despite the game’s traditional two-character setup and rather limited Sega Genesis initial release,Bloodlinescapitalizes on its platform’s processing power to create dynamic stages and colorful boss fights.
Gone is the traditional strategy of figuring out an enemy’s weakness, especially when John’s melee-oriented and Eric’s mid-ranged toolkits demand different combat approaches. For instance, the Gear Steamer may predictably throw gears while exposing its vulnerable core. However, John may prefer going up close to secure damage, while Eric has more wiggle room to maneuver due to his spear. The game requiring players to fight all bosses before the Dracula fight also incentivizes mastery of their patterns, increasing the challenge.
The absence of the Belmonts in the 1800s meant it was up to theOrder of Ecclesiatostop Dracula, with amnesiac Shanoa tasked with the deed. Equipped with special Glyphs,Order of Ecclesiaplayers can use various weapons and attacks to defeat the game’s gauntlet of bosses, all providing decent challenges toCastlevaniagameplay.
Granted, the opportunity to Glyph spam with go-to attacks such as Nitesco beams and Melio Falcis slashes can make quick work of opponents. However, certain boss fights pose dynamic challenges to secure victory. For instance, getting rid of Eligor’s crossbows is highly recommended to ensure they don’t attack players when they target his weak spots. Likewise, crab-like Brachyura attacks in different ways depending on Shanoa’s position.
Richter Belmont’s quest to defeat Dracula inRondo of Bloodboasts some of the most polished graphics for aCastlevaniatitle of its era, which worked in tandem with its more fluid gameplay andselection of challenging bosses. This approach to more precision mechanics gave players more room to outmaneuver bosses and adjust to their attack patterns, which players needed considering the game’s challenging boss gauntlet.
For instance, the Carmilla-Laura tandem in Stage 4 needs players to watch out for Carmilla’s projectiles and Laura’s stun that can drain precious Hearts. Dracula’s servant Shaft also demands tactical prowess from players, as his boss battles will force players to fight through classic bosses first before fighting him.
Despite being a remake ofRondo, alterations to the overall castle format and bosses makeDracula X Chroniclesa new beast to deal with. Bosses still need players to work their way past a boss’s attack patterns, this time complemented with improved 2.5 graphics. The similarity in bosses means the Golem remains a tough enemy to beat should players fail to read their attack patterns carefully, as well as a manageable two-stage face-off with Death.
WhereDracula X Chronicleschallenges a player’s mettlecan be seen against the new Stage 5B boss Hydra, whose multi-headed form is considered the hardest boss in the game due to its preference for simultaneous attacks. Players looking for an extra challenge may appreciate the altered boss gauntlets in Boss Rush mode.
