Classic Mode

**Classic Mode** is an Extra Mode featured in *Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night*. It is a more linear arrangement of the areas of the main game, where the player progresses through each stage in a determined order. This mode pays homage to classic gameplay styles that inspired the *Bloodstained* series. It was added to the game in Update 1.20.

## Overview and gameplay

To play Classic Mode, choose "Extra Mode" from the main menu, select "Classic Mode", and then select between three difficulty modes: Easy, Normal or Hard. The mode is available from the beginning and doesn't require any special conditions to unlock.

In Classic Mode, the player travels through modified versions of the areas from *Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night*. This mode is comprised of five stages set in a determined order, where the player has to advance from a starting location, make their way to its end, and fight an end area boss, which once defeated, allows access to the next stage. The player progresses through the game in this manner until they reach the final boss at the top of Gebel's castle.

The player's moveset in this mode has been modified to emulate those from classic games that inspired the *Bloodstained* series; namely, the classic 8-bit titles from the *Castlevania* series. The player once again controls Miriam, but she now uses the Sword Whip in its "whip" form as her only weapon, her moveset has been limited mainly just to attack and jump, and most of her other special skills are no longer present. For ranged attacks, Miriam now makes use of special "Abilities" (sub-weapons) that can be obtained from destroyed candles. She can only have one Ability at a time; if she is already carrying one and picks up another, the latter will replace the former and this will be lost. Abilities include the Dagger, Bone Arc, Unholy Fire, Ruinous Rood, and the Time Shard.

Health can be restored by finding food dishes hidden behind certain destructible walls within the environment. Abilities are fueled via the player's supply of Mana Roses, which are mainly found by destroying candles. Some Abilities consume more Mana Roses than others. An extra life is awarded the first 30,000 points, and then every 50,000 points. Stages are timed, and if the player fails to complete a stage within the given time, they'll lose a life.

In this mode, the upper section of the screen displays a classic themed heads-up display (HUD) that shows Miriam's HP, the area boss's HP, a box at the center showing the Ability currently held, the player's current supply of Mana Roses, their remaining lives, their score, and a timer showing the remaining time given to finish the level.

When a stage is completed, the remaining seconds on the timer and remaining Mana Roses will be added to the player's score (each Mana Rose is worth 100 points).

After completing Classic Mode, the player will be graded on time, score and number of deaths.

## Notes

* The Sword Whip has a hidden ability in this mode where the whip produces an electrical shock. To perform this move, hold Forward, press the Attack button, and then press Forward again.
	+ This move seems to be inspired by the special whip attack from *Castlevania: Rondo of Blood*, where it is possible to slightly extend the length of the whip by pressing Forward after performing a whip strike.
	+ To perform the electrical whip attack while crouching, hold Down, Attack, and while crouching press Forward and Attack again.
* Despite having lost most of her standard moveset, Miriam can still backdash and slide in this mode.
* Pressing Jump twice will make Miriam to perform a backflip.
	+ This move is most likely inspired by Richter Belmont's backflip from *Castlevania: Rondo of Blood*.

## Videos

Bloodstained - Ritual of the Night Classic Mode TrailerGameplay Guide - Classic Mode
## Trivia

* The introductory cutscene of this mode shows Miriam praying to the angel statue in Arvantville and then standing up and preparing her Sword Whip while staring at Gebel's castle in the distance. These are references to the intro cutscene of *Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse*, where Trevor Belmont is first seen praying to a cross in the starting village, as well as the cover artwork of the original *Castlevania*, where Simon Belmont is seen from behind with his extended whip in hand and staring at Dracula's Castle in the distance.
* The layouts of most of the stages in this mode are directly based on those from the original *Castlevania* and *Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse*, having platforms, items and enemy types on similar placements.
* Each of the special Abilities Miriam uses in this mode are based on the five classic sub-weapons of the *Castlevania* series:
	+ Dagger = Dagger
	+ Bone Arc = Axe
	+ Unholy Fire = Holy Water
	+ Ruinous Rood = Cross
	+ Time Shard = Stopwatch
* Other items based on *Castlevania* include:
	+ Yen Bag = Money Bag
	+ Mana Rose = Heart
	+ Invisibility Potion = Invisibility Potion
	+ Clear Screen = Rosary
	+ Heart = Magic Crystal
* The ending and credits of this mode pay homage to those of *Super Castlevania IV*. The ending theme has a very similar musical structure to "Ending Theme", and the ending shows small gameplay samples that freeze after a short time and then display the names of the developers.

## See also

* 1986 Mode
* Classic II: Dominique's Quest

## External links

* Classic Mode and Kingdom Crossover at the official *Bloodstained* website