| “ | The moon exerts control over Limbo in odd ways. | „ |
| ~ Logaeth, Page XIV |
The phases of the Moon is a central gameplay mechanic introduced in Classic II: Dominique's Curse that influences the demonic dimension of Limbo in various ways.
Description[]
Unlike the human world, Limbo does not have a day and night cycle; instead, they are substituted with a New Moon, a blood-red moon that corresponds to the day, and a Dead Moon, a sickly-green moon that corresponds to the night. Apparently controlled by Gremory herself, granting her a mastery of spellcraft, this mockery of the day and night cycle influences demons and the land itself in various ways, with at least one area, the Avernus Grove, being only accessible during a Dead Moon.
The two phases of the moon will constantly cycle one another, marked by a circular timer progressively filling up (lasting roughly five real-world minutes), pausing only while inside a room in one of the villages, while speaking or perusing the menu, or while inside one of the Fortresses; when the timer of the current phase is almost over, the ticking of a clock can be heard, ending with solemn bell chime when the phase ends and the new one begins, usually accompanied by an either positive or negative comment from Dominique herself. This process can be instantly sped-up with the use of a Horus Eye, which will switch the current phase for the other one. Even the soundtracks heard in the various areas will change with the moon, being substituted with a more adventurous-sounding one during the New Moon, and a more foreboding one during the Dead Moon.
New Moon[]
During a New Moon, the enemies met in the routes connecting the various villages of Limbo are less aggressive and generally easier to deal with; even more so because they take less hits to defeat. Furthermore, the demons met inside villages are peaceful, allowing Dominique to gather clues on how to proceed (although some of them are bare-faced liars), as well as to restock items at the local Merchant and Remains Trader.
However, during a New Moon, enemies will generally drop less valuable Remains, and the Groundskeeper of the nearby Duke of Hell's fortress will prowl the area in the close proximity of the dungeon's entrance. While the enemy variety does not change inside the dungeon itself, the enemies inside will still take less hits to defeat during a New Moon.
Dead Moon[]
During a Dead Moon, the enemies met in the routes connecting the various villages of Limbo are much more aggressive and generally harder to deal with; even more so because they take more hits to defeat. Furthermore, the demons met inside villages are driven into a frenzy, attacking Dominique on sight, and thus making impossible use the services of a Merchant or Remains Trader. Lemegeton, having been destroyed by an unknown disaster, is the only town where a lonely traveling merchant can be met regardless of the current phase of the moon. The only demons apparently immune to the cycle are the Mimic and Deathtrap Merchants, as well as the Barbatos Groundskeepers, as they will never appear in a feral state.
During a Dead Moon, enemies will generally drop more valuable Remains, and the Groundskeeper of the nearby Duke's fortress will reside inside the dungeon itself, allowing Dominique to restock some items if necessary while inside the building. While the enemy variety does not change inside the dungeon itself, the enemies inside will still take more hits to defeat during a Dead Moon.
It is also exclusively during a Dead Moon that the four Hunters, demons of superior strength, can be met and faced in combat, with the defeat of the Silver Wolfman hiding in the Avernus Grove being the only one strictly necessary to continue the adventure, and the defeat of all of them being a requirement to achieve either the Bitter Ending, or if all Logaeth Pages have also been collected, the True Ending. Once defeated, each of the Hunters will appear in one of the towns as a Remains Trader exclusively during a New Moon, and will not appear at all, feral or otherwise, during the Dead Moon.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Moon's phases mechanic is virtually identical to the day and night cycle from Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, a game from which the entire Classic II: Dominique's Curse takes heavy inspiration from.