Castlevania

Hard Difficulty

To obtain the hard difficulty setting you must get the first green jewel that releases secret #1 on the item list. It is located in the forest stage in a torch upon a floating platform.
Once you've done that, finish the game with either character. After the ending sequences and credits, you will be able to save your game and select a new, previously unaccessible HARD difficulty mode. Submitted by Pickle Boy and Sutaz

Hidden Powerup before Dracula

When you are climbing the stairs up towards Draculas lair, you pass through two towers before reaching the final tower. At the last tower, jump onto either of the two torches and shimmy around the ledge to the other side. There you will find a breakable torch with a Red Jewel and a floating platform. You can walk to the platform on thin air by walking straight toward it from the torch with the Red Jewel. Inside you will find a Healing Kit, helpful for the major battle(s) to come. Submitted by Brett Rogstad

Secret Items in the Castle Courtyard

In the Castle Courtyard wait until 12:00 midnight and a secret platform will rise from the fountain allowing access to the items on the top.

Secret Torch

When you reach the entrance tot he garden maze, turn right and look up. You can see a platform. There is an invisible ledge in front that you can pull yourself onto.
HINT: The invisible ledge is also a good place to attack the hounds from once you open the gates.

Talk to Rosa

To talk to Rosa, a vampire who waters the roses in the villa, enter the room with all the red roses in it. At 3:00 A.M., Rosa will come and water the roses.