Topic: Is the girl in the pink dress in Rondo of Blood really Laura?

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

It's what they used in DXC.
It actually says "Rondo of Blood" so it's, I guess, retroactively confirmed by IGA team & co.

[Abnormal Freak]

Yeah, DXC and the Virtual Console release. I just wonder how the Reincarnation of Blood title came about, if that's not exactly what the original Japanese title is getting at. I dunno. "Rondo" of Blood. Do the words used actually translate to that precisely, or could "Circle" be used, too? Or is there a Japanifying of an English word going on in the title (a la "Dracula" in the series' title)?

[Inccubus]

I think the use of reincarnation here stems from a misunderstanding of the term 'rondo' as a musical one.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

This happens a few times.

I've seen "Chi" used as both Blood and as Soul, as well!
I've seen Alucard say "The scent of your blood.. you're a Belmont!" and in HoD, Death says "The color of your soul..." instead.
"Reincarnation" comes from "Circle" which is another way of saying "Rondo".  A 'circle' in JPN, I've read, has some ties to reincarnation, but I'm not sure on this one.

[Abnormal Freak]

I think the use of reincarnation here stems from a misunderstanding of the term 'rondo' as a musical one.

ohsheeeeeeeeet D:
I never even knew "rondo" was a musical term. I assume the title Rondo of Blood has more to do with Belmont family ties, though—divine bloodlines, holy Dracula butt-kickers. But, with the series' use of musical terms from Nocturne in the Moonlight up, it could also be looked at as a musical title, a double meaning.

But, looking at online dictionaries right now, I see no entries for "rondo" being a word for "circle." Is this a foreign-language word? I've always known the word to mean circle, so...hmm.

But hey, maybe we're all wrong and the game's title really translates "Soul's Grape".

[Koutei]

http://www.castlevaniadungeon.net/features/gamename.html
This is a very interesting title - the kanji has been translated as "reincarnation" on the official strategy guide - however, the furigana (pronunciation guide) says to pronounce it "rondo". "Rondo" can mean "circle", another reason why the title is sometimes called "Circle of Blood". Indeed, a reincarnation is part of cycle (birth, death, rebirth, etc). However, merely translating it as "Circle" loses the musical connotation.

The rondo form involves the use of a recurrent theme between a series of varied episodes, often used for the rapid final movement of a classical concerto or symphony.


http://castlevania.wikia.com/wiki/Castlevania:_Rondo_of_Blood
Note: "輪廻" is literally pronounced "rinne". The word is the Japanese term for samsara, the Buddhist cycle of death and rebirth. For this particular game however, "Rondo" is the official pronunciation of the kanji in the game title.

[Abnormal Freak]

That leaves me more confused, ha ha. How can the furigana say to pronounce the kanji in a different way? How does that even work? Is it sort of like a wordplay or something? Might help if I knew just how exactly "rinne" is supposed to be pronounced, because that string of letters doesn't really tell me. "Rih-neh"?

Still, nice to know about the Buddhist reincarnation thing. Both that and the musical meaning of the word give me a deeper appreciation for the title; all this time I've felt it was kind of a silly albeit cool-sounding name, ha ha.

[Koutei]

It is often in Japanese.
For instance, "Akumajou Dracula: Shikkoku Taru Zensoukyoku" is "Akumajou Dracula: Dark Night Prelude".

http://www.castlevaniadungeon.net/Images/Scans/CVL/b-cvl-j.jpg

[Abnormal Freak]

Roughly, what would "Shikkoku Taru Zensoukyoku" translate to without the pronunciation key?

So, even though the subtitle is Japanese, the pronunciation key says it should be said "Dark Night Prelude" in English? Fascinating. o.o Makes me wonder, though, how someone not-in-the-know would know to pronounce it that way if he or she were to see the title in text without the pronunciation key (that is, written 悪魔城ドラキュラ漆黒たる前奏曲 without ダークナイト プレリュード written above/below or alongside it), unlike with the logo where it's right there under the kanji.

My Castlevania geek knowledge, I feel it increasing.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

Love the foreign intricacies of this.  Great thread, guys!

[Inccubus]

If you guys like this stuff you should look into the character names in Final Fantasy Tactics.
There's a hand full of given names it seems the localizers for both versions of the game just didn't get the regional implications of.

[Reinhart77]

one of my theories is that Carmilla possesses her servant Laura's body in Circle of the Moon and Judgment.  in all other games, Carmilla is a spirit.  

edit:  oh, and after reading what "X" said above, you could also say that Carmilla possess Laura after her spirit form is defeated, which is why laura gets so much more aggressive.  and it'd explain why Carmilla fights so much like Laura does in Judgment.

[Inccubus]

OR... Laura is simply a vampire and likely learned how to fight from Carmilla. There's no precedent for vampire possession of other vampires in the series and it seems like it would be one of those little details they'd mention in the Japanese manuals if it were true.

[Abnormal Freak]

I just assumed Carmilla converted Laura to vampiric lesbianism. o .o

[Abnormal Freak]

Reviving this topic because it's badass and stuff I actually like reading and discussing on this board.

Roughly, what would "Shikkoku Taru Zensoukyoku" translate to without the pronunciation key?

Never got a response to this. D': I assume it's roughly the same as "Dark Night Prelude," but the furigana says to pronounce it in English. This still boggles my mind and is super cool.

Same with the Rondo of Blood title. Rinne, Buddhist death and rebirth cycle, Reincarnation of Blood an official guide subtitle, more furigana goodness showing to say it "Rondo"... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM, head explod!