Castlevania Dungeon Forums
The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: theANdROId on November 25, 2013, 10:23:41 PM
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Has anyone ever wondered that? Does anyone know if there was a reason the developers went with a whip? I mean, the whip certainly doesn't seem to be a popular weapon. It seems like it's always guns and swords, with a fair smattering of magic or staves or bow and arrows. Don't get me wrong, I love it! I just wonder sometimes. :)
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it could be somethign as simple as the original creator's (who is a mystery) favorite movie being Indiana Jones. Or that the time it takes after hitting the button and Simon reeling back & swinging adds a unique level of strategy to the game they were making that a sword or other weapon can't provide
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I remember reading somewhere that a sword was too hard for them to animate, so the idea of a whip eventually came from that.
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Why a whip?
Why not. ;)
The whip is an awesome weapon that helped make Castlevania the unique series that it is today. To me it just feels right to use a whip whenever playing Castlevania. Sure I've used other weapons when playing the IGA games, but the whip itself is special to me. And It is an iconic weapon of choice for the series.
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Well, I'm honestly not certain as to why Konami choose to use the whip as the main herald weapon of the famous Belmont Clan. But to my own speculation, that the whip itself (Vampire Killer) in lore is the Bane of the Night and the only weapon that can even harm Dracula. I believe that the whip is a form of symbolism of the whipping of Jesus Christ before he was nailed to the cross. Other then that, I really don't know.
Perhaps Konami saw that swords and or guns was basically a mundane thing and decided to go with the whip because it was something fresh and new at the time.
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I've wondered this question myself, there are a lot of places it could have come from and maybe it grew out of more than one source of inspiration. At first I thought Indiana Jones was probably the inspiration. But these days, while I don't dismiss Indie, I think it's more likely inspired by the female protagonist in the first Vampire Hunter D novel and film (which came out in 1985) she wielded a whip passed down to her from her father who had been a werewolf hunter. This taken together with some other things that really seem to be inspired by the first VHD movie makes a convincing argument to me.
Though wherever it came from the whip was a stroke of genius. Not only the delay but the length which varies with upgrades added extra layers of strategy to the game, something which would have* looked silly with a sword.
*And does with the Metroidvanias, though less so because obviously the graphics are above 8bit.
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Daddy issues
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I remember reading somewhere that a sword was too hard for them to animate, so the idea of a whip eventually came from that.
I know absolutely nothing about animation, but that sounds really... backwards. A whip would arguably be harder to animate in a realistic way than a sword, at least back in those days. I guess it all depends on how the character swings the sword/whip though. Castlevania made it look really good without complicating things. Anyway, it would've be really easy to just give Simon a sword and animate it like in the first Zelda, which had little to no animation at all. It was just kinda... poking stuff.
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YOU'RE TELLING ME NOBODY HAS POSTED THE ROBOT CHICKEN PARODY YET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOZ1TdS72d4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOZ1TdS72d4)
But in seriousness, and Ratty beat me to it (*shakes fist*), I think one of the best theories is the Vampire Hunter D inspiration. Doris Lang could kick some serious ass with that whip. I mean, the technical issues of the time are undoubtedly a factor, but surely the inspiration played a large(r) role. Given the wow factor of Vampire Hunter D at the time (because that novella could hold its own even today), and the extremely close similarities and time windows of both it and Castlevania's debut, it's not a far cry to guess Doris' weapon of choice had a hand in it.
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Maybe the original creator took a trip to the west and heard the phrase "imma. Whip the shit outta this mofo" and thought, why not?
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Robot Chicken Parody = hilarious! X-D
Whatever their reason behind picking a whip over anything else, it's definitely my favorite pick.
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Since the first CV game had some damn good inspiration, I'm going with Vampire Hunter D where the Hunter was equipped with a whip, that and All the stages were from Lupin III's Movie
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I know absolutely nothing about animation, but that sounds really... backwards. A whip would arguably be harder to animate in a realistic way than a sword, at least back in those days. I guess it all depends on how the character swings the sword/whip though. Castlevania made it look really good without complicating things. Anyway, it would've be really easy to just give Simon a sword and animate it like in the first Zelda, which had little to no animation at all. It was just kinda... poking stuff.
If animating a whip is hard, then Konami just showcased that they are awesome enough to prove the naysayers wrong.
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They are, indeed, awesome! Now...if only they'd up the ante and chunk out a few more (knock your socks off style...or knock-your-whole-dang-outfit-off for that matter) Castlevania games in rapid succession!
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I brought this topic up a few years ago and most of the people on this forum were not to kind. I'm glad to see that we are being civil and actually discussing it this time.
On topic, I agree with Vampire Hunter D theory (I love the book series btw). Let's also not forget that Alucard is also based on D.
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I brought this topic up a few years ago and most of the people on this forum were not to kind.
what did i do to you¿ :-X
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what did i do to you¿ :-X
I don't remember anyone specific, but i do remember a few people saying the topic was stupid and that whips were better period. That is all. I was just noting a difference between now and when I had brought of the topic. And, let's just leave it at that. The past is the past and let's just look forward.
The question still stands: why a whip? and yes, swords are overdone. I still like using them, but they are still overdone.
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Whip is so unconventional, compared to swords or guns, that's why
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Whip is so unconventional, compared to swords or guns, that's why
I think that's one of the main reasons I like it so much. I'm sure there is some nostalgia for me...I remember loving the game but not being able to do the bosses, so I always had to have dad do that. However, I remember kinda "rediscovering" Castlevania games with the two on the N64. Seeing Reinhardt use the whip, and remembering the original Castlevania...well, I fell in love with the whip and it's unconventionality! Nobody used whips then! But the Belmonts did...because that's how they rolled.
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If you think about it the original CV is kinda a goofy game. Using a whip to fight monsters is kinda a goofy idea. So, maybe the two go hand in hand?
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Wait...other than possibly the idea of fighting monsters with a whip, I'm curious what you think is kinda goofy about the original CV?
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It's mostly the classic monsters you fight that I think are goofy. Not to mention eagles dropping flea men, infinite Medusa heads, finding meat in walls, the credits at the end are goofy too(yes I get the references). It's not goofy in a bad way but to me it's goofy nonetheless.
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I forgot about the credits!! X-D
I like the classic monsters, particularly since so many have ties into mythology, which I've always loved. But eagles dropping flea men and wall meat are definitely odd and goofy things! Besides, it's not like things didn't stay (or become more) goofy...Yorick, for example. ;-)
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"Indiana Jones" was popular at the time ( given the high birth rates, and Christian era love ), as well as, Bondage, Discipline, Dominance, Submission, Sadism, Masochism, and Goth, was also the norm. The problem with todays society in some cases, these things work out well.
"We gotta whip the devil out of you Jim"
"Tamed horses"
"That is some good, paddling"
Speaking of which, whipping, was and is still the most popular usage, of punishment in many nations around the world. From policing in first world nations, to correcting small children in third world nations. I can still remember those days, when we wanted to go for the sword, or the long-rang weapon, but then I remembered god, and Dracula ( the devil ) flew away, from my body in that instant.
Also a really, really, really, really, heavy whip, that is strong enough, can cut through, meat, and break bones, based on the persons own strength. It can be a really deadly weapon. in CV the whip is also blessed, and the user is considered a saint, in the matter. Yeah we gotta whip the devils out of mother earth.
Also think about it. CV logic takes place ( gets its mojojo from ) in the dark ages, the black plague, the little ice age, and so forth. What was it like back then in the post Roman empire being ruled by Bishops, Priests, and the Roman Catholic Church itself. Till this day, the Pope had said "Europe is rampid, with a veil of Sin" ( something like that ). Chances are they used whips, alot.