Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.

Created by Caminopreacher as a spoof hack of Aria of Sorrow, this hack presents Persephone (the ninja maids) as the playable hero, in a plot building off of the bad ending of Aria of Sorrow. She finds herself with her willpower along with familiar faces in Castlevania Olrox and Carmilla and others, and has to explore the castle to find answers. Plays just like Aria of Sorrow but with Persephone’s melee attacks (like Soma using Knuckles) you’ll be changing up how you play fast. Soul collecting is still a thing but all the Souls don’t correspond with the enemies you get them from normally! Souls needed to trigger the Good Ending have also been changed! Players will have a blast with this for a different story, some great laughs and gameplay experience.

Seeing how this was a longplay over multiple streams, there’s 2 gameplay videos for this, combined from their respective streams.

SO HOW IS IT? Being a big fan of Aria, I was excited to play this like I was for maria of Sorrow. It’s a fun spoof! A Persephone finds herself with her willpower along with classic Castlevania villains Olrox and Carmilla spinning out of the bad ending for Aria of Sorrow (Soma defeats Graham without the 3 Souls equipped). Persephone is sent into the castle to figure out what’s going on and finds herself being able to gather and use Souls like Dracula and Soma, but they’re all mixed up! You’ll even run into a Doppelganger dressed as someone familiar and another familiar face from way back in Symphony of the Night. You’ll find clues as you continue on and the dialogue is well down, to the point, and funny at times especially when you go to Hammer’s shops and update Carmilla on plot stuff. The character portraits range from that of the vanilla Aria cast, to ones from other games. The dialogue is great too and has some great humorous moments, especially Persephone’s speech before the final battle!

Seeing how Persephone’s main attacks in vanilla are just kick attacks, that’s what you’ll be using playing this hack. You won’t find anything with a longer reach until later in the game, so players need to move in close to attack and stick and move, which can also cause you damage. Thankfully with Souls mixed up you’ll find yourself with an assortment of Souls offensive and defensive to help you from the start and as you make progress. Some of the Souls are the same from vanilla Aria, but many of them are more related to the hack itself and some joke ones that’ll make you laugh. Especially check out “Mother Clucker.” You will get a fun Soul that’s a demon vacuum cleaner that damages enemies and heals you early. Gear for Persephone will range from Heels with elemental properties and others, along with finding the Rings items that you don’t find until late in vanilla Aria or have to buy from Hammer. On the bad side, Persephone is pretty squishy so you have to be careful fighting enemies and bosses cause you may not find armor upgrades until late. Thankfully you might just find the Headhunter Soul early, and Soul collecting is faster in this hack thanks to a pumped up LUCK stat right from the start. Related to the Souls, players will find a great assortment of attacking and defensive ones which will balance out your short melee basic attacking and Mr. Truffles will find new elemental version of your pet kitty as well.

Difficulty with enemies and bosses is the same as vanilla Aria, again just may be harder due to Persephone’s lack of range in her attacks so you’ll find yourself using Souls a lot of attack and defense. It won’t be until late in the game you can improve her defense so be careful. Hammer mostly sells healing items now, but you may get to a place blocked off until late if you get a certain Soul and find a place for health refilling Wall Chickens. You will need 3 Souls equipped for the Throne Room fight and they’re quite different from vanilla and the Ancient Books being in different places will throw you off, along with trying to get under the waterfall. I do appreciate that since it adds a problem solving element.

In conclusion, I do recommend this if you enjoy Aria for a new take on the story and gameplay. The Souls being mixed up will leave you with good and bad stuff early, and having other elements mixed up means you gotta think more playing it and look everywhere.

I GIVE CASTLEVANIA ARIA OF SORROW PERSEPHONE HACK 4.5 OUT OF 5 DEMON CLEANERS!!

GAMEPLAY VIDEOS:
PART 1:

PART 2:

LINKS:
https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/4444/ – AoS Persephone Hack

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