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The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: Zacmac90 on June 03, 2011, 04:11:35 PM

Title: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: Zacmac90 on June 03, 2011, 04:11:35 PM
In Sotn, the castle has a church like area called the royal chapel, isn't this kind of ironic since Dracula is evil and a church is supposed to be holy...I kinda doubt too many of Dracula's servants attend church
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: Kamirine on June 03, 2011, 04:12:26 PM
I always found it to be Dracula's way of mocking God.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: Alutwon on June 03, 2011, 04:27:04 PM
I always found it to be Dracula's way of mocking God.

What he said. It goes way beyond being just another part of the castle.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: Odile Kuronuma on June 03, 2011, 04:30:24 PM
Or it could be an unholy version of a church. I think it's more obvious in the Inverted version(with all of the inverted crosses).
Let's not forget that according to the legend (and to LoI), Dracula used to defend the Church against Muslim Turks. He was very religious, hence why he was so pissed when Elizabeth died. Once he renounced his faith and became a vampire, he prolly must have wanted to fuel his hatred towards God by having a chapel build inside his castle
Another theory would be that he must have build it for Lisa. I don't think Dracula would have forced her to renounce her faith, so he build such a place so she can pray, without having to go all the way to the village.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: beingthehero on June 03, 2011, 04:37:08 PM
I think the technical reason for it being introduced was because of Castlevania for the X68000. It kind of clarified that CV1's stage 2 was supposed to be a chapel (given how there were only stained glass windows in the boss room). SotN reintroduced some elements from that title including a chapel-themed level, and it's sort of become a traditional stage ever since.

But storyline wise, yeah, I guess it's more or less a way to stick it to God. Still, SotN's chapel was pretty...holy, at least once you take out the monsters. In the other games, not so much.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: Kamirine on June 03, 2011, 04:44:47 PM
Another theory would be that he must have build it for Lisa. I don't think Dracula would have forced her to renounce her faith, so he build such a place so she can pray, without having to go all the way to the village.

This isn't a bad theory, but has it ever been said that Lisa was remotely religious at all? I'll be honest, I may have missed that but I don't remember it ever being mentioned that she was religious or that it was a huge factor for her. I'll be honest, I think it's more likely that it was done as a way to mock God, for reasons you've already mentioned, considering the deep hatred Dracula seems to hold for things that piss him off. (And take his beloved wives away from him.)

Quote from: beingthehero
I think the technical reason for it being introduced was because of Castlevania for the X68000. It kind of clarified that CV1's stage 2 was supposed to be a chapel (given how there were only stained glass windows in the boss room). SotN reintroduced some elements from that title including a chapel-themed level, and it's sort of become a traditional stage ever since.

Agreed. I could definitely see this being the case on a technical stand point.

Quote
But storyline wise, yeah, I guess it's more or less a way to stick it to God. Still, SotN's chapel was pretty...holy, at least once you take out the monsters. In the other games, not so much.

I will admit, the chapel in SOTN was pretty darn holy looking. There was even the guy Alucard could sit with that he could confess to, which I thought was an interesting touch.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: Kale on June 03, 2011, 04:58:11 PM
Odile Kuronuma, love your sig pic.

Anyhow, he was a religious person before becoming dracula... even if you take out the Mathias cannon, it's not something that's farfetched, as back then lots of people were "religious." So his castle had it and he never took it out.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: Pemburu Vampir on June 03, 2011, 05:36:45 PM
I just love the track that plays in the Royal Chapel.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: Odile Kuronuma on June 03, 2011, 07:15:25 PM
This isn't a bad theory, but has it ever been said that Lisa was remotely religious at all? I'll be honest, I may have missed that but I don't remember it ever being mentioned that she was religious or that it was a huge factor for her. I'll be honest, I think it's more likely that it was done as a way to mock God, for reasons you've already mentioned, considering the deep hatred Dracula seems to hold for things that piss him off. (And take his beloved wives away from him.)

Agreed. I could definitely see this being the case on a technical stand point.
 
I will admit, the chapel in SOTN was pretty darn holy looking. There was even the guy Alucard could sit with that he could confess to, which I thought was an interesting touch.

It wasn't mentioned but it could be possible. It's just a theory. And you said it yourself, even Alucard, who's half vampire, could go in and  confess. So why not Lisa,  who is human? Besides both of Alucard and Lisa don't share Dracula's  ideas about humanity. So i guess it applies to religion too , at least in Lisa's case. She might not be a very religious person. She could  pray out of habit i guess.

Odile Kuronuma, love your sig pic.
I love it too. It's pretty funny  :D.


Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: PFG9000 on June 04, 2011, 12:07:20 AM
I suppose I assumed that the castle wasn't Dracula's at first; that he just took it over, and it had a chapel in it at the time. Chaos would have to have been introduced to the castle at a later date of course.  I think I got this impression from the write-up on the chapel stage on the Dungeon's RoB Stages page:

http://castlevaniadungeon.net/Games/rondostages.html (http://castlevaniadungeon.net/Games/rondostages.html)
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: Vampire Killer on June 04, 2011, 03:37:34 PM
I think of it in two ways.


1) When the Castle was made into what it is (creature of chaos, ect...), there resided within the castle compounds a church. And while the Castle can change shape so to speak, I see it as being limited to building variations of what resided within the castle compounds itself.

2) God's way of adding balance to the Castle's power. Perhaps the presence of a church within the Castle keeps it's power somewhat in check.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: cecil-kain on June 04, 2011, 04:32:49 PM
Speaking of the SotN confessional --there is a similar moment in Akumajo X68000 aka Castlevania Chronicles....

In the final stage, you can break a wall to find a tiny chapel hidden away with a crucifix and an alter --if Simon kneels down in prayer --a 1up will appear.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: darkwzrd4 on June 04, 2011, 07:27:47 PM
Perhaps it's there simply for the architecture.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: K.G. Morder on June 05, 2011, 12:01:28 AM
I always thought it was this subconscious way of repenting. Like deep down he seeks for forgiveness, but is bound by his powers to eternally fight when he is called by the powers of chaos. I mean, it explains why he is good to go after Symphony even though by his defeat you would think he made peace with Lisa and understood her final wish. And is all like, "Farewell my son!"

He also quotes the bible. He WAS a crusader after all. Thats kind of how I saw it. He is bound by the power of chaos to rise when the evil of men call him back, but deep down inside, somewhere inside him, he longs for God's forgiveness.

And his reincarnation as Soma is his second chance.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: jestercolony on June 06, 2011, 01:27:44 PM
Well, this may not add anything - but something I do wish to bring up with this post. The Royal Chapel is probably homage to the Bram Stalker's novel - because you will need to remember is that directly below the great castle (within the novel) that Dracula's tomb was inside a forgotten holy church and that the castle had been built over it.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: Odile Kuronuma on June 07, 2011, 07:16:49 PM
Well, this may not add anything - but something I do wish to bring up with this post. The Royal Chapel is probably homage to the Bram Stoker's novel - because you will need to remember is that directly below the great castle (within the novel) that Dracula's tomb was inside a forgotten holy church and that the castle had been built over it.
Fixed


stalker lol.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: The Shanoa on June 08, 2011, 01:27:05 AM

Well, most oldern castles back in (especially) the 14th-16th century were designed with integrated chapels. Given that Dracula's castle in Castlevania has many of the same areas, (clock towers, chapels, and the familiar red stairway to a poorly structured tower) these are some factors to think upon.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: Arma on June 08, 2011, 06:06:45 AM
Perhaps it's a remnant of his human days, I wonder if the castle is the same he lived as a human. That would mean when Dracula was turned his home became some sort of demonic building as well, did they ever explained that? because I haven't play all the games yet and I don't know anything about the castle beyond what Alucard says about it in SotN, which is not that much to begin with.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: K.G. Morder on June 08, 2011, 08:09:22 AM
Perhaps it's a remnant of his human days, I wonder if the castle is the same he lived as a human. That would mean when Dracula was turned his home became some sort of demonic building as well, did they ever explained that? because I haven't play all the games yet and I don't know anything about the castle beyond what Alucard says about it in SotN, which is not that much to begin with.

He didnt live in a castle when he was human, he was just a Crusader. a noble sure, but he would t have a huge CASTLE.

not to mention it wouldnt be in romania
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: jestercolony on June 08, 2011, 02:25:10 PM
No no... If you read carefully, Jonathan goes down a long passage of stairs underground after he climbed the wall to Vlad's room. Upon his path he came to the remains of what appears to be a church of sorts. It wasn't explained if the castle was built over that because apparently this is also the area where they are digging his dirt up to transfer over england ;p I can pull up the page/chapter if you'd like. :)
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: Arma on June 08, 2011, 02:42:31 PM
He didnt live in a castle when he was human, he was just a Crusader. a noble sure, but he would t have a huge CASTLE.

not to mention it wouldnt be in romania

Perhaps it's a remnant of his human days, I wonder if the castle is the same he lived as a human. That would mean when Dracula was turned his home became some sort of demonic building as well, did they ever explained that? because I haven't play all the games yet and I don't know anything about the castle beyond what Alucard says about it in SotN, which is not that much to begin with.
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: The Shanoa on June 08, 2011, 05:10:03 PM

The same could be asked about why Castlevania has a shop...with shopkeeps that tend to have unlimited money. Castlevania 64 and Renon is passable, but why would a retired soldier (Hammer) with so many funds wander around a dangerous castle only to sell weapons to one person? The same could be said about Julia (CoD) and the funny little arabic shopkeep in Harmony. Why would the arabic shopkeep open up a shop in a deserted castle for just one adventurer? How would he know Juste was coming?

As for the chapel concept, I still think because many castles back in the mid 1500s castles were erected with chapels in them, this is possibly why. I also agree with the poster who commented about Dracula taking over a castle, perhaps claiming it as his own. Some of the repeated areas indicate that the same castle reappears every 100 years like Dracula does. ?
Title: Re: Why does Castlevania have a royal chapel
Post by: K.G. Morder on June 08, 2011, 07:18:09 PM
Hammer was an Army man sent to investigate the castle. He got in over his head and realized he couldnt do shit, so he quit the army and decided to sell Soma crap he possibly found in the castle. (why else would he have castle maps?)