Unlock the Normal Ending in Castlevania Belmont’s Curse by stopping the Cursed Horologium and defeating the real Dracula.
Castlevania Belmont’s Curse: Normal Ending Guide
For the Normal Ending, you need to reach and defeat the real Dracula instead of walking into Death’s trap. That means getting Soul Harvest from Death in Notre-Dame first and using it to stop the Cursed Horologium. The ending unlocks The Hunt Goes On trophy or achievement.
Step 1: Unlock Soul Harvest From Death
You get Soul Harvest by defeating Death in the Notre-Dame storyline. Before that fight, you need a few abilities and must solve the Great Organ puzzle in the cathedral.
- Beat Talos in the Clock Tower. This gives you The Builder Arcana and unlocks Smash.
- Go back to Brauner’s Atelier in the Main Hall and break the hanging stone structure with Smash.
- Finish the Brauner encounter to get The Artist Arcana.
- Explore the Library and the Observation Tower, then defeat Carmilla.
- Pick up Brauner’s Paintbrush and return to the painting of Notre-Dame.
- With The Artist Arcana equipped, interact with the painting to enter Notre-Dame.
- Collect the three Melody Sheets and solve the Great Organ puzzle.
- Head back to the Transept and defeat Death.
- Absorb The Shadow Arcana. This unlocks Soul Harvest.
The Great Organ needs three melodies. Step on its floor keys in the order below to clear the corrupted pipes and open the way to Death.
| Melody | Location | Correct Sequence |
|---|---|---|
| Fugue | Great Organ Room | Moon, Sun, Moon, Virgo |
| Sonata | Sealed Scriptorium | Sagittarius, Capricorn, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, Sagittarius, Capricorn |
| Concerto | La Flèche | Gemini, Cancer, Virgo, Leo, Virgo, Leo, Gemini |
Once all three melodies are played, you can reach Death. Beating him gives you The Shadow Arcana, which you need to get to the real final boss.
Step 2: Disable the Cursed Horologium
With Soul Harvest unlocked, go back to the Clock Tower and shut down Death’s trap before moving on to Dracula.
- Return to the Clock Tower Bridge.
- In the Equipment menu, equip The Shadow Arcana.
- Set Soul Harvest as your active spell.
- Walk up to the Cursed Horologium and interact with it.
- The clock stops. Death’s trap is now disabled and the correct route opens.
- Go on through the Clock Keeper’s Atrium and the Bridge of Haste.
- Make your way to the Heart of the Clock and defeat Isaac.
- Take the newly opened route into the Master’s Quarters.
Leave the clock alone once it is stopped. Interacting with it again can turn the trap back on and put you on the path to the Bad Ending.
Step 3: Defeat Dracula and Unlock the Normal Ending
After Isaac, keep going through the Master’s Quarters to the Sanctuary of Solitude. Activate the Mirror of Life there, then head for Dracula’s Throne Room.
The Dracula fight has two phases:
- Phase 1 – Humanoid Dracula: Takes place in the Court of the Night. Dodge his teleport attacks and flame pillars, and hit back between his spells.
- Phase 2 – Winged Dracula: Takes place on the Castle Rooftops. Avoid his sweeping attacks and the projectiles that fall from above, and attack whenever he is open.
Beat both phases without using Absolution. This gives you the Normal Ending and The Hunt Goes On trophy or achievement.
Dracula falls, but his curse stays. When the credits end, choose Resume to continue from the Mirror of Life in the Master’s Quarters. From there you can explore the rest of the map and work on the True Ending without starting a new game.