CotM - 20 year spoiler, but: Beating the game unlocks other modes, sequentially that modify your stats quite a bit - Fighter, Magician, Shooter, and Thief (order of Fighter/Magician might be backwards.) Vampire Killer (base game:) +10 stats per level Magician Mode: gains strength/defense slowly, but starts with all DSS cards already, and gets obscene INT gains every level. Fighter Mode: gains strength/defense quickly, can't obtain DSS cards at all. Shooter Mode: poor base stats, but subweapons gain a huge damage buff/Heart Ups give more hearts. The Knife can be collected twice to gain throw it like a homing missile. Thief Mode: poor base stats in everything other than Luck, so DSS cards and droppable equipment rains like crazy (which you'll need, 'cuz potions and healing in CotM sucks)