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The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: Amanita on June 14, 2008, 11:07:56 PM

Title: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: Amanita on June 14, 2008, 11:07:56 PM
What always confused me about all the Castlevania games, and this is a bit dumb, was why the characters never implied that they were in fact in a place called, "Castlevania." It's a bit bizarre but it's always been that little question in the back of my mind every tiem I complete one of the games. Has anybody played any of them that maybe said this?
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: fallenangel86 on June 14, 2008, 11:23:51 PM
i think symphony of the night's narration makes mention of it. i know it actually has been brought up in-game somewhere.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: Mr Sven on June 14, 2008, 11:28:28 PM
No - it's always referred to as "Draculas Castle" or something similar if it's CoTM or DoS etc.

"Vania" is a foreign word for woods or forest so castlevania could be taken to mean castle in the woods or castle beyond the woods.

there's always an awful lot of forest in the background when you see the castle crumble when you're on that cliff havent you noticed?
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: CVfan13 on June 14, 2008, 11:59:49 PM
In Reply To #2

Yeah it does. "Castlevania. It beckons for you." or something like that.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: erimocard on June 15, 2008, 12:18:33 AM
In Reply To #3

So what does "Transylvania" mean?
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: A n t r a x x on June 15, 2008, 01:55:02 AM
In Reply To #3

So what does "Transylvania" mean?

Gay forest.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: Aridale on June 15, 2008, 02:46:26 AM
In Reply To #5

A forest with both mommy and daddy parts at the same time.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: PFG9000 on June 15, 2008, 02:50:14 AM
"Vania" is a foreign word for woods or forest so castlevania could be taken to mean castle in the woods or castle beyond the woods.

there's always an awful lot of forest in the background when you see the castle crumble when you're on that cliff havent you noticed?

I believe you're thinking of the etymology of Transylvania.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: erimocard on June 15, 2008, 08:58:06 AM
In Reply To #6 and #7

I first wanted to make this joke too. Then I figured it was too lame. :/
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: A n t r a x x on June 15, 2008, 09:07:31 AM
In Reply To #9

Ur wrong.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: Gimph on June 15, 2008, 09:37:48 AM

"Vania" is a foreign word for woods or forest so castlevania could be taken to mean castle in the woods or castle beyond the woods.

there's always an awful lot of forest in the background when you see the castle crumble when you're on that cliff havent you noticed?

Well, with the exception of Aria of Sorrow when you discover that Dracula's "True" castle is inside of a solar eclipse.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: erimocard on June 15, 2008, 10:44:02 AM
In Reply To #11

It's only there because Julius and his people sealed it within the solar eclipse in the battle of 1999.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: CVfan13 on June 15, 2008, 01:31:50 PM
Vania must mean woods, no better yet, Sylvania must mean woods. Pennslyvania translates directly to "Penn's Woods", because it was a wooded territory owned by William Penn. I'm guessing Translyvania does have something to do with "Across the Woods", or something along the lines of that.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: Danial on June 15, 2008, 03:08:37 PM
Since Castlevania is the name of the castle, Dracula was probably the one who named it (unless it appeared with a name already, which is another discussion maybe).  Since Dracula wasn't too big on guests, and I doubt he applied for a builders permit, then only a few people would even know the name of the castle.

Another theory would be that Castlevania is just the title that villagers give to a mysterious and evil castle that appears in the woods overnight.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: PFG9000 on June 15, 2008, 03:18:44 PM
Vania must mean woods, no better yet, Sylvania must mean woods. Pennslyvania translates directly to "Penn's Woods", because it was a wooded territory owned by William Penn. I'm guessing Translyvania does have something to do with "Across the Woods", or something along the lines of that.
Refer to #8.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: CVfan13 on June 15, 2008, 03:31:48 PM
In Reply To #15

I did. I was only supporting your explanation.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: warfreak on June 15, 2008, 04:27:51 PM
I think they only started calling the series Castlevania in the first place because they thought it would be more appealing to Western players as opposed to "Castle Dracula". >.< I might have read that some place or other, but I don't remember.

Still, Castlevania is both the castle and the series. It's perfect. Don't question it.  :P Kidding.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: fallenangel86 on June 15, 2008, 05:11:32 PM
in japan it was something like "demon castle dracula." that wouldn't float in the u.s. in the 80's, so "castlevania" it was.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: CVfan13 on June 15, 2008, 05:17:22 PM
Yes, it's called "Akumajo Dracula", which tranlates to "Demon Castle Dracula", but basically to Americans it really just means a "Haunted Castle" and this one happens to be owned by Dracula. Since Dracula usually refers to Transylvania, I guess they just combined Castle and Transylvania to get "Castlevania"
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: A n t r a x x on June 15, 2008, 09:32:57 PM
Yes it was all part of American marketing. "Castlevania" mixed "castle" and "Transylvania", which referenced horror films and comics of old; which is exactly what the first CV excelled at especially compared to other series.

Also mixing "Castle," because the castle is the main focal point, and "Transylvania," because that town is heavily related to Count Dracula and the setting for scary stories in general.

There really isn't much more to it I think. Konami of America was the one to decide on "Castlevania", and it's stuck since, because it sounds damn cool and unique.

Where the sotry's concerened, I like the idea that the name is given by the nervous onlookers from the village. It fits.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: DoctaMario on June 16, 2008, 12:49:36 AM
Gay forest.

ANTRAXX. Because of you, there's now tea coming out my nose. Thank you.  ;)
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: CVfan13 on June 16, 2008, 10:31:39 PM
In Reply To #21

I hate it when that happens. It's whay I'm always sure to keep away drinks when reading his posts. His, and Mobius'.
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: A n t r a x x on June 19, 2008, 10:05:02 PM
You shouldn't be drinking around expensive equipment anyways.

I'm just doing my duty to underline this fact.  ;D

*Opens up a soda over keyboard
Title: Re: The Weird Thing About Castlevania I Never Understood
Post by: CVfan13 on June 19, 2008, 11:01:01 PM
In Reply To #23

Oh, but I always do anyway.  :P