Wikipedia

Castlevania

This article is about the franchise. For the first video game, seeCastlevania(1986 video game).For other uses, seeCastlevania (disambiguation).

Castlevania(/ˌkæsəlˈveɪniə/), known in Japan asAkumajō Dracula,[a][2]is agothic horroraction-adventurevideo game seriesandmedia franchisecreated byKonami.The series is largely set in the castle ofCount Dracula,the arch-enemy ofthe Belmont clanof vampire hunters.[3]

Castlevania
Logo of theCastlevaniaseries, introduced with 2003'sLament of Innocence
Genre(s)
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Konami
Creator(s)Hitoshi Akamatsu[1]
Platform(s)
List
First releaseCastlevania
September 26, 1986(1986-09-26)
Latest releaseCastlevania Dominus Collection
August 27, 2024(2024-08-27)

Debuting with the1986 video gameonNintendo'sFamicom Disk System,[4]the first entry and the majority of its sequels areside-scrollingaction platformers.The 1997 game,Castlevania: Symphony of the Night,originally released for thePlayStation,returned to thenonlinear gameplayfirst seen inCastlevania II: Simon's Quest,which also introducedrole-playingelements and exploration.[5]Several installments later adoptedSymphony of the Night's gameplay, which along withSuper Metroid,have popularized theMetroidvaniagenre.[6]2010 saw the release ofCastlevania: Lords of Shadow,a 3Daction-adventuregame developed byMercurySteamandKojima Productionsthat served as arebootof the series.[7][8]

TheCastlevaniaseries has been released on various platforms; from early systems to modern consoles, as well as handheld devices such as mobile phones.[9][10]The franchise has since expanded into several spin-off video games andother media;includingcomic books[11]and a critically-acclaimedanimated television series.[12][13]

Spanning almost four decades,Castlevaniais one of Konami'smost successful and prominent franchises;[14]several of its entries are ranked among thebest video games ever made.[15]Retrospectives attributed to the series' success to its unique blend of action, adventure, and horror elements;[16]and it has been praised for its challenging gameplay mechanics, atmospheric settings, and iconic music.[15]

Games

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See also:List of Castlevania media § Video games
Release timeline
Original series in green
Lords of Shadowseries in yellow
1986Castlevania
Vampire Killer
1987Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
1988Haunted Castle
1989Castlevania: The Adventure
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
1990
1991Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
Super Castlevania IV
1992
1993Akumajō Dracula
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
1994Castlevania: Bloodlines
1995Castlevania: Dracula X
1996
1997Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania Legends
1998
1999Castlevania(Nintendo 64)
Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness
2000
2001Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Castlevania Chronicles
2002Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
2003Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
2004
2005Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania: Curse of Darkness
2006Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
2007Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
2008Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
2009Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth
2010Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
2011–2012
2013Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate
2014Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
2015–2023
2024Haunted Castle Revisited

MostCastlevaniatitles have been released in Japan, North America, Europe and Australia on variousvideo game consoles,personal computers(PC) andmobile phones,with additionalremakesand re-releases.[17]

The first console title,Castlevania,was released on theFamicom Disk Systemin 1986 and in North America in 1987 on theNintendo Entertainment System(NES).[4]A2Dsidescrolling action game where the player progresses through sixstages,many principal features of theCastlevaniaseries originated with it.[18]It has been ported to many platforms, such as theNES Classic Edition.[19]Also released in 1986 wasVampire Killerfor theMSXhome computer, which played significantly differently from the originalCastlevania,where players had to search for the exit before they could proceed to the next stage.[20]Following that year, in 1987,Castlevania II: Simon's Questfurther departed from the standard platforming genre of the firstCastlevaniafor a game more similar to the nonlinear gameplay ofMetroid,with several role-playing elements such as a world map which the player is free to explore and revisit.[21][22]

Haunted Castle(1988), the franchise's first arcade title, returned to the linear platforming gameplay of the original.[23]This continued with the first handheldGame Boyentry,Castlevania: The Adventure[24]and the NES sequel,Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse,both released in 1989.Dracula's Curseadded features to the original gameplay, includingalternate stagesand multipleplayable characters.[25]The Adventuresaw a Game Boy sequel,Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge,in 1992 and a remake,Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth,developed byM2for theWiiWareservice in 2009.[17]

The franchise's first 16-bit home console game,Super Castlevania IV,was released for theSuper Nintendo Entertainment System(SNES) in 1991.[12]ACastlevaniatitle for theSharp X68000home computerwas released in Japan in 1993 and would not be available in English untilCastlevania Chronicles(2001) for thePlayStation.[16]During the same year,Castlevania: Rondo of Bloodwas released for thePC Engineand was not localized in English until it was included withCastlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles(2007) for thePlayStation Portable.[17]The firstCastlevaniaproduced for aCD-ROM,Rondo of BloodfeaturedRed Book audioand fully voiced dialogue.[26]The game's content would be reused inCastlevania: Dracula X,a game for the SNES in 1995.[16]Castlevania: Bloodlines(1994) was the firstCastlevaniaentry produced for aSegaconsole, theGenesis.It would not be re-released until 2019 as part of theCastlevania Anniversary Collection.[27][28]

In 1997,Castlevania: Symphony of the NightandCastlevania Legendswere launched for the PlayStation and Game Boy, respectively.[17]Symphony of the Nightintroduced a major change to the gameplay, incorporating role-playing elements and a nonlinear map that the player could freely explore, which was previously seen inSimon's Questand Nintendo'sMetroidseries.[21][29]Elements ofSymphony of the Nightwould influence the gameplay of future titles, beginning with theGame Boy AdvanceentriesCircle of the Moon,Harmony of Dissonance,andAria of Sorrow,which were released from 2001 to 2003.[17]Aria of Sorrowreceived a 2005 sequel,Dawn of Sorrowfor theNintendo DS,which was followed byPortrait of Ruin(2006) andOrder of Ecclesia(2008).[17]

Under the development ofKonami's Kobe branch,the first game in the series to employ3D graphicswasCastlevaniaforNintendo 64in 1999, and it received an expansion calledCastlevania: Legacy of Darknesslater that year.[26]In 2003, the next 3DCastlevaniatitle,Lament of Innocencedebuted for thePlayStation 2with combat-orientedhack and slashgameplay that drew comparisons toDevil May Cryand retroactively,God of War.[30][31]It was followed two years later byCastlevania: Curse of Darkness.[17]

Arebootof the franchise launched withCastlevania: Lords of Shadowin 2010, amulti-platform3D action title developed byMercurySteamand co-produced byHideo Kojima.[7]It was followed by two sequels,Lords of Shadow – Mirror of FateforNintendo 3DSin 2013, andLords of Shadow 2in 2014.[17]Lords of Shadow 2was the last mainline game in the franchise to date, due to Konami shifting focus tomobile gamesandgamblingin the 2010s.[32]

Rumors began circulating in 2021 that, following internal restructuring at Konami to refocus on PC and console games, a "reimagining" of the series was in development.[33][34]In 2024, a remake ofHaunted Castlewas included in the compilationCastlevania Dominus Collection.TitledHaunted Castle Revisited,it was developed by M2, who previously worked onThe Adventure ReBirth.[35]

Spin-offs

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Castlevaniahas spawned numerous spin-offs, the first being the 1990 platformer,Kid Draculafor theFamicom,a parody which stars the eponymous character.[36]It was released for the first time in English for theCastlevania Anniversary Collection(2019).[28]The game received a sequel for the Game Boy, also titledKid Dracula.[12]

Castlevania's firstfighting game,Castlevania Judgmentdebuted for the Wii in 2008 and was developed byEighting.[17]Castlevania: Harmony of Despair,released in 2010, was an online, multiplayer title in-which players could play as pastCastlevaniacharacters and explore stages.[37]A mobile game calledCastlevania: Grimoire of Soulswas released on September 19, 2019 foriOSthroughApple Arcade.[38]

Arcade andslot machinesbased on the series have been produced.Castlevania: The Arcade(2009), a light gun shooter utilizing an LED remote, has been released in Japan and Europe.[39]The Japanese-exclusivePachislot Akumajō Draculaseries is a line ofpachislottitles released between 2009 and 2017.[40]The first three are based on the video gameDracula's Curse,while a fourth game based on theLords of Shadowreboot,Pachislot Akumajō Dracula: Lords of Shadow,was made available in 2017.[41]

Castlevaniacharacters and elements have appeared in crossovers and other titles such as theKonami Wai Wai Worldseries,Contra: Hard Corps,DreamMix TV World Fighters,Bomberman R,Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,[42]Dead Cells,andVampire Survivors.

Common elements

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Gameplay

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Gameplay ofCastlevaniaon the NES. The player-character Simon Belmont attacks an enemy with the whip, which can be increased in length by collecting upgrades.

Castlevania,released for the NES in 1986, is a platform game in which the player takes the role of the character Simon Belmont, navigating through six levels of Dracula's castle. Each level is divided into six blocks of three stages each.[43][44]He can navigate the castle's terrain by jumping across platforms and walking up staircases, enabling him to progress to new stages.[45]Simon has a health meter, which decreases upon contact with enemies or hazards. Loss of all health, falling off-screen, or running out of time results in losing a life, with the game ending when all lives are depleted, though players can continue from the last checkpoint.[45][44]Collecting points throughout the levels can increase the player's score and earn them additional lives. Each level culminates in a Boss battle against one of Dracula's monsters, each with their own life meter that needs to be depleted using Simon's attacks.[45]Simon wields the Vampire Killer whip, which can be improved by collecting upgrades hidden in candles. These upgrades extend the whip's length and power, allowing Simon to attack enemies from a greater distance with increased damage.[44]Alongside the whip, Simon can use secondary weapons like throwing knives, holy water, and the boomerang-like cross, which consume hearts collected throughout the levels.[43][45]

Screenshot ofCastlevania: Portrait of Ruin,which featuresMetroidvaniagameplay. In the top screen is the map, which records the player's progress as they explore the castle.

WhileCastlevania's gameplay set the standard for most titles,Castlevania II: Simon's Questin 1987 briefly introduced role-playing elements, a departure from the strict platforming format of its predecessor.[43][46]Unlike the linear progression of the first game,Simon's Questallows players to explore a freely accessible world map, revisit areas, and engage with a dynamic environment that includes day and night cycles affecting enemy strength and the availability of non-playable characters.[46]Players can interact with villagers who provide hints and visit merchants to buy items using hearts collected from defeated enemies.[44]This installment also introducesexperience pointswhere Simon can increase his level and health capacity by gathering hearts.[43][44]1997'sCastlevania: Symphony of the Nightsignificantly expanded upon the gameplay introduced inSimon's Quest,setting a new formula for the series and influencing subsequentMetroidvaniatitles.[47]Symphony of the Nightalso features non-linear exploration, requiring players to gather specific items and abilities to access different areas of Dracula’s castle.[47][43]This installment expanded the role-playing elements by including a more complex attribute and leveling system where the protagonist, Alucard, increases his in-game statistics by gaining experience points from defeated enemies.[43]Alucard's ability to transform into a bat, wolf, or mist also allows him to explore previously inaccessible areas, and he can also use a wider range of equipment.[47]

The first 3D installment in the franchise,Castlevania(1999) on the Nintendo 64 adopted gameplay elements distinctly different from its 2D predecessors.[26][43]Unlike earlier titles, this version implemented a basic targeting and lock-on system for combat for the two playable characters, Reinhardt and Carrie.[26]The new environment itself played a crucial role in the gameplay, with challenges based on precision in jumping across 3D platforms and navigating through hazardous areas, some of which included rotating and crumbling platforms.[43]Castlevaniafor the Nintendo 64 also incorporated elements of survival horror, such as a sequence where the player must run from a pursuing enemy in a hedge maze.[48]Unlike the earlier 3D installment which involved navigating through various levels with a degree of platforming challenge, 2003'sLament of Innocencefocused on a central hub system. This hub allowed access to five main areas from the start, with progress tied to defeating Boss es to unlock the final area.[49]The combat system also allows the player to execute a series of fluid and dynamic combos using the primary weapon, the Whip of Alchemy.[49][43]This system enables players to chain attacks into continuous strikes, enhancing combat engagement and effectiveness against enemies.[49]The 2010 reboot,Lords of Shadowintroduced a more diverse range of up to forty unlockable combos with the game's whip, the Combat Cross, integrating both direct and area attacks.[50]Additionally, it functions as a tool for exploration, aiding in scaling walls, rappelling, and swinging across gaps, which deepens the platforming elements central to the franchise.[50]Moreover,Lords of Shadowfeatures massive Boss battles against titans, where players must use the Combat Cross to navigate and disable them.[50]

Plot and setting

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See also:List of Castlevania characters
Castlevaniaseries fictional chronology
Original series
Lords of Shadowseries

✝ Retconned
Sources:[51][52][53][43][54][55][56][57]

TheCastlevaniafranchise heavily references the horror films produced byUniversal PicturesandHammer Film Productions.[3]Creator of the series, Hitoshi Akamatsu, wanted players to feel like they were in a classic horror film.[58]Zombies,werewolves,Frankenstein's monster,andCount Draculamake recurring appearances.[3]Alucard,introduced inCastlevania III: Dracula's Curse,is a reference to the character of the same name from the 1943 film,Son of Dracula.[59]The games includefolkloreandmythologicalmonsters such asMedusa,[60]as well as direct references toliterary horror.[61]Castlevania: Bloodlinesexplicitly incorporates the events ofBram Stoker'sDraculainto the series,[62]and the recurring characterCarmillais based on the 1872 novelCarmillabyJoseph Sheridan Le Fanu.[63]

Castlevaniamainly takes place in the castle ofCount Dracula,[3]who resurrects every hundred years to take over the world.[64]With the exception of some games, the players assume the role of theBelmonts,a clan of vampire hunters who have defeated Dracula for centuries with the Vampire Killer.[16]The Vampire Killer is a legendary whip that is passed down to their successors and can only be used by them.[16]InCastlevania: Bloodlines,the whip has been inherited by John Morris, the son ofQuincey Morris,who is a distant descendant of the Belmonts.[62]Other recurring characters throughout the series include thedhampirAlucard, who sides with Trevor Belmont against his father Dracula inDracula's Curse.[65]Trevor is joined bySypha Belnades,a vampire hunter who fights using magic and marries Trevor by the end of the game.[66]Descendants of the Belnades clan, such asCarrie Fernandez[67]andYoko Belnades,would make appearances as playable characters in later titles.[68]

Castlevania: Lords of Shadowis arebootof the franchise, with its first game set in Southern Europe during the Middle Ages.[69]The main character, Gabriel Belmont, is a member of the Brotherhood of Light, an elite group of holy knights who defend people from supernatural creatures.[70]With a retractable chain whip called the Combat Cross, Gabriel fights a malevolent force known as the Lords of Shadow in order to obtain the God Mask, which he believes can bring back his deceased wife.[7]InCastlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate,Gabriel stars as Dracula, the main antagonist of Simon and Trevor Belmont.[71]The sequel,Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2is set during modern times, where Dracula is looking for a way to put an end to his immortality.[72]

In 2002, the gamesLegends,Circle of the Moon,Castlevania(1999), andLegacy of Darknesswere retconned from the official chronology byKoji Igarashi,a move which had been met with some criticism by fans.[73]Igarashi noted thatLegendsconflicted with the plotline of the series, and that the reason forCircle of the Moon's removal was not due to his non-involvement with the game, but instead the intention of the game's development team forCircle of the Moonto be a stand-alone title.[74]The American 20th Anniversary Pre-order Bundle forPortrait of Ruinin 2006 featured a poster with a timeline that re-included the games other thanLegends.[52]In 2007, Konami still excluded them from the canon on the official Japanese website.[51]Igarashi has said that he considered the titles a "subseries".[75]

Development

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Being aware of the horror movies from long ago (long before the slasher flicks), I wanted the players to feel like they were in a classic horror movie.

—Hitoshi Akamatsu, 1993[58]

Castlevaniawas directed and programmed by Hitoshi Akamatsu for theFamily Computer Disk Systemin 1986.[76][1]The game's staff roll features names taken from horror film icons, with Akamatsu being credited as 'Trans Fishers', a reference to film directorTerence Fisher.[77]This is possibly because Konami did not allow the use of real names at the time in order to prevent other companies from hiring people who worked for them.[77][78]An admirer of cinema, Akamatsu approached projects with a "film director's eye", and said the visuals and music forCastlevaniawere "made by people who consciously wanted to do something cinematic."[1]The protagonist Simon Belmont uses a whip because Akamatsu liked the mechanics of a weapon able to repel enemies, and also because Akamatsu was a fan ofRaiders of the Lost Ark.[1]After the success ofCastlevania,it was released in cartridge format for theNintendo Entertainment System(NES) as one of its first major platform games.[12]The international titleCastlevaniawas the result of Konami of America senior vice president Emil Heidkamp's discomfort withAkumajō Dracula,which he believed translated as "Dracula Satanic Castle".[79]Because of Nintendo of America's censorship policies at the time, most instances of blood, nudity and religious imagery were removed or edited in earlyCastlevaniagames.[80][81]

Akamatsu directedCastlevania II: Simon's Questin 1987, which adopted gameplay similar to Nintendo'sMetroid.When asked ifMetroidhad any inspiration, Akamatsu instead citedMaze of Galious,another Konami title which featured exploration and puzzle solving.[1]His last game in the series,Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse(1989), returned to the standard platforming genre ofCastlevania.[12]Since Konami'sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesgames sold many copies, their development was prioritized above other titles, leading the developers forDracula's Curseto make a game that would outdo them.[1]Simon's QuestandDracula's Cursewere not a commercial success, and Akamatsu was demoted to working in one of Konami's game centers before he chose to resign.[1]

In 1993, threeCastlevaniagames were in parallel development, which includedAkumajō Dracula,Rondo of Blood,andBloodlines.[82]Directed and produced by Toru Hagihara,[82]Rondo of Bloodwas the first installment made for a CD-ROM and the first to be fully voiced.[16]Hagihara would go on to direct a sequel,Symphony of the Night(1997) for the PlayStation, with Koji Igarashi joining him as the assistant director and story writer.[83]Joining the staff was artist Ayami Kojima, who was hired to introduce a new look forCastlevania.She would be the character designer for several futureCastlevaniatitles.[84]Igarashi said it began development as "something of a side story series". From the outset, the game was supposed to take the franchise in a new direction.[75]The gameplay took a departure from the original platforming entries, instead adopting nonlinear exploration and role-playing game elements, which were last seen inSimon's Quest.The critical reaction toSimon's Questand its gameplay allowed them to pitchSymphony of the Nightto Konami.[5]Igarashi was eventually asked to finish the game as the assistant director after Hagihara was promoted to head of the division.[85]On release,Symphony of the Nightwas well-received and became a sleeper hit, but its commercial performance was mediocre, particularly in the United States where it was meagerly publicized.[26]

Artwork of characters fromCastlevania: Grimoire of Souls(2019) byAyami Kojima.Kojima was hired in 1997 to introduce a new art style to the series and has since contributed to several of its titles.

The firstCastlevaniagame to feature 3D computer graphics began development in 1997 on theNintendo 64byKonami Computer Entertainment Kobe(KCEK) asDracula 3D.[86]Like most of its predecessors, it was an action-adventure and platforming game. It was eventually released asCastlevaniain 1999 and received an expanded version titledCastlevania: Legacy of Darknessduring the same year.[26]KCEK's lastCastlevaniagame was the acclaimedCircle of the Moon,[87]released as a launch title for theGame Boy Advancein 2001.[88]Circle of the Moonwas the first entry to featureMetroidvaniagameplay sinceSymphony of the Night.[26]Igarashi, who was not involved with the game, was critical ofCircle of the Moon.[89]In 2002, he retconnedCastlevania Legends(1997) and the games developed by KCEK from the series' chronology due to story conflicts, which was met with some resistance from fans.[90]After KCEK was dissolved during 2002, the Game Boy Advance received a second installment,Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance,now produced by Igarashi and developed byKonami Computer Entertainment Tokyo(KCET).[91]Starting withHarmony of Dissonance,the Japanese games adoptedCastlevaniaas the title for a brief period. According to Igarashi, the developers did this since Count Dracula is not always the main antagonist.[92]This continued withCastlevania: Lament of Innocence(2003), a 3D title developed as a new starting point for the series.[93]Konami eventually returned to the titleAkumajō Draculawith the Japanese release of 2005'sCastlevania: Dawn of Sorrowfor theNintendo DS.Dawn of SorrowandPortrait of Ruin(2006) introduced a new art style in hopes of broadening the player demographic and preventing younger Nintendo DS owners from being put off by Ayami Kojima's art. This discontinued withCastlevania: Order of Ecclesiain 2008.[94]

Due to concern over the poor sales of the recentCastlevaniagames,[95]a number of prototypes in development competed to become the nextCastlevaniainstallment, which included a game by Igarashi announced atTokyo Game Show2008 andCastlevania: Lords of Shadowby Spanish studioMercurySteam.[96]Konami told MercurySteam the game would be an originalintellectual property(IP) when it was first greenlit as aCastlevaniatitle.[97]Konami eventually asked them to cease work onLords of Shadowwhile it was still in its early stages, until producer David Cox showed the Japanese senior management the game and was offered help by video game designerHideo Kojima.[98]According to Igarashi, development on his project had not been going smoothly, and Konami had canceled it and choseLords of Shadowas the pitch for the nextCastlevaniaentry.[96]Produced by Dave Cox andHideo Kojima,Lords of Shadowwas a multi-platform 3D action-adventure reboot of the series.[99]Kojima offered his input on the project and also oversaw the game's localization in Japan.[100]It was the firstCastlevaniato feature celebrity voice talent, starringRobert Carlylein the lead role andPatrick Stewart.[101]The art style departed from the previous games in favor of one inspired byGuillermo del Toro's work.[102][103]Lords of Shadowwas met with positive reception in 2010 and a commercial success, becoming the best sellingCastlevaniagame to date.[104]It was followed by two sequels,Mirror of Fate(2013) andCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2(2014).Lords of Shadow 2was not as well received as its predecessor.[105]Following its release, an anonymous source claiming to be employees from MercurySteam alleged that development on the game had been troubled.[106]

After having been moved to Konami's social division in 2011, Igarashi felt he was unable to release any new games when Konami shifted its focus towards mobile game development.[107]He left in March 2014 to independently createBloodstained: Ritual of the Night,a spiritual successor toCastlevania.[108]Dave Cox followed Igarashi's resignation a few months later.[109]RecentCastlevaniatitles released under Konami's recent business model include pachinko and slot machines based on the IP.[110][40]

Audio

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Castlevania's music features a wide range of compositions, with themes reused throughout the series. It has been critically acclaimed[111][112]and released on many albums, initially under theKing Recordslabel.[113]In addition to original soundtracks, it has also inspired remix albums, which include orchestra, rap and heavy metal arrangements.[113]In 2010,Castlevania – The Concertwas performed inStockholm,Swedenby longtimeCastlevaniacomposer,Michiru Yamane,and the Stockholm Youth Symphonic Orchestra.[114]

The music for the first installment,Castlevania,was composed byKinuyo Yamashitaand Satoe Terashima.[115][116]The game's staff roll featured pseudonyms, with Yamashita credited as James Banana.[117]Yamashita said she did not know anything about video games at the time and composed forCastlevaniashortly after graduating from college. Under strict hardware constraints,[118]she would first write the scores before entering it as data into a computer.[119]The hardware for the first 16-bit title,Super Castlevania IV,allowed for a more atmospheric environment in the game, and was composed by Masanori Adachi andTaro Kudo.[78]

Known primarily for her work on theCastlevaniaseries,Michiru Yamanefirst composed music for theSega Genesisgame,Castlevania: Bloodlines.Yamane was under pressure at the time because the series was already popular and known for its music.[111]She felt there was a link with the game's vampiric themes and the classical music she had grown up with, having studiedJohann Sebastian Bachin university, and worked to integrate her style with the rock themes of the previous games.[120]SinceCastlevania: Symphony of the Night,Yamane became involved with the development of the series with its former producer,Koji Igarashi.[121]Symphony of the Night's art director, Osamu Kasai, requested Yamane to join the team,[120]and she would draw inspiration fromAyami Kojima's concept artwork.[121]Unlike the FM synthesis thatBloodlinesused, Yamane felt she had more freedom withSymphony of the Nightas it was produced for aCD-ROM,which made it capable of much higher quality music and sound.[120]She continued to compose for the series, including theGame Boy AdvanceandNintendo DSgames, which had note limitations like older home consoles, and also collaborated with other composers such asYuzo Koshiro.[120]Before becoming a freelance composer, the lastCastlevaniagame she scored wasCastlevania: Order of Ecclesiain 2008, which she worked on with Yasuhiro Ichihashi.[120]

For the 2010 reboot,Castlevania: Lords of Shadow,the game was scored by Óscar Araujo using a 120-piece orchestra.[122]His work onLords of Shadowearned him a nomination for breakout composer of the year by theInternational Film Music Critics Association,[123]and he won "Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media."[124]Araujo went on to compose the sequels,Mirror of FateandLords of Shadow 2.[125]

Reception and legacy

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Aggregate review scores
Game GameRankings Metacritic
Castlevania
70.92% (GBA)[126]
—
The Adventure
55.07%[127]
—
Belmont's Revenge
83.50%[128]
—
Super Castlevania IV
82.06%[129]
—
Bloodlines
83.50%[130]
—
Dracula X
71%[131]
—
Symphony of the Night
93.03%[132]
93[133]
Legends
52.88%[134]
—
Castlevania(1999)
72.71%[135]
78[136]
Legacy of Darkness
63.80%[137]
—
Circle of the Moon
88.32%[138]
91[87]
Chronicles
73.53%[139]
69[140]
Harmony of Dissonance
85.12%[141]
87[142]
Aria of Sorrow
87.86%[143]
91[144]
Lament of Innocence
78.72%[145]
79[146]
Dawn of Sorrow
90.35%[147]
89[148]
Curse of Darkness
70.37% (PS2)[149]
70 (PS2)[150]
Portrait of Ruin
84.98%[151]
85[152]
Order of Ecclesia
85.67%[153]
85[154]
The Adventure ReBirth
81.10%[155]
82[156]
Lords of Shadow
82.70% (Xbox 360)[157]
83.33% (PS3)[158]
77.40% (PC)[159]
85 (PS3)[160]
83 (Xbox 360)[161]
81 (PC)[162]
Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate
71.81% (3DS)[163]
74.00% (Xbox 360)[164]
63.75% (PS3)[165]
72 (3DS)[166]
73 (Xbox 360)[167]
70 (PS3)[168]
Lords of Shadow 2
71.00% (Xbox 360)[169]
63.12% (PS3)[170]
58.10% (PC)[171]
70 (Xbox 360)[172]
63 (PS3)[173]
60 (PC)[174]

TheCastlevaniafranchise had sold over 20 million copies worldwide as of 2006;[175]it had previously sold over3.7 millionunits by 1993.[176]The franchise has received mostly positive reviews, with the most acclaimed game beingSymphony of the Nightfor thePlayStation[133][132]and the most panned beingJudgment,with aggregate scores of 93 and 49, respectively, onMetacriticand 93.38% and 52.71%, respectively, onGameRankings.[177][178]

Many of the games have appeared on lists of video games considered to be the best.Symphony of the Nightappeared at #16 onIGN"Top 100 games" and was one of the first to be introduced on theGameSpot"The Greatest Games of All Time". Both acclaimed the game to successfully making a game in 2D while the industry was moving to 3D.[90][179]Castlevania III: Dracula's Cursewas named the 9th best 8-bit game byGameTrailers.[180]Super Castlevania IVwas named the 11th best game of the SNES byScrewAttackon their "Top 20 SNES Games".[181]The series as a whole was named the 4th best franchise in games ever byIGN,behind onlyFinal Fantasy,The Legend of ZeldaandMario,and citingSuper Castlevania IVandSymphony of the Nightas highlights.[182]Aria of Sorrowwas named the 2nd best game on theGame Boy Advanceand one of the must buys for the system, according to the same website.[183][184]Castlevania,Super Castlevania IV,andAria of Sorrowappeared onNintendo Power's "Top 200 Games" list.[185][186]Trivia about the series has been mentioned in theGuinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008.[187][188]

In other media

edit
Further information:List of Castlevania media

Simon Belmont was one of the stars in the animated seriesCaptain N: The Game Master.[189]Simon is portrayed as egotistical on the show and his physical appearance differs from his design in the video game series.[190]He was a member of the N-Team, a group of mostly video game characters who defended Videoland against the antagonist Mother Brain fromMetroid.[190]Dracula, referred to only as "the Count", appeared as a villain inCaptain N.Alucard also appeared in one episode, though he was portrayed as a rebellious skateboarding teenager.[190]

Several novels and comic book adaptations have been made.Worlds of Power,a 1990s series of books with stories based on Nintendo games, featured a novel aboutSimon's Questwritten byChristopher Howell,and the series was produced bySeth Godin.[191]It departs from the original plot and introduces characters not seen in the game, including junior high school student Timothy Bradley, a video gamer who crosses over into the world ofSimon's Questand assists Simon Belmont.[192]In 2005,IDW Publishingreleased the graphic novelCastlevania: The Belmont Legacy,based onCastlevania: The Adventure,written byMarc Andreykowith art byE. J. Su.[11]Illustrated by Kou Sasakura, a two-volume manga adaptation titledCastlevania: Curse of Darkness,based on the PlayStation 2 installment, was published in Japan from 2005 to 2006.[193]It was released in English in 2008.[194]2003'sLament of Innocencewas adapted into acellphone comic book,released exclusively in Japan from 2007–2008 for 40 episodes.[195]

The franchise has its own toy line manufactured byNECAwhich consists of six figures of Simon Belmont, Alucard, Dracula, Succubus and a Pixel Simon mini figure which was exclusively available as a promotional item atComic-Con2007.[196][197]

TV series

edit
Main articles:Castlevania (TV series)andCastlevania: Nocturne

The streaming serviceNetflixreleased an American animated series titledCastlevaniaas part of its original programming between 2017 and 2021, consisting of four seasons and 32 episodes.[198]The first two seasons adapt elements fromCastlevania III: Dracula's Curseand followTrevor Belmont,AlucardandSypha Belnadesas they defend the nation ofWallachiafromDraculawhile later seasons include elements from other games such asCastlevania: Curse of DarknessandCastlevania: Symphony of the Night.The series was created byWarren Ellis;in developing the series, Ellis relied heavily on a script he had written for an animated Castlevania film from 2007 that never entered production.[199]The art style of the series isinfluenced by animeand the artwork ofAyami Kojima,with animation provided by Frederator Studios and Powerhouse Animation Studios.[200][201]

A sequel to the original show,Castlevania: Nocturne,was released on Netflix on September 28, 2023.[202]It focuses on Richter Belmont, a descendent of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, and Maria Renard in France during the French Revolution, 300 years after the original series. The series adapts elements fromCastlevania: Rondo of Blood.The second season premiered on January 16, 2025.[203][204]Original series creator Warren Ellis was not involved in the new series after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced in 2020.[205]

Cancelled projects

edit

ACastlevaniatelevision series was considered in the late 1980s as part of theSuper Mario Bros. Power Hour,a one-hour animation block of Nintendo-focused video game adaptations. Concept art was produced for the project byDIC Animation City.Only the Mario andThe Legend of Zeldasegmentsfor the block were ultimately produced, airing in 1989 as part ofThe Super Mario Bros. Super Show!.[206]

ACastlevaniafilm was planned in the late 2000s. However, in December 2007, Rogue Pictureshalted active developmentofCastlevaniadue to the writers' strike and, later, the sale of the studio toRelativity Mediaand possibility of a screen actors' guild strike.[207]On May 27, 2009, theCastlevaniafilm was reported as officially canceled.[208]

Notes

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  1. ^Japanese:Ác ma thành ドラキュラ,Hepburn:Akumajō Dorakyura,"Demon Castle Dracula"

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