Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls/Gameplay

Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls gameplay is similar to 2D side-scrolling games in the series. Quests must be completed to finish the game, while Trials and Orders are optional challenges. Characters can be improved to grow stronger, and equipment can be upgraded through "Equipment Enhancement".
The original game made use of in-game currency and microtransactions, but microtransactions do not appear in the 2021 Apple Arcade release.
==Quests==
The main game mode, where all the storyline levels are found. The story is divided into ten Grimoires, each of which is further divided into four chapters. The first three chapters have five levels apiece, but two are optional: finishing the third level unlocks the first level of the next chapter. Completing all Challenges in the third level unlocks the fourth level, and completing all Challenges in the fourth unlocks the fifth. The final chapter, meanwhile, consists of a single boss level.
Regular levels resemble stages from the more linear Castlevania games. They feature enemies from throughout the series, environmental hazards, and "barrier rooms" that trap players until they defeat the enemies that appear within it. Players must enter each level, fight their way through to the end, and defeat a final enemy or group of enemies to complete it. Boss levels, meanwhile, tend to consist of one large room, though multiple bosses may be fought.
Players receive multiple rewards for completing each stage. These include Enhancement Runes, awarded for completing stages; Gems, awarded for completing Challenges; Souls, which drop from defeated enemies; Parchment fragments, which drop from enemies and can be found in treasure chests; and complete pieces of equipment, found rarely in Sealed Treasure hidden in certain levels. The frequency and amount of Soul and Parchment drops can be increased through Difficulty modifiers, optional restrictions that make the game harder. Completing chapters and Challenges also clears Missions in the Missions menu, offering further rewards.
==Trials==
==Order==
Order is a collection of optional challenges. Standard and Halloween Order can be completed any time after Rank 7, while Winter Order is unlocked by completing the fourth Grimoire.
===Order===
This consists of a remixed stage made up of parts of regular stages, often with different enemies. Players must fight their way through the level and defeat the monsters listed as "targets" to fulfill the Order. As with Trials, there are four difficulty levels, each of them offering Gems and Elgos Coins as rewards.
===Halloween Order===
This is an endurance mode made up of remixed versions of Trial stages, played one after another in random order. A remixed version of the first Quest boss is also fought every ten stages. Players are tasked with seeing how many stages they can complete, receiving Halloween Coins for their efforts. They can then use Trial Quills to skip the challenge entirely, receiving half as many coins as they previously attained.
===Winter Order===
This is the same as the Halloween Order, but with different theming, enemies, rewards (Winter Coins) and shop items.
==Multiplayer modes==
:Note: These modes were removed for the 2021 Apple Arcade release.
===Bounty Hunt===
Bounty Hunt is a competitive mode for four players to take on waves of enemies in a stage. The number of remaining enemies is displayed on the bottom of the screen. To clear the game, it is necessary to defeat all enemies within the time limit.
Points are earned by picking up coins dropped by enemies. At the end, player will be ranked based on the number of points acquired. Higher ranking players will earn better rewards.
Were the players not to defeat all enemies by the time the limit is reached, the quest will end in failure.
===Hunter Ranking===
Ranking events where players compete with Rating Points earned from Bounty Hunts will occur while specific events are being held. When the seasons that are held during an event end, rewards depending on players ranking will be sent.
===Duel Hunt===
Competitive mode between two players to see who can deal the most damage to the boss. Whoever deals the most damage will get more rewards, so being first to reach the boss is crucial.
The completion of various challenges, such as defeating a certain number of enemies, will earn extra rewards.
The difficulty level can be chosen freely, with the potential to earn better rewards by taking higher difficulties.
==Co-op==
:Note: These modes were moved or removed for the 2021 Apple Arcade release.
===Matching Room===
To play quests with a specific player, select "Co-op" when selecting Quest Supporter. This will create a Matching Room. In the Matching Room, the player can send invitations to friends or recruit random players.
The player can also join other players' Matching Rooms. Participation can be made via "Quick Match" in the Co-op menu or selecting "Join Co-op" fro the home screen.
===Co-op Invite===
The player can send a Co-op invite to other players from their Matching Room. The player only needs to tap "Invite Friend" on the Matching screen and select the friend they'd like to invite. Their invitation will be displayed in their friend's Invite List under the category "Join Co-op".
===Missions===
The player will be awarded after meeting certain requirements, which can be consulted by going to Home → Missions.
==Present Box==
:Note: These modes were moved or removed for the 2021 Apple Arcade release.
Rewards and any equipment the player is unable to hold are stored in the Present Box. Items can only be stored in the Present Box for a certain period of time, so is recommended to the player to claim them as soon as possible. Items can be claimed individually with the option "Claim" or claimed in their entirety with "Claim All". Precious Gems can only be retrieved individually.
===Precious Gems===
When a player receives a Precious Gem, they are sent to this page of the Present Box to await being claimed. They are automatically used upon being claimed.
===History===
The player can view a history of all the items claimed from the Present Box.
==Equipment Gacha==
===Summon===
===Parchment Fusion===
Parchment fragments are spent to receive equipment. The equipment gotten depends on the rarity of the equipment parchment fragments spent. Parchment Fusion is achieved when a number of parchment fragments are collected.
===Precious Gems===
==Shop==
As a limitation to the trading within the shop, items found in the market may only be available for a limited period of time, or may only be purchasable a limited number of times.
===Gem Purchase===
Where the player could acquire Gems via microtransactions. Gems purchased through this shop were counted as "paid gems". This option has been removed for the 2021 Apple Arcade release.
===Trade Shop===
Where Gold, Elgos Coin, and Parchment can be used to trade for several items. Each currency has a different assortment of items to trade with.
===Event Market===
A shop for holiday-themed events where items can be purchased for Halloween Coins or Winter Coins.
===Astral Atrament===
Astral Atrament can be spent to trade for various items.
===Soul Fragment===
Added for the Apple Arcade release, this is a shop where all-new equipment can be purchased for Soul Fragments. It's also where the player can buy Weapon Souls, key items needed to upgrade gear past its previous limits.
==Dispatch==
This is an optional mode unlocked after completing the first Grimoire. It allows players to send teams of characters on "dispatch missions", which are completed offscreen. (Players can still use these characters in regular gameplay, however.) After several real-time hours, the characters will "return", giving the player any items they have found. These may include Gems, Parchment, Trial Quills, Enhancement Runes and Gold.
==Upgrades==
===Develop Abilities===
===Equipment===
==Roster==
This allows the player to access the character menus directly. These can also be accessed before most Quests, which works in mostly the same fashion. The main difference in Roster menus is access to the Practice Mode, which allows the player to test out gear and abilities on a motionless Skeleton enemy. Other differences include lack of stage data and the inability to equip Food.
==Missions==
==Special Missions==
==Compendium==
An encyclopedia of various gameplay elements. It's divided into Weapons, Sub Weapons, Armor, Enemies, and Memories, which are the game's cutscenes. Items fill in as the player discovers them in-game and can be checked at any time thereafter.
==Music==
A list of music tracks played throughout the game. These must be unlocked by the player as the game goes on, usually given as rewards for Missions related to a level they're played in. Players can select favorites among tracks they've unlocked to be used as background music for the main menu. They may also listen to the unlocked tracks at any time.
==Items Owned==
A simple list of all items owned by the player, divided into Souls, Parchment and Other.
Category:Mechanics
Category:Grimoire of Souls