Magic Crystal

The , also known as the Mystic Sphere,Castlevania: Dracula X's North American instruction booklet, page 13. is a red spherical item used in different ways in various Castlevania titles.
The Magic Crystal first appeared in the original Castlevania. It usually shows up whenever a stage has been cleared after defeating the area boss and has the power to restore the hero's health to top condition. In the classic titles, it usually triggers a "Hearts" and "time remaining" bonus counter to start, where the player will be awarded a certain amount of bonus points for every Heart and second remaining at the end of the level. The player's Heart counter is usually reset to 5 or 10 Heart Points when the next stage starts, but in some cases they'll retain all their Hearts from the previous level.
==Game specific information==
===Castlevania===
The original Castlevania introduced the apparition of the Magic Crystal, which would then become a staple in the series. The Magic Crystal materializes out of thin air in the middle of the room after Simon defeats the boss of a level. Picking it up restores his weariness and allow the level to properly end, triggering the Hearts and time remaining bonus counters to start.
In early design material available in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection, this was described as the "Source of Life". It is described as appearing after defeating a boss and grabbing it would restore all health.
===Castlevania II: Simon's Quest===
While the same Magic Crystal from the first game wasn't present in Simon's Quest, some variants of it did. On his travels, Simon has to get his hands on three magic crystals: the White Crystal, the Blue Crystal and the Red Crystal.
However, maybe the ones which are more related to the original Magic Crystal are those found inside of the five mansions. Each one of these crystals is hidden in the innermost chambers of a mansion and holds inside one of the five body parts of Count Dracula, which Simon has to collect and destroy to put an end to the curse set upon the land. These crystals lie on top of a pedestal in what would appear to be some sort of boss room, hinting that the player has succeeded in traversing the mansion's traps and obstacles. However, a crystal's contents can't be collected just by making contact with it. Simon has to find a merchant hidden somewhere inside the mansion first and buy an Oak Stake, with which he can then strike on the crystal to break it open and collect the remains of Dracula stored inside.
===Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge===
A magic crystal shows up whenever the player clears a stage. However, the crystals in this game will rise toward the sky, instead of materializing in mid-air and then falling to the ground for the player to collect, like in other games.
===Super Castlevania IV===
A Magic Crystal will show up whenever the player defeats the area boss at the end of a stage. However, it should be noted that in some stages Simon will have to fight against some mini-bosses which won't leave a Magic Crystal for the player to collect. For example, Medusa appears at the end of the swamp section of the Transylvanian Wilds. She doesn't leave a Magic Crystal to be collected after the battle and the aqueduct section continues immediately after facing her. This whole stage doesn't have a proper area boss at the end, making Medusa the only major enemy confronted in it and also making this stage the only one where a Magic Crystal doesn't appear at all.
===Castlevania Legends===
After using a stage boss as a sacrifice, the power of the spirit will be captured in a crystal. The power of the spirit can then be used as a Soul Weapon, which are Sonia Belmont's sub-weapons.
===Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance===
A magic crystal shows up whenever the player defeats a boss. If Juste jumps and attacks with his whip, catching the magic crystal at the same time, a message will appear on the screen. If his timing was almost perfect and he caught the crystal near top height, where it materialized, the message will read: "Excellent!!!". However, if he caught it a little off-time on its way down, or performs a jump kick to catch it, the message will read: "Cool!!". If Juste only jumps and gets the magic crystal near top height without performing a whiplash, the message: "Good!" will appear instead. There doesn't seem to be any benefit for achieving this other than for amusement, though.
Maxim Kischine is the only boss fought that does not possess a Magic Crystal. The reason for this could be due to him not originally being one of Dracula's minions. Dracula Wraith's first form also does not drop a Magic Crystal when defeated; however, his second form does.
Magic Crystals also appear during the Boss Rush Mode. The player must make a choice to either ignore them and fight onward to the next boss for a faster clear time or wait for the Magic Crystal to form to restore Health, which ends up losing time in the process.
Harmony Of Dissonance - Good!.jpg|Good!
Harmony Of Dissonance - Cool!!.jpg|Cool!!
Harmony Of Dissonance - Excellent!!!.jpg|Excellent!!!
===Castlevania: Lament of Innocence===
Instead of a magic crystal, the game introduced the Orb System, which allows an orb combined with a sub-weapon to create an advanced attack. An orb can be acquired after clearing a stage, except for the White and Black Orbs, which are hidden within specific stages.
===Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow===
Magic Crystals retain their usual function of refilling the player's HP and Hearts in this game, and are obtained after defeating a boss. In the case of Julius Belmont, Magic Crystals also increase his stat.
===Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow===
Similar to Aria of Sorrow, Magic Crystals refill Soma Cruz's HP and Heart meters, but have a new design.
===Castlevania: Curse of Darkness===
While magic crystals don't make an appearance in this game, a small circular area filled with holy light will appear near to the exit door after defeating each boss. This area basically has the same function as the Magic Crystals from classic titles, and standing on it will fully restore the player character's HP and Hearts meters (Hearts in this game replace MP for performing special attacks and casting spells through the player's currently summoned Innocent Devil).
===Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles===
The Magic Jewels in Rondo of Blood and its PSP remake that appear after defeating a boss will replenish Richter or Maria's health and increase the points earned. Also take note that successfully defeating a boss and collecting the Magic Jewel item will unlock a demo for that boss and a silhouette of it will also appear on the Stage Select screen.
The player may choose to dismiss picking up Magic Jewels in their aim to score a better time in the Boss Rush Mode, as otherwise they would have to wait for the item to fully materialize and drop, wasting precious time in case they don't really need the extra health.
===Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia===
A magic crystal shows up whenever the player clears a stage. Interestingly enough, the magic crystal can also be seen on a boss door, acting as the "seal" to it; disappearing when the door opens and reappearing when it closes.
==Item Data==
==Notes==
*In Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Magic Crystals were replaced by Life Vessels instead, which also materialize out of thin air at the center of the room after an area boss is defeated, although the latter will neither restore the player's MP bar nor start a Hearts bonus counter.
**The HP Max Up/Life Vessel would become a staple in the series from then onward, especially in games that feature role playing elements, although following titles would feature both HP Max Ups and Magic Crystals.
==Gallery==
===Artworks===
Orb CV1.jpg|Magic Crystal from the Japanese Castlevania instruction booklet.
Simon CV1 StrategyGuide Art-2.jpg|Simon Belmont holding a Magic Crystal from the Akumajō Dracula Perfect guidebook.
NP BR Crystal.JPG|Magic Crystal from the Nintendo Power Belmont's Revenge Guide.
Magic Crystal CV4.png|Magic Crystal from the Japanese Super Castlevania IV instruction booklet.
Magic Crystal RoB.png|Magic Jewel from the Japanese Castlevania: Rondo of Blood instruction booklet.
===Sprites===
Hod-crystal.gif|Magic Crystal from Harmony of Dissonance.
Aos-crystal.gif|Magic Crystal from Aria of Sorrow.
Dos-crystal.gif|Magic Crystal from Dawn of Sorrow.
Por-crystal.gif|Magic Crystal from Portrait of Ruin.
Ooe-crystal.gif|Magic Crystal from Order of Ecclesia.
==See also==
*Crystal (disambiguation)
*HP Max Up
*Orb - Elemental variants of the Magic Crystal appearing in Castlevania: Lament of Innocence.
==References==
Category:Crystal
Category:Adventure ReBirth Items
Category:Aria of Sorrow Items
Category:Belmont's Revenge Items
Category:Bloodlines Items
Category:Castlevania Items
Category:Chronicles Items
Category:Dawn of Sorrow Items
Category:The Dracula X Chronicles Items
Category:Dracula X Items
Category:Dracula's Curse Items
Category:Harmony of Dissonance Items
Category:Legends Items
Category:Order of Ecclesia Items
Category:Portrait of Ruin Items
Category:Rondo of Blood Items
Category:Super Castlevania IV Items
Category:Vampire Killer Items