Topic: Something to make you think.

[Grim_Creeper]

If a Castlevania game made no mention of Dracula, at all...

..and by at all I mean in the following...

...NO mention of him AT ALL in dialog
...NO plot elements revolving around him AT ALL
...NO characters who go on to become Dracula
...NO characters who were at one time known as Dracula
...and etc...

...Is it still Castlevania? I'm talking about a complete exclusion of the Dracula character in any guise at any time period. I'm talking there aren't even pictures of him on a wall somewhere secret-ish that a hardcore player can find.

Note that this is an opinion question, there is no right or wrong answer.

[Inccubus]

I don't think something like that could be considered more than a gaiden at best, and joke at worst.
Like I could see a Castlevania Gaiden set before CV64 that dealt only with Cornell and his rival.

[Chernabogue]

Dracula is a central piece of Castlevania, it would be sad not to have anything about him in one game.

(click to show/hide)

Even LoS has his own version of Dracula!

[X]

If Castlevania, when it first came out, did not have Dracula, I still think it would be called Castlevania. But it wouldn't be called Akumajou Dracula because Dracula was never in the series. They would probable have some other famous vampire in the setting or another type of classic horror creature to be the 'big man'. Castlevania as it currently stands, cannot be as such without Dracula or at least some mentioning of him. But going back to our youths without knowing who Dracula is and getting a CV game that does not have Dracula, wouldn't change a thing really. This is almost like talking about time travel here. If someone were to make such a change, then only he would know about it and everybody else wouldn't.

-X

[Grim_Creeper]

Judging from the responses so far I don't think what I created is Castlevania, though it was initially intended to be a homage / inspired by, Castlevania.

Without giving away a whole lot of detail, what I created features the Belmonts, features a variety of Vampires, Mummies, and other supernaturals, Features death, it features the castle itself, but it does NOT feature dracula.

-Enthusiastic male announcer voice-

In the year 2025, the world teeters at the brink when Castlevania, the Castle of Dracula, suddenly appears in Mid-Air over the capital city of Bulgaria. Dispatching heroes to stop the certain-to-ensue carnage, the world calls upon an elite squad of vampire hunters, in the pay of the Vatican, led by Theodore belmont. Theodore and his group are able to penetrate the castle and square off against its horrors before things get really bad for the outside world, however, one of the people in the squad, is the REINCARNATION of shaft. Not knowing this, she (yes she), is exposed to energies which cause the old submerged personality to re-emerge suddenly. Ultimately, this results in Dracula opening a -very large- portal to the netherworld in desperation. Unfortunately, the demonic denizens of the netherworld think that the gateway is created by the four horsemen, and, due to this misunderstanding, attack with full force, expecting an earthly army to be there lead by the four. Their conclusions are wrong however. In retaliation for this perceived insult upon his domain, Death causes every germ weapon in the entire world to explode. All at once. No matter where they are, no matter what is being done to them. (even the ones that are undergoing disassembly for repairs suddenly explode).

...400 years later, humanity now finds itself in a strange and savage land ruled over partly by humans and partly by supernaturals. The ruins of the castle, impervious to time, age, or wear, now sit in one area and do not travel. Dracula has died for the final time, and won't be making an appearance.

[Inccubus]

It sounds like something like a tie-in between "Castlevania" and "Vampire Hunter D". Which if handles correctly would be epic.

[Grim_Creeper]

It is something like a tie in between CV and VHD, and it is meant to be like a tie in between the two.

The heroic vampire class for example has many of the abilities D has shown in those films.

Mechanical horses exist.

Hunters are openly stated to be such.

Castles and Mansions exist throughout the world, some of which are ruled by supernaturals and some of which are ruled by humans.

[A-Yty]

I can live with the name Dracula not mentioned, but it has to be made absolutely clear that someone foreshadowed, mentioned or otherwise relevant to the story is clearly actually him. LoI did that and didn't have a problem with that. And no, that's not really saying anything about the quality of LoI's story (even though I thought the plot itself was ok - even good at times).

But if a game was made the way you described it..no. The series started and exists in its country of origin as "Demon Castle Dracula". You just got to have him.

[Grim_Creeper]

In my storyline his curse has become so powerful that it has inundated certain areas creating 'monster zones'. Also he is mentioned in my storyline prologue, since Theodore Belmont and company fought and defeated him just days before the apocalypse.

I simply meant to imply that he has no active role in the storyline and is (once and for all) dead and not possible to be revived.

However...

...A small number of his body parts survive, and, if you are the right class, you can equip them.

[Lisa Fahrenheit]

I can live with the name Dracula not mentioned, but it has to be made absolutely clear that someone foreshadowed, mentioned or otherwise relevant to the story is clearly actually him. LoI did that and didn't have a problem with that. And no, that's not really saying anything about the quality of LoI's story (even though I thought the plot itself was ok - even good at times).

But if a game was made the way you described it..no. The series started and exists in its country of origin as "Demon Castle Dracula". You just got to have him.

Absolutely agreed here. Except, given the choice, I'd prefer him to be a central figure in any Castlevania, but I'm also terribly biased. Even Lament felt strange to me without him there (not saying I don't adore Mathias or Walter).

As far as your idea, Creeper, that sounds really cool! I say go for it. Especially badass that you can equip his body parts. Have you worked out what they'll do? Or are they just a stat bonus or something?

[Grim_Creeper]

I have worked out what they do, Lisa, its just I didn't post it because I don't want it to unbalance any future game. I still hope for someone, sometime, to play my game on this forum.

However I'll send you a personal message with the information.

[danceofgold]

In my storyline his curse has become so powerful that it has inundated certain areas creating 'monster zones'. Also he is mentioned in my storyline prologue, since Theodore Belmont and company fought and defeated him just days before the apocalypse.

I simply meant to imply that he has no active role in the storyline and is (once and for all) dead and not possible to be revived.

However...

...A small number of his body parts survive, and, if you are the right class, you can equip them.

The body parts idea would be cool, so that means Dracula's legacy still goes on.

However, I don't think there's any way Dracula would ever be dead forever and not possible to be revived. The fact that he resurrects is the reason for the series' existence. Castlevania has made Dracula more of a 'god of evil' than a regular vampire. So personally, I can't accept him not having a role in the game.

[Grim_Creeper]

So even if there were a basic wide-reaching re-adjustment of all the spiritual magical polarities of earth itself he would revive? I'm saying like if Ley lines (all ley lines), paths were either changed, diverted, or no longer existent.

Its beyond 'oh teh no apocalypse everythings crappy now'.

Its set on an earth in which its psychic vibrations, life energy, and general environment are very VERY different from what it is now. Daylight is a couple hours shorter, the magic which was basically dead at the time of the apocalypse, thanks to most of humanities energy being diverted by science and commerce, is back in full force, Dracula's curse has inundated certain areas of the planet to the point that every single thing in those areas is monstrous (both plant and animal) etc.

Buuuuuut if its a huge issue for people and its preventing people from playing it, I will change it around a bit and allow for dracula to appear.