Walkthrough: Forbidden Area

Walkthrough: Forbidden Area

Welcome to the Forbidden Area, a challenging segment of Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. This area is characterized by its verticality and dangerous enemies. Prepare for a descent into the castle's depths!

Initial Descent and Key Items

You'll enter the Forbidden Area from the Castle Corridor. Your primary goal here is to navigate downwards and acquire crucial abilities and items.

• From the entrance, drop down the long vertical shaft. Be mindful of the Fleaman and Killer Doll enemies you'll encounter on your way down.
• At the very bottom of this shaft, head right. You'll find a room with a save point. Save your game! This is an important checkpoint.
• Continue right from the save point. You'll enter a room with a large, imposing enemy: the Gorgon. Defeat it to proceed.
• After defeating the Gorgon, you'll find a small chamber containing the Undine Soul. This soul is essential as it allows you to walk on water, opening up new exploration possibilities.

Navigating the Waterways

With the Undine Soul in hand, you can now explore previously inaccessible areas. Equip it and activate its ability.

• Return to the long vertical shaft where you initially descended.
• Look for a path leading left, about halfway up the shaft, that was previously blocked by water. Use your Undine Soul to cross this water.
• In the room to the left, you'll encounter Mermen and potentially a Fish Head. Navigate through this watery section.
• Proceed left through another water-filled room. You'll eventually reach a dry section.
• Continue left and you'll find a hidden passage in the ceiling. Jump up to reveal it.
• Follow this hidden path to discover a room containing a valuable item: the High Potion.

Further Exploration and the Giant Bat

After collecting the High Potion, it's time to continue your main progression through the Forbidden Area.

• Return to the long vertical shaft and descend all the way back to the save point.
• From the save point, head left this time. You'll enter a series of rooms populated by Gargoyles and Skull Archers.
• Continue moving left, navigating through the various platforms and avoiding enemy projectiles.
• You'll eventually reach a large, open area. Be prepared, as this is where you'll face the boss of the Forbidden Area: the Giant Bat.

Boss Strategy: Giant Bat

The Giant Bat is a formidable foe, but with the right strategy, you can emerge victorious.

• Attacks: The Giant Bat primarily attacks by swooping down at Soma and occasionally firing sound waves. It can also summon smaller bats.
• Weakness: The Giant Bat is vulnerable to fire-based attacks. If you have the Flame Demon Soul equipped, now is the time to use it.
• Strategy:
  1. Stay mobile and avoid its swooping attacks by jumping or dashing.
  2. When it's flying high, use jump attacks or projectile souls to deal damage.
  3. When it swoops low, get a few hits in with your primary weapon.
  4. Prioritize defeating any smaller bats it summons, as they can be a nuisance.
• Upon defeating the Giant Bat, you'll receive the Giant Bat Soul, which allows Soma to transform into a bat and fly, granting access to many new areas.

Congratulations on clearing the Forbidden Area! With the Giant Bat Soul, a whole new world of exploration opens up to you. backtrack and use your new ability to uncover secrets in previous areas.