Topic: Castlevania references

[Reinhart77]

if i ever get too impatient waiting for another metroidvania to come out, i might try to get a hold of one of the Game Boy Advanced Shaman King games.  It seems like a modern Castlevania game made by Konami without the Castlevania branding.  Not sure if there's any direct references, but some generic enemies like skeleton archers do remind of Castlevania enemies.  I wonder if anybody who had worked on Circle of the Moon might have been involved with these games.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

Feels like "Metroidvania Lite", as the only thing the enemies ever drop are experience gems.
Experience gems let you upgrade your magic and your weapons.  You get a flame sword, an ice spear, and some other stuff.

It feels, at times, more like a classicvania, because, while there is a map, it's more or less linear.  There is some puzzleplatform stuff, as your ice spear being used to create platforms on ledges, etc.
It needed more variety in what enemies drop.

[TheouAegis]

I forgot all about that game! I d/led the ROM and played it for a day or two. I actually liked it, but then I left it for other things and never went back to it...

[Nycterida]

I don't know if these count, but these are two original songs that directly reference Castlevania in their lyrics (original compositions made by pro bands, not fan-made remixes/arrangements by game-tribute bands like Megadriver). There might be more.
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Vampire Killer by heavy/power band Battleroar from their Age of Chaos CD (2005)
band info: http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Battleroar/5121

The face of a vampire
That grins in the black
It waits,
In the castle cold
The wings of a demon
That glides in the air
He looks out for blood, so beware

Run, run for your life
Flee from the black pits of hell
Fight, fires alight
Warlocks are casting deadly spells
Strange is the land where spirits dwell

Race against the sands of time
He's got you in his coil
The leather wings and talon's rage
Unfolding to destroy
No mercy for the victim
Who treads upon the blade
And falls apart

Sorcerers and witches
Fear the cracking of your whip
Revenants and skeletons
You'll show them all your tricks
Your weapons are a legend
The chain of holy steel
And sacred shield

Hear the voice from the past
You will find out at last
There's a quest that is waiting for you and your soul

A swirl of the chain, the darkness, the rain
The fury, the pain and your power that soars

Vampire Killer

The scream of a virgin
That bleeds in the dark
Resounds
In the dungeons cold

The laugh of a demon
That glides in the air
His life is your blood, so beware

Force, moonlight's the source
Fueling the strength of your foes
Strike, strongest in might
Free now the village from this curse
Hunting the undead overlord

Centuries have passed by
And still the evil reigns
Stealing blood from cursed nights
We all know who's to blame
The hunger of the vampire
The mesmerizing eyes
And killing bite

Sneaking as a night-thief
Through the ancient corridors
Your flying whip, a charming snake
It's ready for some more
The vengeance of the hunter
A fighter who was trained
To lift the curse

Hear the voice from the past
You will find out at last
There's a quest that is waiting for you and your soul

A swirl of the chain, the darkness, the rain
The fury, the pain and your power that soars

Vampire Killer

------------

Symphony of the Night by American heavy/speed band Skelator from the Death to All Nations CD (2010)
band info: http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Skelator/5092


Screams break the silence
Dreams turn to nightmares
Flee from the forest

Oh, the battles begun and the dawn will not come
What a terrible night for a curse
The undead are walking the earth
Through the black of the night all his children take flight
Spreading the pain of rebirth

Pain now consumes me
Hatred's inside me
Fate has destroyed me

I must save my land from the hand of the damned
And vanquish this horrible curse
The undead have conquered the earth
Through the black of the night all his children take flight
Spreading the pain of rebirth

His form is completed, he cannot be beaten
By even the mightiest of warriors
The bodies are mounting, the darkness corrupting
The king of the night has returned

Now the battle's been won and Simon lives on
Liberating his land from the curse
The undead are banished from earth
Now the sun will arise and light up the sky
The morning had vanquished the night

(lyrics in bold almost directly reference some text from Simon's Quest!)

[Omegasigma]

interesting, never heard of it being referenced in song before

[KaZudra]

Malice Mizer "Gekka No Yasoukyaku" (PV)

Malice Mizer pretty much is Castlevania music (aside from Mana being an open castlevania fan who actually made a song for the franchise, but sadly was unused)

[Omegasigma]

Rondo X vah helsing compare: I couldnt help but notice even the posing in these shots, and hair are nearly 100% the same

[Omegasigma]

Castlevania Cameo Ganbare Goemon 2 Extra Boss - Dracula

[Nycterida]

interesting, never heard of it being referenced in song before

Speaking of Japanese popular music, you might know the Japanese metal band Versailles (they sound in places a bit like Nightwish and symphonic European power, with Japanese lyrics). To my knowledge they don't directly reference Castlevania, but just take a look at their stage image, some of their subject matter, and especially this embedded video, "Aristocrats Symphony" (the song is about vampires)

band info: http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Versailles/97986

Versailles - Aristocrats Symphony PV

There's certainly a Symphony of the Night (and Ayami Kojima-illustrated CV) influence there

[Omegasigma]

wasnt the palace of Versailles  a stage in bloodlines?

[JR]

I just found a Symphony of the Night reference in the new Black Dahlia Murder album ("Let us go out this evening for pleasure, for the night is still young"). It's in the song, "A Shrine to Madness," and it's the first line, although the rest of the song is about Halloween. That's not the first time they've referenced Castlevania, either.

Also, as far as CV-inspired games go, I really want to get around to finding and playing Rusty for the PC-9800 one of these days. Looks pretty fun, and the final boss form looked pretty awesome (with some pretty cool music, too).

[Omegasigma]

rusty can be downloaded on the dungeon main site, ona  side note, if rusty could be hacked, main char could have been sonia, and all it would need is drac as the final boss >.>

Rusty - Stage 1 Town - No damage

Rusty (Castlevania Clone) Level 8 Clock Tower (No Death)

Rusty (Castlevania Clone) - Boss 8 - No Damage

[JR]

rusty can be downloaded on the dungeon main site, ona  side note, if rusty could be hacked, main char could have been sonia, and all it would need is drac as the final boss >.>

Well damn. I feel like an idiot now, it's been in front of my face the whole time and I never knew.  Thanks for the info.

[TheouAegis]

I don't really see a Castlevania reference/allusion in Versailles. I see a goth loli/Roccoco influence, whic is very popular in Japan and is likely what influenced Ayami Kojima. I'm so used to seeing frilly lace on Jap girls (although the guys is less common), that nothing in that video strikes me as too creative.

[Omegasigma]

I dont know if this counts, being a fangame and all:

Super Mario XP: Levels 1 & 2