Hard Mode

Hard Mode first appeared in the very first Castlevania game made and most games have followed this tradition. It is usually playable after the game is beaten on Normal Mode. Often times, it features additional enemies in the area, enemies being replaced by more powerful enemies, enemies gaining extra characteristics, faster enemies, and reduced attack and defense ability of the player. This mode has had different names in some games, such as Crazy Mode. In Castlevania Judgment, there is an even harder mode that is unlocked after the completion of Hard Mode: Brutal Mode.

Appearance in Castlevania I

In Castlevania I, Hard Mode is an additional quest that takes place after Simon beats Dracula in Normal Mode. As there are no saves or passwords in the original NES version of this game, it is not possible to play Hard Mode without first playing through the entire Normal Mode during that session. It features additional enemies, such as Bats or Medusa Heads in awkward places. Some of the enemies, such as the Zombies move faster. Each enemy deals twice the damage that they normally do, even in early levels. Additional hidden crowns which are worth many points can be found in this mode. Every time you beat Hard Mode, you can start another round of Hard Mode (I'm not sure the enemies get tougher each time you beat Hard Mode).

Appearance in Castlevania Adventure

Hard Mode returns in Castlevania Adventure. Upon beating the game in normal mode, you can play through it again on Hard Mode. The creatures are stronger in this mode (I'm not sure if the deal more damage or can take more hits or both). Every time you beat Hard Mode, you can play an even harder mode.

Appearance in Dracula's Curse

Hard Mode is found in Dracula's Curse after beating Dracula in Normal Mode. Because of the password system, this is the first game where you can start a new session in Hard Mode, provided that you beat the game before. You start Hard Mode with the character you possessed when you beat normal mode. The player takes more damage in this mode. Additional creatures have been added and others have been swapped with more powerful ones. There are some creatures that appear in this mode that do not appear in the normal game, such as floating skulls that move similar to Medusa Heads, but with much more erratic and unpredictable up and down motions.

Starting a new game with the secret name "AKAMA" at the password screen starts a new game with just Trevor already in Hard Mode without the need of beating the normal mode.

Appearance in Curse of Darkness

In Curse of Darkness, the player can unlock the Hard Mode (called Crazy Mode), as well the Trevor Mode (that allows the player to play as Trevor Belmont. It is unlocked by starting anew game with @CRAZY as the save name. In this mode, all enemies are 10x the level compared to Hector, while retaining the same experience given in Normal Mode, making the game much more challenging and harder to level up. The enemies AI is also slightly improved, as they can sometimes synchronize attacks in order to break Hector's guard. Similar to Lament of Innocence, finishing the game on this difficulty allows the player to purcharse the Mobius Brooch, which reduces the cost to the Innocent Devils skills to zero.

Appearance in Portrait of Ruin

Hard Mode returns in Portrait of Ruin as an unlockable feature after beating the main game and receiving the good ending. Upon selection, the player is prompted with a choice of three level caps. Completing each difficulty level cap will reward the save file used with one of three items, depending on the level cap selected:

• Level 50 or lower: Vic Viper (LCK +50)
• Level 25 or lower: Twin Bee (INT +50)
• Level 1: Konami Man (STR +50)

Each of the rewards above may be obtained only once, but if the player feels up to the challenge, they can freely skip an easier level cap in favor of a more difficult one with little fear of missing that cap's reward.

The following are differences from Normal Mode:

• All damage dealt by the player is reduced by 25%, compared to Normal.
• All enemies have a bonus to their attack power that scales with the player's level. This starts at different points, depending on the cap chosen, but as a player levels, enemies deal more and more damage. This caps out at 100+ per hit when the player reaches the cap chosen, and is 'not' affected by a character's DEF or MND.
• Some enemies receive additional traits and/or bonuses compared to Hard Mode. To name some examples, a Zombie moves faster and inflicts Poison on a successful hit, whereas a Tanjelly, in addition to its poison, now Curses on a successful hit, and finally, all Medusa Heads are golden, and thus, there will be no Medusa Heads that are incapble of causing Stone on a hit.

Appearance in Order of Ecclesia

Hard Mode returns in Order of Ecclesia, much in the same way as it did in Portrait of Ruin. After beating the game and receiving the good ending, the player can elect to choose Hard Mode upon starting a new game. Upon doing so, the player is prompted with a choice of level caps. Beating the game on these level caps for the first time will reward the save file used as follows:

• Hard, level cap 255: Unlocked only after beating Hard level cap 1. While it allows full leveling, it otherwise functions like the level cap 50 variant
• Hard, level cap 50 or lower: Awards the Queen of Hearts upon beating Hard Mode for the save file used.
• Hard, level cap 1: Once the player beats Hard Mode with this level cap, he/she unlocks the ability to level up to 255, as well as another level cap of choice upon selecting Hard Mode.

The reward for beating Hard Mode on the level cap of 1 is a one-time reward only, but the rest of the level caps do offer their reward if it is the first time for the save file used.

The following are differences from Normal Mode:

• All damage dealt by the player is reduced by 10%, compared to Normal.
• All damage dealt by enemies has a bonus that is different depending on the level cap chosen:
  • Hard level cap 255/50: Enemy ATK +30
  • Hard level cap 1: Enemy ATK +60
    • This bonus is not affected by a character's DEF and MND stats.
• In addition, if more than 1 point of damage comes from the enemy's base ATK, that base ATK value gains a +50% bonus.
• Some enemies receive additional bonuses and/or traits that make combat against them more difficult. Others may simply appear earlier in the game compared to Normal. To name an example, Medusa Heads can be seen as early as Ruvas Forest, and will always be gold colored, signifying that Stone will be inflicted upon taking a hit.

Appearance in Harmony of Despair

Hard Mode unlocks in Harmony of Despair after finishing Chapter 6. Subsequent chapters (DLCs in Xbox 360) have their Hard Mode already unlocked. Enemies hit harder and take more hits to die.