Dracula's Curse Block 3

Forest
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Japanesename	森ステ (Forest)
Alternatename(s)	Forest of Darkness (Nintendo Power) Mad Forest (Sound Mode)
Boss(es)	Cyclops
Environment	Forest
Music	Mad Forest
◄ Previous stage	Town Clock Tower
◄ Previous stage	Town Clock Tower
Next stage ►	Swamp Ghost Ship
Next stage ►	Swamp Ghost Ship

Block 3 (also known as Route 3) of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse is the Forest (also known as the Forest of Darkness or Mad Forest).

Overview

The first stage, 03-00, is only entered if the player chooses to skip the Clock Tower and enter the block from the end of Block 1. It consists of an area of spiked traps leading up some stairs to the forest area. Taking the path to the Clock Tower will lead the player to Stage 3-01 of this block. At the end of 03-02, the player is given the choice to continue along this route (go to 03-03), or exit early and go to Block 4 (Route 5, Swamp). If they choose to continue along this path, they'll fight the Cyclops, rescue Sypha Belnades, and choose her as an ally. The path then continues to Block 4A (Route 4, Ghost Ship).

The sub-weapons that Trevor Belmont can collect in order are the Holy Water, Cross (the first time this appears in a candle in the game), Axe, and Dagger.

Sub-stages

Note that sub-stage names are unofficial.

• 3-00 - Fortifications (Start stage from Block 1): Head right out of the graveyard across some grinding spikes, fight a Ghost, head up then left and fight Skeletons, then head up
• 3-01 - Upper Woods (Start stage from Block 2): Head right across trees with Owls hidden in their branches, hop across some small creeks, reach a gate.
• 3-02 - Foggy Plateau: Head up fighting a Hunchbacks or Ghoul Rabbits and a Red Skeleton, then head right down a misty, stormy path with Pillar of Bones, then head down and exit right. Choose to continue along this block or travel down to stage Block 4.
• 3-03 - Misty Path: Fight a Crow, head down then right across some Spook Spores along another misty path. Head down and fight a Whip Skeleton and exit left.
• 3-04 - Sculpture Garden: Head left, fighting more Whip Skeletons and Giant Spiders. Head down and then right and fight the Cyclops among statues. De-petrify Sypha and decide to let her join you.

Enemy Data

Enemy Data: 3. Forest
Image	Name - Game Description	Statistics	Items	Location	Notes
	24. Owl (jpn) - Dracula's Curse				[ edit ]
	'	Atk: 3		3. Forest
(NA/JPN)	6. Hunchback/Gremlin (Ghoul Rabbit) (Ghoul Rabbit) - Dracula's Curse				[ edit ]
	'	Atk: 3		1. Town, 3. Forest, 6A. Causeway, 7. Mountains, 7A. Courtyard, 9. Inner Halls	Allies: Harpy
	11. Red Skeleton (jpn) - Dracula's Curse				[ edit ]
	'			3. Forest, 4A. Ghost Ship, 5. Underground Passage, 8. Main Hall
	2. Pillar of Bones (jpn) - Dracula's Curse				[ edit ]
	'	Atk: (before/after block 8) 2, 3/4 (Head), 2/3 (Flame)		1. Town, 3. Forest, 5A. Tower, 6. Basement, 6A. Causeway, 7A. Courtyard, 9. Inner Halls, A. Final Clock Tower	Abil: Fireball
	12. The Gates of Death (Shimon) [alt] - Dracula's Curse				[ edit ]
	'			3. Forest, 4. Swamp, 7A. Courtyard, A. Final Clock Tower	Weapons: Bone Whip
	14. Ghost (jpn) - Dracula's Curse				[ edit ]
	'	Atk: 3/4(block 8 and later)		3. Forest, 4. Swamp, 4A. Ghost Ship, 5. Underground Passage
	4. Skeleton/Bone Chukkers (jpn) - Dracula's Curse				[ edit ]
	'	Atk: 3, 2(bones)		1. Town, 2. Clock Tower, 3. Forest, 4A. Ghost Ship, 6. Basement, 8. Main Hall, A. Final Clock Tower	Abil: Bone Throw
	3. Crow (jpn) - Dracula's Curse				[ edit ]
	'	Atk: 3/4(block 8 or later)		3. Forest, 4A. Ghost Ship, 5A. Tower, 6A. Causeway, 7. Mountains, 7A. Courtyard, 9. Inner Halls, A. Final Clock Tower
	25. Spook Spores (Balloon) - Dracula's Curse				[ edit ]
	'	Atk: 2, 2/3 (spores, before/after block 8)		3. Forest
	13. Giant Spider (jpn) - Dracula's Curse				[ edit ]
	'	Atk: 3, 2/3(small spider, before/after block 8)		3. Forest, 7. Mountains, 8. Main Hall, A. Final Clock Tower
	33. Cyclops  - Dracula's Curse				[ edit ]
	'			3. Forest, 4A. Ghost Ship, 7. Mountains, 7A. Courtyard

Gallery

Artworks

Monster Masher from Nintendo Power.

Gremlin/Hunchback from Nintendo Power.

Giant Spider from Nintendo Power.

Cyclops from Nintendo Power.

Sypha Belnades from Nintendo Power.

Enemy design

Design documents for enemies found in the The History of Castlevania e-book

Spider

Mushroom Bomb

Flying Skeleton

Toothy Slime (unused)

Cyclops

Maps

See also: Dracula's Curse Stage Maps

Stage map

Stage rip.

Path selection from Block 1.

Path selection to continue on Block 3 or go to Block 4.

Concept Map included in the Book of the Crescent Moon.

Concept Game Flow Map included in the Book of the Crescent Moon.

In-game map, Part 1

In-game map, Part 2

Map from the Soundtrack 2XLP

Other appearances

This stage was likely inspired by the various forested stages found in the early sections of Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. If the town of Warakiya corresponds with Aljiba, then this section of woods would most likely correspond with the Aljiba Woods. Those woods connect that town and Camilla Cemetery with Dabi's Path, which may correspond with the cavern of the next stage.

External links

• NES Game Atlas hints: Scans of pages 164-165 (Route 3) hosted at the Castlevania Dungeon.
• Nintendo Power - Issue #13 hints: Scans of pages 56-57 (Route 3 - Forest of Darkness) hosted at the Castlevania Dungeon.
• YouTube - Gameplay from Clock Tower.
• YouTube - Let's Play Castlevania III Dracula's Curse - Second Quest, Regional Differences