Castlevania Dungeon Forums
The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: Dark Nemesis on September 23, 2014, 02:06:19 PM
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http://shmuplations.com/symphony/ (http://shmuplations.com/symphony/)
http://shmuplations.com/akumajox68000/ (http://shmuplations.com/akumajox68000/)
http://gosokkyu.com/post/79456686343/akumajou-dracula-x-chi-no-rondo-interview-lead (http://gosokkyu.com/post/79456686343/akumajou-dracula-x-chi-no-rondo-interview-lead)
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uh oh nagumo is gonna go wild lol
some points of interest:
- Can you tell us the origins of Alucard’s name?
Igarashi: It’s Dracula spelled backwards, of course.
- This isn’t officially in the story, but in the backstory in my head, his mother was descended of holy blood, so he can use those weapons. That’s why Alucard has both the powers of light and dark, which was something we had decided on at the outset of the development.
In the early planning stages we had an alignment system. If you used the subweapons a lot you would have a holy alignment, and if you used magic a lot you’d have a dark alignment.
Yeah, and the ending would have changed based on your alignment.
- In the ending Maria chases after Alucard, but I’m curious about what happens after that.
That’s something left for all the players to imagine themselves; it’s not our place to say. There are also other endings where she doesn’t follow Alucard. - Our first idea was to use the story and setting of Vampire Killer, and make the final Belmont vampire hunter your enemy. But… that idea got used for Dracula X: Rondo of Blood. Another idea I had, and this is also from Bloodlines, was that when Quincy Morris defeated Dracula, it was actually Alucard that he defeated. I had even thought how this would work with the ending visuals.
- As far as the story goes, I did have deeper and more involved dialogue planned, but I thought it would interrupt the game progression too much, so we took it out. There were many characters who had to be cut, but the ones I still wish we could have added were Elizabeth Bathory and Gilles de Rais. As for post-game stories, Alucard and Maria’s whereabouts are unknown. Richter uses this as an opportunity to pass the vampire killer to the Morris family, who are relatives of the Belmonts. He disappears with Annette. After this the repuation of the Belmont name as vampire hunters vanishes from history. However, that doesn’t mean the Belmont bloodline has died out, so perhaps they will rise again as Vampire Hunters someday.
- In a sense, I don’t think I can really say much about Alucard’s distant future… (it’s a mystery). As for Richter, the events of Bloodlines create the background for the story of Symphony of the Night, and I can’t confirm what happens to the Belmont clan after Richter. But that being the case, have you thought about what the future might hold? I like to think that one of the Belmonts is, unbeknownst to all, locked in battle with the King of Terror prophesized by Nostradmus to appear in July 1999.
- I’d also like to say that although Maria chases after Alucard in the ending of Symphony of the Night, he doesn’t make her a vampire. She isn’t around 10,000 years later, you know. (laughs)
- As for the difficulty [in Akumajou Dracula x68000], there’s 99 stages spread across 6 loops. And if you come back to the game after several months and clear the first loop again, you might discover something interesting.
- When the She-wolf returns to human form she looks directly at the player. That was a request from a certain honorable fellow. At first we had her just lying face down. The tragic She-Wolf.
- The archer guy in the garden has his junk swaying in the breeze. And yet there’s no wind… this was censored and removed.
- Dracula should be having a drink even though its the final battle! We talked about that. The idea was he would be lounging around when Simon comes and drags him into a fight.
- Yeah, [in Chi no Rondo] we actually had planned to add four player characters. After thinking it over, we decided on just two.
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Wow, all three of those have some pretty good information that was new to me. Thanks for posting these!
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It is cool work though there are some errors and omissions in the translation.
*errors
SotN: seimu sēma/seima no toriru
X68K: The skull knight doing chun-li cosplay… that enemy we based off Refer to Capcom’s super-famous character.
*omissions
SotN: Because it was shameful that Richter was manipulated by the shaft, the vampire killer is passed to the Morris family who is the relative in Belmont. NOTES: This may have been changed. He brandished the whip again by the radio drama.
SotN second interview from OLD KCEK's Akumajō Dracula series portal site. Because this has already been deleted, it is not possible to confirm it.
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When it rains, it really does pour. :o
As for post-game stories, Alucard and Maria’s whereabouts are unknown. Richter uses this as an opportunity to pass the vampire killer to the Morris family, who are relatives of the Belmonts. He disappears with Annette. After this the repuation of the Belmont name as vampire hunters vanishes from history. However, that doesn’t mean the Belmont bloodline has died out, so perhaps they will rise again as Vampire Hunters someday.
So that theory of Richter passing the whip to the Morrises due to Shaft's manipulating him was actually true, for awhile.
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Thanks!
It is nice to read new stuff.
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Haha, I love how all the essential story bits are hidden away in guidebooks somewhere, like it's forbidden knowledge. So Richter gave up the Vampire Killer because he felt ashamed of what happend to him? I never imagined it would be such a simple explanation, but I like it.
- Our first idea was to use the story and setting of Vampire Killer, and make the final Belmont vampire hunter your enemy. But… that idea got used for Dracula X: Rondo of Blood. Another idea I had, and this is also from Bloodlines, was that when Quincy Morris defeated Dracula, it was actually Alucard that he defeated. I had even thought how this would work with the ending visuals.
What is he talking about here? You don't fight other vampire hunters in Bloodlines or Rondo. Also, Alucard is Dracula in Bloodlines? That's pretty bizarre.
- As far as the story goes, I did have deeper and more involved dialogue planned, but I thought it would interrupt the game progression too much, so we took it out. There were many characters who had to be cut, but the ones I still wish we could have added were Elizabeth Bathory and Gilles de Rais. As for post-game stories, Alucard and Maria’s whereabouts are unknown. Richter uses this as an opportunity to pass the vampire killer to the Morris family, who are relatives of the Belmonts. He disappears with Annette. After this the repuation of the Belmont name as vampire hunters vanishes from history. However, that doesn’t mean the Belmont bloodline has died out, so perhaps they will rise again as Vampire Hunters someday.
Elizabeth Bathory and Gilles de Rais? That's pretty unexpected. The latter later made his way into the CV64 games. I wonder what role Elizabeth Bathory would have played in the plot? Wasn't she already supposed to be dead by then?
- As for the difficulty [in Akumajou Dracula x68000], there’s 99 stages spread across 6 loops. And if you come back to the game after several months and clear the first loop again, you might discover something interesting.
I've never heard of this. Does anyone know what the easter egg is?
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the bit about extra characters in symphony is interesting. it almost makes me believe they had some dialogue planned for Alucards encounter with Olrox. just right before the fight starts, you expect to see a dialogue box appear above their heads. i guess we'll never really know for sure
then there was the deleted 5th ending where Maria turns into a demon, & both her & richter are killed. granted it was america-only, but given this new info about light/dark alignments & alternative endings depending on which you prefer, it makes you wonder if this played a role in it but like with everything else got cut. very intruiging
about elizabeth bathory/bartley, i recall in the por preorder bonus timeline had an excerpt where it said "a secret to explain why a 16th century vampire appears in the 20th century is now being planned."
all these little tidbits & "what-ifs" that will never truly be answered
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about elizabeth bathory/bartley, i recall in the por preorder bonus timeline had an excerpt where it said "a secret to explain why a 16th century vampire appears in the 20th century is now being planned."
Never did think they had to explain this. Drolta revives her. Simple as that.
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Damn. IGA had the events of AoS and OoE planned that far out in ahead.
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What is he talking about here? You don't fight other vampire hunters in Bloodlines or Rondo. Also, Alucard is Dracula in Bloodlines? That's pretty bizarre.
Mistranslation.
Our first idea was to use the story and setting of Vampire Killer, and make the final Belmont vampire hunter your enemy. But… that idea got used for Dracula X: Rondo of Blood. Making the final Belmondo (Belmont) vampire hunter into an enemy in response to a setting (Morris family inherited vampire hunter from the Belmont family) of Vampire Killer (Castlevania: Bloodlines) is the idea used for Dracula X (Akumajō Dracula X: Gekka no Yasōkyoku).
Another idea I had, and this is also from Bloodlines, was that when Quincy Morris defeated Dracula, it was actually Alucard that he defeated. Although Quincy is supposed to have defeat Dracula, Alucard defeat Dracula in fact. I had even thought how this would work with the ending visuals.
I've never heard of this. Does anyone know what the easter egg is?
I corrected a little it.
As for the difficulty, there’s 99 stages spread across 6 loops. And if you come back to the game after several months and clear the first loop again, you might discover something interesting. If at least not only one loop but six loops will be carried out if possible, an interesting thing may break out.
NOTES: We know this.
http://revelation12.sakura.ne.jp/history/data/11_data/11_07.gif (http://revelation12.sakura.ne.jp/history/data/11_data/11_07.gif) Nosebleed
http://revelation12.sakura.ne.jp/history/data/11_data/11_08.gif (http://revelation12.sakura.ne.jp/history/data/11_data/11_08.gif) Fake Simon
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Thanks Koutei for the correction!!!!
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Haha, I love how all the essential story bits are hidden away in guidebooks somewhere, like it's forbidden knowledge. So Richter gave up the Vampire Killer because he felt ashamed of what happend to him? I never imagined it would be such a simple explanation, but I like it.
Sometimes the simplest explanations are the best. I never bought that the Belmont's bloodline was tainted, because Richter was still the VK's memory in POR.
I assumed at the time it was the fear that Dracula/ his minion could control a Belmont, and the VK; the power to hunt the night, accordingly. So the Belmonts went into hiding, giving the VK to the Morris family.
What is he talking about here? You don't fight other vampire hunters in Bloodlines or Rondo. Also, Alucard is Dracula in Bloodlines? That's pretty bizarre.
It wouldn't make Dracula in Bloodlines Alucard, it would make Dracula in Bram Stoker's Dracula, Alucard. He did say "when Quincey killed Dracula".
Edit: as above, Alucard kills Dracula in the Stoker novel, not Quincy. This could explain how Quincy lived on and had children.
Unless we still entertain that John Morris and Eric Lecarde witnessed the battle with Dracula and the death of Quincey.
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Really interesting stuff here, thanks for it!
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That's the reason I miss Iga the most, I loved his idea of storyline as a whole. Great interviews, thanks for sharing them.
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Thanks, Koutei. It makes a lot more sense now.
So, IGA planned for Alucard to be present during the Quincy Morris event? That would make sense to me. Pretty typical IGA would make Alucard the real protagonist and Quincy a side-character, I suppose.
Also, regarding the Belmonts giving up the whip thing, doesn't PoR unneccesarily complicate things by mentioning the Belmonts shouldn't touch the whip until 1999? That part still seems a bit vague to me.
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The only way to know some more info is Iga him self or some other hidden interviews.
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i think the simplest answer is, that since Nostradamus predicted Dracula will be at his strongest in 1999, the Belmonts decided that they should wait & bide their time so they too will produce an heir that will match & exceed draculas strength. maybe something like "this is when he'll be at his peak, and it is also when we can put an end to him forever." it was that rare astral alignment that gave them the clue to his ultimate defeat.
plus factor in richiter feeling shame for being manipulated/corrupted. perhaps they wanted to make sure that wont happen again for 1999. which is why eric said "the Belmonts cant touch the whip until 1999"
they know that despite being of holy lineage, their blood can still be corrupted. simon almost succumbed to the curse, soleiyu almost succumbed, and again with richiter. if it happened yet again in 1999 when the Great King of Terror was back, then bye bye human race
gotta feeling had that akumajo dracula ps360 game been released, we would have a concrete answer. it seemed to be a direct sequel to symphony
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i think the simplest answer is, that since Nostradamus predicted Dracula will be at his strongest in 1999, the Belmonts decided that they should wait & bide their time so they too will produce an heir that will match & exceed draculas strength. maybe something like "this is when he'll be at his peak, and it is also when we can put an end to him forever." it was that rare astral alignment that gave them the clue to his ultimate defeat.
plus factor in richiter feeling shame for being manipulated/corrupted. perhaps they wanted to make sure that wont happen again for 1999. which is why eric said "the Belmonts cant touch the whip until 1999"
This in a nutshell.
Richter was essentially Lord of Castlevania, without Alucard he still would be, which was too close for comfort. The Belmont clan was in a vulnerable state, and with Nostradamus' prediction they felt they had to do something drastic too destroy him for good.
The Belmonts go into training for 100 years with no VK, imagine just how strong Julius would have been with the VK. (not forgetting the Hakuba family's role in sealing the castle inside the eclipse.)
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—To begin, please tell us what role you played in the Castlevania: Symphony of the Night development.
Hagihara: I was producer for the first half of the game, and for the latter half I was both producer and programmer.
Igarashi: I acted as director (for the latter half), scenario writer, and programmer. “There is a glimmer of something suspicious about him.” 1
So this is finally the official confirmation of the Hagihara/Igarashi involvement on SOTN?
it was also super nice to know they had planned the battle of 1999 since 1997! and not only that but that simple intervew gave us the definitive answer about the whole Belmont/Morris thing. Great job of finding them!
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I'm really curious now. In PoR, Eric says: "The Belmonts cannot touch the whip now." I wonder how he says it in the Japanese version. Does he say "can't touch" (sawarenai) or "won't touch" (sawaranai), as in the Belmonts are able to touch the whip, but they won't. The latter makes more sense with what we know now.
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Koutei should know the answer to that since i dont have a japanese copy of POR
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I'm really curious now. In PoR, Eric says: "The Belmonts cannot touch the whip now." I wonder how he says it in the Japanese version. Does he say "can't touch" (sawarenai) or "won't touch" (sawaranai), as in the Belmonts are able to touch the whip, but they won't. The latter makes more sense with what we know now.
In Japanese version, Eric says: 今、ベルモンドは、そのムチに触れられない。 Now, Belmondo can’t touch the whip.
"can’t touch" (furerarenai).
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Too bad we can't be wont get a full director's cut of SOTN with all that story and dialogue intact. The closest thing we got was that Saturn port. Imagine if SOTN had more time and budget to flesh out all those other ideas, even though we all were spoiled by SOTN we still severely got short-changed!
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Too bad we can't be wont get a full director's cut of SOTN with all that story and dialogue intact. The closest thing we got was that Saturn port. Imagine if SOTN had more time and budget to flesh out all those other ideas, even though we all were spoiled by SOTN we still severely got short-changed!
SOTN, didn't have that much content cut, in comparison with Vagrant Story, where half of the game was cut out.
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The interview says some funny stuff happens while wearing axe armor in NitM/SotN. I haven't seen anything special yet. It's just kinda silly to be wearing it with the idle behavior while Alucard meets Death or Maria. Anyone know of anything else happening anywhere?
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nagumo, do you know where to find the missing article? link is dead :(
http://gosokkyu.com/post/79456686343/akumajou-dracula-x-chi-no-rondo-interview-lead (http://gosokkyu.com/post/79456686343/akumajou-dracula-x-chi-no-rondo-interview-lead)
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So, IGA planned for Alucard to be present during the Quincy Morris event? That would make sense to me. Pretty typical IGA would make Alucard the real protagonist and Quincy a side-character, I suppose.
Yeah I don't approve of that idea either. In that light I'm glad the game didn't get made. I personally don't like the idea of an already existing story getting re-written into a game and having a side-character (Alucard) turn one of the main protagonists (one being Quincy Morris) into a side-character so that aforementioned side-character can become the main protagonist. SotN was fine as it was an original story. But if that canceled Alucard game was supposed to be the rewritten Bram Stoker's Dracula story, then no.
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nagumo, do you know where to find the missing article? link is dead :(
http://gosokkyu.com/post/79456686343/akumajou-dracula-x-chi-no-rondo-interview-lead (http://gosokkyu.com/post/79456686343/akumajou-dracula-x-chi-no-rondo-interview-lead)
Here you go:
https://gosokkyu.tumblr.com/post/79456686343/akumajou-dracula-x-chi-no-rondo-interview-lead
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thanks a bunch
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You’re welcome :)