Topic: What is the origin of the name "Dracula X" for Rondo and Symphony?

[Lumi Kløvstad]

Pretty much what the headline says.

Someone fill me with learnin'.

[Shiroi Koumori]

X is meant as a side story to the main series.
Symphony took it further by really diverging from the standard play style of the main series games with the developers really having fun making that game since there was no pressure to make it conform.
But fate deemed that these two be canon and Symphony green lighted the Metroidvania style.

[X]

X is meant as a side story to the main series.

Is that what it means? I heard that Rondo was the tenth game in the series so they used the numeral X (number 10). And I guess it was catchy enough that they used it for its direct sequel Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight.

[zangetsu468]

Maybe X was a double meaning in both of those senses.

I'd say X = Gaiden is plausible. (I wonder if in the same way Megaman X was named accordingly, then again the protagonist is named X so maybe not).

But XX can't be Castlevania 20  :/

[Shiroi Koumori]

Is that what it means? I heard that Rondo was the tenth game in the series so they used the numeral X (number 10). And I guess it was catchy enough that they used it for its direct sequel Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight.

Well, it is plausible to mean as the 10th game too.

[Lelygax]

X is meant as a side story to the main series.

True, IGA said it in a video interview. If someone have a link for it please post, since I can't find it.

[Nagumo]

It's this video: http://www.gamingcx.com/2011/08/gamecenter-cx-episode-7-prince-of_6706.html

Also, I think it's important to mention the X from Rondo has always been explained as meaning its the 10th game in the series. When IGA said X meant gaiden, he was only talking about Symphony of the Night. 

[Belmontoya]

I still think it might have something to do with Dracula changing as we see he does in rondo. At that point he can't be Vlad Tepes III anymore. It's like they rebooted the character.

Otherwise why use his name directly. Why not call it Castlevania X? 

It could have a double or triple meaning.

I don't know I could be wrong.

[Crying Freeman]

Is that what it means? I heard that Rondo was the tenth game in the series so they used the numeral X (number 10). And I guess it was catchy enough that they used it for its direct sequel Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight.

That's what I've heard too. And even tho it is the Roman numeral 10, most people will just call it Drac X, like Megaman X, which does sound badass (why I think they called DracXX Drac X over here even tho it doesn't make sense to us knowing the series as Castlevania), and since SOTN/NITM was a direct sequel but with different gameplay like you mentioned, it gives the game a bit of a side story feel in the naming department.

But then in Japan Drac X is known as DracXX, which would lead people to think the more badas version of DracX for PCECD, so maybe it was an X rather than 10? Or maybe when the SNES game came along they decided X should be X and not 10 so they could make the game sound cooler?

[Belmontoya]

But again. Why specifically mention Dracula?

It's not like Castlevania 3 was called Castlevania Dracula III.

[theplottwist]

But again. Why specifically mention Dracula?

It's not like Castlevania 3 was called Castlevania Dracula III.

Technically, most games mention Dracula. "Castlevania" doesn't exist in Japan, except for two IGA-era games. They're called "Akumajo Dracula."

The Dracula X games are called "Castlevania: Rondo of Blood" and "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" in english. It's only in japanese these games are "Akumajō Dracula X: Chi no Rondo" and "Akumajō Dracula X: Gekka no Yasōkyoku."

Castlevania III is the only deviant amongst the classics, not mentioning Dracula at all and being called "Akumajo Densetsu" with no "Dracula" in sight. Then we have Castlevania II, which does away with the "Akumajo" and is named "Dracula II: Noroi no Fūin" and The Adventure, which is named "Dracula Densetsu."

I think WE are the guys who call it simply "Dracula X". It's easier to write and everyone knows what game it is.

[zangetsu468]

I still think it might have something to do with Dracula changing as we see he does in rondo. At that point he can't be Vlad Tepes III anymore. It's like they rebooted the character.

Otherwise why use his name directly. Why not call it Castlevania X? 

It could have a double or triple meaning.

I don't know I could be wrong.

Weren't all games prior to LOI in Japan called Akumajo Dracula, while in English they adopted Castlevania. Akumajo Dracula X is basically calling it Castlevania X.

[Belmontoya]

That's true and of course I knew that as well. But I was just wondering if in the case of Rondo, the context could be different.

I think I'm looking too deeply into it perhaps.

But I really do think Rondo marks a change in the character of Dracula himself in CV. I was pulling at straws suggesting the title reflects that.

[Crying Freeman]

But again. Why specifically mention Dracula?

It's not like Castlevania 3 was called Castlevania Dracula III.

Idk, I guess they thought it would sound cool to the kiddies. It's a memorable title too. If it's just Castlevania X, it comes off a little bland compared to Dracula X. Maybe players could assume Dracula has taken a new form or has a new level of power behind him, I remember that's what I thought whenI first started getting into CV. In the marketing meeting, they go "In Japan, it's Akumajou Dracula XX", someone goes "Get rid of the X and make it the english title; Casltevania: Dracula X... Money  "

It makes sense in Japan obviously cus it's the Dracula series, but here it's Castlevania, whos villain is Dracula, and it's just a weird title lol. I also found it weird that the first 2 gameboy games were Dracula Legend, but then Legends, which ditched the Legend title in Japan, got the Legend name over here in the west lol.

[Lelygax]

I think WE are the guys who call it simply "Dracula X". It's easier to write and everyone knows what game it is.

To me when I or someone says "Dracula X" here, this means that we're referring to the SNES version, since almost anyone says RoB or Rondo when talking about the PCE version.

Maybe some people could also call SotN "Dracula X" because after the prologue it appears written on screen, but I never saw something doing that.

Weren't all games prior to LOI in Japan called Akumajo Dracula, while in English they adopted Castlevania. Akumajo Dracula X is basically calling it Castlevania X.

IIRC only Harmony of Dissonance and Aria of Sorrow was named Castlevania on Japan, while LoI was really "Castlevania" with no sub-title. Yes it would be like calling it Castlevania X, but lets be honest, it wouldn't have the same ring even if they translated it for us, leaving out the X part sound better xD