Like any good Metroidvania, the Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse demo rewards players who refuse to take the obvious path. Tucked away in the Paris sewers is a weapon that plenty of people will finish the demo without ever laying eyes on. It is called the Cestus, a set of knuckle-mounted gauntlets built for pummeling enemies into paste, and the developers even toss in a little congratulatory note the moment you crack open its chest.
Finding it takes some patience and the right tool. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of where to look, plus a few pointers on how to make the Cestus sing once it is strapped to Rose’s hands.
What You Need Before You Start Hunting
The Cestus is not something you can grab in the opening minutes. You first need the Arcane Whip, which drops after you take down The Fallen. That fight is the gatekeeper here — no whip, no secret weapon.
Once the Arcane Whip is yours, a few new options open up. Golden and purple Anchors become usable, meaning Rose can latch on and swing between them. That movement trick is how you reach ledges and platforms that would otherwise sit out of range, and it doubles as a way to grab hold of enemies mid-fight.
Where to Look in the Paris Sewers
With the whip in hand, head to the Sewer Reservoir. If you need a landmark, it is the very next room after your first Mirror of Life save point, so you should pass through it naturally on your way deeper into the demo.
Inside the reservoir, your goal is vertical. Climb toward the upper levels of the room using the Arcane Whip until you are standing on a grate platform. To place it precisely: look for the oversized staircase in the background and position yourself on the grate sitting right in the middle of it.
Now comes the part most players miss. Aim the Arcane Whip straight above your head. A hidden Anchor is sitting there, invisible until you lash at it. Hook on, and Rose will launch herself upward into a route that was never signposted.
Opening the Chest
That upward route leads to a small chamber dominated by a giant treasure chest. Hop up, interact with it, and the Cestus is yours. The devs also slip in a friendly message confirming you have found your first secret, which is a nice touch for anyone who has been scouring every corner.
Do not get too comfortable, though. The room fills with a crowd of enemies right after you claim the gloves. Fortunately, they are standing between you and a chance to test out your new toy.
How the Cestus Actually Works
Anyone who has spent time with Evil Empire’s other titles — Dead Cells and The Rogue Prince of Persia come to mind — will recognize the rhythm here. These are fast gloves, not heavy ones, and their damage ramps up the longer you keep swinging.
As Rose lands more punches, she starts to glow, and that glow signals a rising damage bonus. Stop attacking for a few seconds and it drains away, so the key is to stay aggressive and never let the combo cool off. Compared to the Longsword you begin with, the Cestus trades reach for speed and a damage curve that rewards commitment.
There is one more trick worth knowing. If you attack right after latching onto an enemy with the Arcane Whip, Rose pulls off an Uppercut instead. It hits hard — hard enough to tear straight through the zombies wandering the sewers, which suddenly makes those shambling crowds look a lot less threatening.
Worth the Detour
The Cestus is optional, but it changes how the demo feels. The Paris sewers are dense with hidden paths, and this detour is a good reminder that the Arcane Whip is as much a treasure-hunting tool as it is a weapon. If you have already beaten The Fallen, the trip to the Sewer Reservoir takes only a couple of minutes — and the reward is a pair of gloves that turn every zombie encounter into target practice.
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Source: Rock Paper Shotgun