Alternate Mode

An Alternate Mode is a special gameplay mode the player can usually unlock after they have completed the game in Normal Mode. These modes have been available in most games since the first titles in one way or another (such as being able to play the game a second time in Hard Mode right after completing it once). On newer titles, the player is usually given the option to start a new mode at the beginning and play with new characters (Castlevania: Circle of the Moon being an exception, as the player is instead given the option of getting all DSS cards from the beginning or start with enhanced stats).

Sometimes there are other requirements too; for example, in Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, in order to unlock Richter, the player must first defeat the Whip's Memory and beat the game; and to unlock Old Axe Armor Mode, they must first defeat 1,000 Old Axe Armors and beat the game. In the case of the All Skill Mode in Lament of Innocence, the game does not mention its existence at all, but the player must first beat normal mode and then start a new game file named "@llskill".

Alternate modes[]

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood[]

Maria Mode - Play as Maria Renard.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night[]

Thief Mode - Get increased LCK.
Richter Mode - Play as Richter Belmont.
Maria Mode - Play as Maria Renard (Saturn version and The Dracula X Chronicles version).

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon[]

Magician Mode - Get all DSS cards from the beginning.
Fighter Mode - Lose all DSS cards but get increased STR.
Shooter Mode - Get increased Hearts and a homing Dagger.
Thief Mode - Get increased INT and LCK.

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance[]

Maxim Mode - Play as Maxim Kischine.
Boss Rush Mode
Simon Mode - Play as 8-bit Simon Belmont (exclusive to Boss Rush Mode). When the Konami logo appears on the screen, input the Konami Code and the title screen will become blue until a reset. Disables the ability to play as Juste or Maxim in this mode.
Hard Mode
No Magic Mode - Play without Spell Books.

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow[]

Julius Mode - Play as Julius Belmont.
Boss Rush Mode
Hard Mode
No Soul Mode - Soul restriction
No Item Use - Item use restriction

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence[]

Joachim Mode - Play as Joachim Armster.
Pumpkin Mode - Play as Pumpkin.
Boss Rush Mode
Crazy Mode
All Skill Mode - Start the game with all of Leon's whip skills already unlocked.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow[]

Julius Mode - Play as Julius Belmont, and further into the game, as Yoko Belnades and Alucard. Also, fight a different final boss: Dark King Soma. This mode is also the only one unlocked after obtaining the worst ending, which sets up the stage about the appearance of the new final boss.
Boss Rush Mode
Hard Mode