Topic: Castlevania name

[Abnormal Freak]

It's a shame that other thread had to be closed due to wacky-ass bullshit. Maybe delete all that and merge this with it and re-open the thing? Because I won't let the original discussion die!

I was reading an article on Console Wars, a new book which chronicles the rise of Sega in the early '90s, its internal struggles, and a buncha other stuff. Page 7 of this article actually pertains to the naming of Castlevania, which is apparently attributed to a Christian named Emil Heidcamp, Konami of America's then senior vice president who didn't like the more literal translation of Akumajou Dracula.

Whether he christened Castlevania or simply got the ball rolling on a more acceptable name change, I don't know, but I'm curious what the book actually has to say on the matter, something I intend to pick up soon.

[crisis]

the 1999 game should be titled "Castlevania: Prince of Darkness" it's simple & gets right to the point 

some people have argued that it should still incorporated "sorrow" into the title since its part of that chapter.. but i dunno. Sonata of Sorrow?

[Mike Belmont]

How about Overture of Sorrow? As for the 1999 game is about the last battle between Dracula and the Belmonts, but the beggining of the AoS/DoS "saga"...

[X]

The game could be titled Castlevania: The Demon Castle War. Or maybe even Castlevania: Apocalypse. It sums up what the game is pretty much about. I personally wouldn't call it anything ending with 'sorrow' as it does not have Soma Cruz. Some Cruz' exploits are of what the Sorrow games are about, but the 1999 battle has no relations to him as it came before AoS.

[Abnormal Freak]

Castlevania: The Demon Castle War would be a funny way of going full-circle with why the name was changed to begin with.

[VladCT]

Or maybe even Castlevania: Apocalypse.

Except that's already the name of Castlevania 64 (Akumajo Dracula Mokushiroku).

[theplottwist]

Castlevania: Evening of Sorrow.

Why? Because the battles against Dracula tend to take one evening, while Dawn refers to the start of a new day.

Or even shorten it to "Castlevania: Eve of Sorrow".

[KaZudra]

Castlevania: 3rd Day of Sorrow

[Abnormal Freak]

Castlevania: Clichéd Subtitle That Sounds Dumb

But seriously, y'all is gonna get this thread locked for being off topic.

[X]

Except that's already the name of Castlevania 64 (Akumajo Dracula Mokushiroku).

Well in all fairness the final version was called Legacy of Darkness so I guess Apocalypse is up for grabs. that and the 64 games weren't really all that apocalyptic to me. The 1999 battle on the other hand; where everyone is aware of Dracula and you have essentially the Living (all of humanity) Vs the Undead is definitely more apocalyptic in my mind.

[EisaKrieger]

the 1999 game should be titled "Castlevania: Prince of Darkness" it's simple & gets right to the point 

some people have argued that it should still incorporated "sorrow" into the title since its part of that chapter.. but i dunno. Sonata of Sorrow?

With the original Japanese games there's already nothing in common with the titles.
Aria of Sorrow is Castlevania Minuet of Dawn.
Dawn of Sorrow is Akumajou Dracula Crucifix of the Blue Moon.

For three games in a row plus the Lords of Shadow series they actually used the US name Castlevania in Japan.  Cv Lament of Innocence is just Castlevania.  Then Cv: Harmony of Dissonance was Castlevania Concerto of Midnight Sun.  Then there was Minuet.


Also Legacy of Darkness is still called Akumajou Dracula Apocalypse Gaiden: Legend of Cornell in Japan.


Anyway I think it should be called Castlevania Fear of Computer Clocks Rolling Over to 1900.

[Shiroi Koumori]

For three games in a row plus the Lords of Shadow series they actually used the US name Castlevania in Japan.  Cv Lament of Innocence is just Castlevania.  Then Cv: Harmony of Dissonance was Castlevania Concerto of Midnight Sun.  Then there was Minuet.

FYI, LoS2 is 悪魔城ドラキュラ Lords of Shadow 2. Still with a TBA 2014 for the Japanese version.

Back on the possible 1999 game, how about Castlevania: Cadenza of Belmont?

Cadenza -   Initially an improvised cadence by a soloist; later becoming an elaborate and written out passage in an aria or concerto, featuring the skills of an instrumentalist or vocalist.

[X]

I'd personally leave out musical titles in CV. IGA had a thing for them and it did get stale after a while. Something to bluntly state the nature of the game itself and what it's about would work just fine. For instance; CV II: Simon's Quest. It's simple and tells you what the game is about. Rondo of Blood. not as direct but it describes the never-ending cycle of battle between Dracula and the Belmont family. CV II: Belmont's Revenge. also straight to the point as that's what Christopher's goal was. Revenge against Dracula for his Son's sake.