*'''''Akumajou Dracula''''' is the Japanese name for the ''[[Castlevania]]'' video game series, as it is known as outside Japan. Several games, in Japan, within the series share the ''Akumajou Dracula'' name:
The original title of the series is '''''Akumajou Dracula''''', where ''Akumajou'' is Japanese for ''Devil Castle''. '''''Metroidvania''''' is a term referring to 2D video games where the exploration is non-linear; its earliest famous example is the [[Metroid]] series, hence the name ''Metroidvania''.
** '''[[Castlevania]]''', the first game in the series for the [[NES]]. It was originally released on the [[Famicom Disk System]], and was also ported to the [[Commodore 64]] and [[Commodore Amiga]].
** '''[[Vampire Killer]]''', a game in the series for the [[MSX|MSX2]].
** '''[[Haunted Castle]]''' a game in the series for the [[Arcade]].
** '''[[Super Castlevania IV]]''', a game in the series for the [[SNES]].
** '''[[Castlevania Chronicles]]''', a game in the series originally released for the [[Sharp X68000]]. The original Sharp X68000 version is also officially called ''Akumajou Dracula X68000''.
* '''[[Castlevania II: Simon's Quest]]''' aka '''Dracula II: Noroi no Fuuin''' for the [[:Category:NES|NES]].
* '''Legend of Dracula:'''
** '''[[Castlevania: The Adventure]]''' aka '''Legend of Dracula''' for the [[:Category:Game Boy|Game Boy]].
** '''[[Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge]]''' aka '''Legend of Dracula 2''' for the [[:Category:Game Boy|Game Boy]].
** Full-color versions included in [[Konami Collection Vol. 1]] and [[Konami Collection Vol. 3]] for [[Game Boy Color]] (Japan and Europe only).
* '''[[Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse]]''' aka '''Demon Castle Legends''' for the [[:Category:NES|NES]].
* '''Dracula X'''.
** '''[[Dracula X: Rondo of Blood]]''' for the [[:Category:TurboGrafx-16|PC Engine]] (Japan only).
** '''[[Castlevania: Dracula X]]''' aka '''Castlevania: Vampire's Kiss''' for the [[:Category:SNES|SNES]].
** '''[[Castlevania: Symphony of the Night]]''' aka '''Castlevania: Nocturne in the Moonlight''' for the [[:Category:PlayStation|PS1]] and [[:Category:Sega Saturn|Saturn]] (Japan only).
** Original and 2.5D version included in '''[[Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles]]''' for the [[PSP]].
* '''[[Castlevania: Bloodlines]]''' aka '''Castlevania: The New Generation''' for the [[:Category:Sega Genesis|Sega Genesis]].
* '''[[Castlevania Legends]]''' for the [[:Category:Game Boy|Game Boy]] and the [[Super Game Boy]].
* '''Castlevania Apocalypse:
** '''[[Castlevania 64]]''' aka '''Castlevania Apocalypse''' for the [[:Category:Nintendo 64|Nintendo 64]].
** '''[[Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness]]''' aka '''Castlevania: The Legend of Cornell''' for the [[:Category:Nintendo 64|Nintendo 64]].
* '''[[Castlevania Chronicles]]''' for the [[:Category:PlayStation|PS1]].
* '''[[Castlevania: Circle of the Moon]]''' for the [[:Category:Game Boy Advance|GBA]].
* '''[[Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance]]''' aka '''Castlevania: Concerto of the Midnight Sun''' for the [[:Category:Game Boy Advance|GBA]].
* '''[[Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow]]''' aka '''Castlevania: Minuet of Dawn''' for the [[:Category:Game Boy Advance|GBA]].
* '''[[Castlevania: Lament of Innocence]]''' for the [[:Category:PlayStation 2|PS2]].
* '''[[Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow]]''' aka '''Castlevania: Crucifix of the Blue Moon''' for the [[:Category:Nintendo DS|Nintendo DS]].
* '''[[Castlevania: Curse of Darkness]]''' for the [[:Category:PlayStation 2|PS2]] and [[:Category:Xbox|Xbox]].
* '''[[Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin]]''' for the [[:Category:Nintendo DS|Nintendo DS]].
=== Chronological table ===
Notes about some sub-series:
The original title of the series is '''''Akumajou Dracula''''', where ''Akumajou'' is Japanese for ''Devil Castle''. '''''Metroidvania''''' is a term referring to 2D video games where the exploration is non-linear; its earliest famous example is the [[Metroid]] series, hence the name ''Metroidvania''.
* '''First chapter:''' five games, in Japan, share the ''Akumajou Dracula'' name.
* '''Legend of Dracula:''' full-color versions are included in [[Konami Collection Vol. 1]] and [[Konami Collection Vol. 3]] for [[Super Game Boy]] (Japan only) and [[Game Boy Color]] (Europe only).
* '''Castlevania X:''' original and 2.5D version are included in [[Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles]] for the [[PSP]].
After 2010, the Castlevania series was rebooted. The games are then titled [[Castlevania: Lords of Shadow]] (plus number or subtitle) in both the original and localized versions.
After 2010, the Castlevania series was rebooted. The games are then titled [[Castlevania: Lords of Shadow]] (plus number or subtitle) in both the original and localized versions.
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! Year !! Original title !! Localised title !! Platform !! Notes
! Year !! Original title !! Localised title !! Platform !! Notes
| 1999 || '''Devil Castle Dracula Apocalypse: Legend of Cornell || [[Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness]] || [[Nintendo 64]] || 3D
| 1999 || '''Devil Castle Dracula Apocalypse: Legend of Cornell || [[Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness]] || [[Nintendo 64]] || 3D
|-
|-
!colspan=5| 6th generation games
!colspan=5| Soma Cruz sub-series
|-
| 2003 || '''Castlevania: Minuet of Dawn || [[Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow]] || [[GBA]] || Metroidvania
|-
|-
| 2001 || '''Devil Castle Dracula: Circle of the Moon || [[Castlevania: Circle of the Moon]] || [[GBA]] || Metroidvania
| 2005 || '''Devil Castle Dracula: Cross of the Blue Moon || [[Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow]] || [[DS]] || Metroidvania
|-
!colspan=5| Main series (part 2)
|-
| 1995 || '''Vampire Killer || [[Castlevania: Bloodlines]] <br> Castlevania: the New Generation || [[Sega Mega Drive]] ||
|-
|-
| 2002 || '''Castlevania: Concerto of Midnight Sun || [[Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance]] || [[GBA]] || Metroidvania
| 2002 || '''Castlevania: Concerto of Midnight Sun || [[Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance]] || [[GBA]] || Metroidvania
|-
| 2003 || '''Castlevania: Minuet of Dawn || [[Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow]] || [[GBA]] || Metroidvania
|-
|-
| 2003 || '''Castlevania || [[Castlevania: Lament of Innocence]] || [[PS2]] || 3D
| 2003 || '''Castlevania || [[Castlevania: Lament of Innocence]] || [[PS2]] || 3D
|-
|-
| 2005 || '''Devil Castle Dracula: Dark Curse || [[Castlevania: Curse of Darkness]] || [[PS2]], [[Xbox]] || 3D
| 2005 || '''Devil Castle Dracula: Dark Curse || [[Castlevania: Curse of Darkness]] || [[PS2]], [[Xbox]] || 3D
|-
!colspan=5| 7th generation games
|-
| 2005 || '''Devil Castle Dracula: Cross of the Blue Moon || [[Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow]] || [[DS]] || Metroidvania
|-
|-
| 2006 || '''Devil Castle Dracula: Gallery of Labyrinth || [[Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin]] || [[DS]] || Metroidvania
| 2006 || '''Devil Castle Dracula: Gallery of Labyrinth || [[Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin]] || [[DS]] || Metroidvania
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Line 87:
| 2010 || '''Devil Castle Dracula: Harmony of Despair || [[Castlevania: Harmony of Despair]] || [[PS3]], [[Xbox360|X360]] || Metroidvania
| 2010 || '''Devil Castle Dracula: Harmony of Despair || [[Castlevania: Harmony of Despair]] || [[PS3]], [[Xbox360|X360]] || Metroidvania
|}
|}
=== Cancelled games ===
=== Cancelled games ===
* '''Castlevania: The Bloodletting''' for the [[:Category:Sega 32X|32X]]
* '''Castlevania: The Bloodletting''' for the [[:Category:Sega 32X|32X]]
Revision as of 22:30, 19 April 2016
Castlevania is one of Konami's longest running series, with games from the NES to the PS2. The series (normally) revolves around the Belmont family and their eternal mission of defeating Dracula whenever he reappears, with occasional help from the Belnades clan and Alucard, the son of Dracula.
There are two types of Castlevania games: the traditional level-by-level action games and the newer, so-called, "Metroidvanias", which involves more exploration, item/key collecting, and going through areas multiple times. There is an official chronology that was created several years ago, and involved retconning several plotlines from games, as well as removing four games from the official timeline. Games are not released in chronological order, and several games are direct sequels to previous ones. Most games take place decades or even centuries after the previous entry, but some (Simon's Quest, Curse of Darkness, Dawn of Sorrow, Symphony of the Night, and Castlevania 64) take place a few years later and involve the same characters.
The original title of the series is Akumajou Dracula, where Akumajou is Japanese for Devil Castle. Metroidvania is a term referring to 2D video games where the exploration is non-linear; its earliest famous example is the Metroid series, hence the name Metroidvania.
Notes about some sub-series:
First chapter: five games, in Japan, share the Akumajou Dracula name.
After 2010, the Castlevania series was rebooted. The games are then titled Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (plus number or subtitle) in both the original and localized versions.
