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twistedtummies2 · 1 year

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Top 15 Castlevania Characters

In ten days it will be World Dracula Day, and I’ve had the Count of Transylvania on the brain quite a lot lately. (A few of you can guess why.) Even though my Vincent Price countdown is still ongoing, I thus decided it was time to pay a bit of tribute to one of my favorite video game franchises, which happens to involve Dracula. I speak, of course, of Castlevania. Originally designed to be simple platform action/adventure games with a spooky motif, the Castlevania series has evolved over the years. The core or “Classic” series has continued to have occasional spin-offs, and there’s also a reboot series called “Lords of Shadow,” and an animated series on Netflix, both of which make their own adjustments to the lore and characters while staying true to elements fans have come to love over the years. Over the course of the franchise’s history, many fabulous characters have come and gone - heroes and villains alike - and I decided, since Dracula is such a big part of Castlevania’s identity, it would be a fine idea to give a tribute on this day to my favorite figures from the series. Some of them may surprise you. With that said, let’s waste no more time! Grab your bullwhip or sword of choice, and prepare to enter battle! These are My Top 15 Castlevania Characters!

15. The Toy Maker.

The first two character entries on this countdown are exclusive to the aforementioned “Lords of Shadow” reboot trilogy. Originally intended as a re-VAMP-ing (I am so sorry) of the series for a new generation, this new line of interactive titles only lasted for three games. Fans were and still are mixed in their feelings about the Lords of Shadow reboot: some enjoyed it, while others felt it strayed too far, in terms of storytelling and style, from the original vision of the series. Personally, I like the Lords of Shadow trilogy; in fact, my favorite game of the franchise is from this trilogy…but that’s another story for another day. One of the more important antagonists of the reboot was this maniacal malefactor: a devilish scoundrel known simply as “The Toy Maker.” Loosely influenced by Jekyll & Hyde, the Toy Maker was once a kindly old soul, who used incredible science and alchemy to bring smiles to small children. However, a series of tragic events led to him being possessed by an evil force, under the influence of which he developed a sort of split-personality: flip-flopping between a sweet and gentle figure of fun, to an unhinged and sadistic hobgoblin who would make the Joker look as scary as a ball of cotton candy. The Toy Maker was an interesting and fun antagonist, and I really wish we could have seen more of him…however, the Lords of Shadow reboot trilogy remains the only place where he appears, so far.

14. Satan.

This is the other LoS exclusive character on the countdown. As anyone who knows anythin about Castlevania knows, Count Dracula is the main antagonist of the Classic series of games, as well as the first two seasons of the animated series. However, in “Lords of Shadow,” the novel decision was made to make Dracula not the main villain, but instead the main protagonist (at least for two out of three games). So, with the Count now our hero rather than our villain, who was the antagonist to be? Who better than the Devil himself? Yep: in “Lords of Shadow,” Satan himself is the secret driving force behind much of the action of the story, and appears in the final act of the game as the true main villain pulling the strings behind the scenes. Although he was defeated, the Fallen Angel would return in “Lords of Shadow II” as the main antagonist, with Dracula facing his many minions and monsters before engaging in a rematch with Satan at the final bow. The character was masterfully played by the great Jason Isaacs, and I don’t think you could have picked a better main villain for this concept if you tried. However, once again, Satan only shows up in the LoS reboot, and despite his importance in the overarching story of the three games, his time onscreen is surprisingly small. Therefore, I don’t think it’s fair to rank him any higher.

13. Brauner.

This is the first of many characters on this list to appear in more than one version of the Castlevania universe. Brauner first appeared as the main antagonist of one of my favorite games in the Classic series, “Portrait of Ruin.” He’s probably my favorite oneshot villain of the entire franchise. The character is a tragic antagonist: a former artist driven mad after the death of his daughters during World War I. Brauner studied black magic and became a vampire as a means of taking revenge against humanity, blaming the ills of the human race for the loss of his children. In his insanity, he came to believe two different young ladies were the reincarnations of his daughters, turning them into vampires and brainwashing them into believing the same. Brauner uses his powers to infuse his paintings with evil magic, turning them into weapons and then using special portraits to restore Castle Dracula. Unlike most bad guys in the series, Brauner has no connections to Dracula, nor any desires to resurrect him: he simply means to use the power of the Castle itself for his own diabolical and deranged purposes. Top it off with a character design inspired by Count Orlok from “Nosferatu,” and you have a memorable fiend indeed. The character returned in a reimagined form in the “Lords of Shadow” series, but in my opinion, this second incarnation was a major downgrade. This version of Brauner was a burly, monstrous vampire warrior, who acted as a lieutenant to the evil Carmilla. He was an intimidating presence, and a fun boss fight, but there really wasn’t much to say about him, and he was a far cry from the commanding and complex figure from the Classic series. I will say though: making him the brother, in that universe, of Olrox - another character from the Classic games inspired by Count Orlok - was a nice little in-joke.

12. Shaft.

Shaft is a major antagonist in several of the Classic Castlevania games, most notably “Rondo of Blood,” its remake “Dracula X Chronicles,” and the ever-applauded “Symphony of the Night.” (And yes, you may snicker at his name and play a certain theme song whenever you read it, if you wish.) This fellow is a classic example of the “Dark Priest” or “Mad Priest” archetype. He’s dramatic, uses dark magic to face his foes, and zealously devoted to his Lord and Master: Dracula himself. In the aforementioned games, Shaft helps to resurrect Dracula, and aids him in his quest to destroy all of humanity. Admittedly, there’s not much else to this guy: he’s far from the most complex or sympathetic villain of the franchise, but he’s one that many people consider an iconic foe, and has even been the inspiration for other, rather similar villains in later games, such as Death’s alter-ego “Zead” in Curse of Darkness, and Guido Szandor from the Lords of Shadow games. Indeed, some have suggested that the Bishop played by Matt Frewer in the animated series may be inspired by Shaft. The two have a physical similarity, if nothing else, although Frewer’s Bishop is a zealous Christian rather than a vampire-worshiping occultist. Whatever the case, he’s an iconic scoundrel; when I think of the archetype, he’s one of the first characters I think of. For that reason above all, he earns his place in the ranks.

11. Isaac.

Isaac first showed up in one of the Classic games, “Curse of Darkness,” as a major antagonist. In the game, he was the friend-turned-nemesis of the main protagonist, Hector. Both of them once served as Dracula’s Devil Forgemasters, using arcane arts to help form armies of the undead for the Count. However, Hector eventually saw the light and left Dracula’s employ, while Isaac remained loyal to Dracula. Isaac orchestrates a series of cruel and sadistic trials to lure Hector back to Castle Dracula, intending to use Hector as a host body for Dracula’s evil spirit. This version of the character was already a fun one: an utterly deranged sadomasochist whose depravity served as a dark mirror to the hero, and whose connections to him made him a particularly personal threat. However, Isaac REALLY became fascinating in the Animated Series: this version kept the basics of the character, but changed his personality and story arc. Isaac lost his maniacal edge, and was made into a more tragic figure who, like Hector, learns to step out from Dracula’s shadow and find a new path in life. The pair were depicted more as rivals than nemeses, and many fans feel that Isaac’s journey through the show was one of the best parts of the overarching series. It was a great reimagining that actually improved on the established character from the games…but I personally just like other characters, across the whole franchise, a bit more, so I don’t think he deserves a spot in the Top 10. Sorry, Isaac; I still love ya.

10. Carmilla.

Carmilla – sometimes called “Camilla,” depending on the game you look at – can be seen as a study in the evolution of a character. She originally appeared as a recurring boss in the series, popping up in a few of the early games, such as “Simon’s Quest” and “Rondo of Blood” (and “Dracula X Chronicles” by extension). In these games, she wasn’t really a fully formed character in the truest sense; we didn’t know much about her. Her name was taken from the titular character of the most popular classical vampire story besides Dracula, “Carmilla,” and she was presumably inspired by the Hammer Horror films based on the story…but that was about it. There wasn’t really a lot of personality or major backstory to her. Things changed, however, with the game “Circle of the Moon.” While not set in the same continuity as the rest of the Classic series, the game was very notable in that it changed the character from a minor recurring boss figure to a major antagonist in her own right. In that game, much like Brauner in “Portrait of Ruin,” she was the true main antagonist, enacting an elaborate scheme to resurrect Count Dracula for her own evil ends. After this point, Carmilla started to get more and more attention: in the “Lords of Shadow” reboot, she was once again a fairly noteworthy antagonist, being one of the few characters to appear in both the first game and LoS2. Then, in the animated series (the version pictured here), she served as the secondary antagonist of the (appropriately) second season, and then became the main threat in the following season. She remained a major villain from that point on, basically up to the end of the show. With every installment that gives her more focus, Carmilla has become more fascinating and more twisted as a villainess. From humble beginnings to much greater prominence, it seems like anywhere Castlevania goes, Carmilla is destined to go with it.

9. Julius Belmont.

When you really get down to it, Castlevania is the story of two opposing forces: Dracula, and the Belmont Clan. The Belmonts are a family of professional monster hunters; a noble race of warriors who have been fighting evil for generations. Each Belmont who takes up the weapons of their trade knows that they may be the one to face Dracula when the Count inevitably returns, and while all of them have similar goals, motivations, and abilities, they are generally unique from each other. Julius Belmont is a major character in the games “Dawn of Sorrow” and “Aria of Sorrow” (which are really the same story split in two). In these games, he is presented as the last of the Belmonts; the final member of his lineage. He is also one of the most powerful of his family, if not THE most powerful: experienced and gifted with knowledge passed down to him for centuries, and more than equipped to tackle Dracula. This becomes a problem, however, when he ends up befriending Soma Cruz – the main protagonist of the two games – and learns a dark secret about Soma’s being…but that’s another story. I really love Julius; a grizzled and INCREDIBLY powerful warrior, he has one of the most dynamic arcs of any character in the Castlevania series, starting off as a friend, briefly becoming an enemy, and then becoming something of a friendly rival and even a mentor. As the chronological last of the Classic Belmonts, he’s also quite important: with him, the clash between his family and Dracula effectively reaches its end. My only problem with Julius is not even really his fault: I really wish we could have gotten a game about the time Julius fought Dracula, with him as our main protagonist. It would have been nice to have him as our lead, rather than just a supporting role. It’s for this reason alone I don’t place him any higher. I guess one could argue we did get a chance to play with him in Dawn of Sorrow’s “Julius Mode,” but…that’s a bit of a different story.

8. Hector.

Our first main protagonist character on the list…but interestingly, not a Belmont. Hector is the main character in “Curse of Darkness” (a personal favorite of mine from the Castlevania series), and is one of the most interesting main protagonists for a very specific reason: he’s a case of a villain turned hero. As I said before, Hector is a former servant of Dracula. He was once one of the Count’s most trusted soldiers – one of the few mortals Dracula cared about and considered a friend and worthy ally. However, after some time, Hector began to realize that Dracula’s crusade was not one he wanted to be a part of anymore, and he thus fled from his old master to find a new life. He fell in love, got married…and eventually saw his beloved wife killed as a result of the machinations of his former ally, Isaac. Wishing to avenge his wife, and stop both Dracula and Isaac once and for all, Hector thus gathers his weapons and goes back to the Castle to face his former comrades. Villains who are now heroes are always a great blend, and it makes the battle Hector goes through much more personal as a result. When he faces Isaac and the Count, it’s not just about his beloved’s death, but about facing his own inner darkness, and ensuring he can overcome it and see to it no one else gets hurt the same way. I also really loved the way the character was portrayed in the animated series, which stuck true to Hector’s origins while giving a new spin to his motivations and personality. (Much the same way the show did with Isaac.) He’s a character I don’t think gets enough credit from fans at times – I often hear other protagonists being spoken of more openly – but for me, he’s a shoe-in for the top ten.

7. Trevor Belmont.

Of all the Belmont Clan, Trevor is one of the most recurring, and my personal favorite. Much like Carmilla, this is a character who has seen a lot of evolution. He first appeared in one of the games from the original trilogy, “Dracula’s Curse.” That game came out in 1989; back then, no one really cared THAT much about the story and characters: games were just games, so to speak. But as time went on, Trevor would appear in more titles, and his personality would evolve. He’d first appear as a major supporting player in “Curse of Darkness;” this version depicted Trevor as a noble but somewhat rash warrior, perhaps too overconfident in his own abilities. He starts off distrustful of Hector, but later becomes a valuable ally. This version would also appear as a supporting character in the fighting game “Castlevania: Judgment.” (Which could have been so much better, if people had been a little smarter when making it.) In the “Lords of Shadow” reboot, the character SORT OF reappeared: in that version, Trevor’s character was essentially combined with Alucard’s. (More on that matter later.) Finally, and most recently, Trevor appeared as the main character in the animated series. (That’s the version pictured.) In the show, Trevor is a disillusioned but ultimately good-hearted warrior, who has to learn to trust himself and others during his quest to slay Dracula and save the human race. After he and his allies do, indeed, defeat Dracula, Trevor’s adventures are not done, as other antagonists - such as Carmilla and Death - soon enact their own plans once the Count is out of the picture. All of these versions are interesting, and while many would probably name Simon or Richter as the most iconic Belmonts in the franchise, for me, Trevor will always be the best of the bunch.

6. St. Germain.

This cryptic character is yet another alumni from the game “Curse of Darkness.” (Don’t worry, I think he’s the last CoD-exclusive figure in the ranks.) He is the very definition of a scene-stealer: while his time in the game is actually relatively small, he makes a HUGE impact. This eccentric gentleman is a time traveler, and a perennial mystery. He frequently speaks in riddles, and while he seems to know a lot about Hector and the whole situation of the story, we actually don’t know very much about him at all. While it was later revealed in “Castlevania: Judgment” that St. Germain is a member of a secret organization of time travelers known as “The Time Watchers,” his exact motivations for his actions throughout Curse of Darkness are still unclear. In some ways he helps Hector along his journey, but he also serves as a dangerous boss battle, and tries to convince him to halt in his quest at one point. You’re never really sure what he’s going to do or say; an unpredictable trickster with powers we don’t fully understand. I always love these kinds of “Trickster God” or “Chaotic Entity” figures: characters like the Cheshire Cat, Puck, Mr. Mxyzptlk, and Q, for instance. Never truly evil nor truly good, and not fully understandable in their methods. St. Germain is a classic example of the same trope. The character was later adapted to the animated series: much like with the other Curse of Darkness characters, the series kept many of his original elements intact, but also added some new flourishes all its own. The show humanized St. Germain, giving him a more “grungy and gritty” reinterpretation of his classic design, and going into more detail about his origins and goals. Both takes on the character are magnificent, both for the same and for totally different reasons. Honestly, I’m sort of surprised he never made it into the Lords of Shadow reboot between these two incarnations…but que sera sera.

5. Jonathan Morris.

I’m not sure how renowned Jonathan Morris is among general fans of the Castlevania franchise, but for me, he is most assuredly one of my favorite protagonists in the series, and a big part of why “Portrait of Ruin” is among my favorite games in the franchise. First and foremost, there is his connection to the literature of Dracula: Jonathan is a descendant of Quincey Morris - a much-underrated character from the Bram Stoker novel. In the book, it is Quincey who is truly responsible for Dracula’s destruction. (His first name is also taken from a character in the book, Jonathan Harker.) I’ve always loved the fact that not only is the book canon with the rest of Castlevania (somehow), but that, of all characters, it’s Quincey Morris who gets attention. This also makes Jonathan one of the few American protagonists of the series. In fact, he comes from Texas; as a Texan myself, I find this incredibly appealing! But beyond the book and the geographical appeal, I love Jonathan for his personality: the game focuses a great deal on teamwork, both in gameplay and in storytelling. Jonathan does not travel alone: he is accompanied by his best friend, Charlotte Aulin. Charlotte is a wonderful character, too: the pair make a sort of “brains and brawn” duo: Charlotte is a good witch, who uses magical attacks and defenses, and is exceptionally smart. Not only is she skilled in sorcery, but she is also well-versed in science and other subjects, and always tries to use her head to confront a problem. Jonathan, in contrast, is all about muscles, using melee attacks with his sword (and, eventually, the legendary Vampire Killer whip), and is rather hotheaded and impetuous. He’s got a slight temper, and can be much too overconfident…but you know that his heart is in the right place, and he does listen to Charlotte when push comes to shove. Indeed, it’s Jonathan’s flaws that create much of the drama in the story, as he has to learn to rein in his impulses, among other things, in order to earn the power to use the magical Vampire Killer. Only with Charlotte’s help, and through learning to use his help, is Jonathan able to do what his grandfather, Quincey (and his father, John) were able to do, and defeat the Count of Transylvania.

4. Soma Cruz.

Soma is the main character of “Aria of Sorrow” and its sequel/second half, “Dawn of Sorrow.” He’s also appeared in a few other games since. Many consider him to be possibly one of the greatest protagonists of any Castlevania game, and I am no exception. At the start of “Aria,” Soma is a seemingly more-or-less average High School student living in Japan. He has no family of his own, so he lives with a friend of his, Mina Hakuba. (Nice reference to Mina Harker there, games. A+.) One day – right the flip out of nowhere – Dracula’s Castle pops up in the middle of town, and Soma and Mina are trapped inside. At first, all Soma wants to do is leave the castle and save Mina, but as the story goes on, he starts to realize things about himself. He suddenly finds he has remarkable powers and surprising fighting skills he’d never been able to use before. He also discovers he has the power to consume the souls of anything (and anyone) he kills. At first, he naturally tries his best to be responsible and good with these powers…but things take a turn when it’s revealed why he has these abilities to begin with. Soma is actually a reincarnation of Dracula himself. The Count’s spirit dwells dormant inside of him, but it is foretold that someday he will manifest again. The remainder of “Aria” and the story of “Dawn” thus have Soma battling with his literal inner demon (or vampire, I suppose). The games play with the themes of destiny and fate, as the question constantly arises: is Soma doomed to BECOME Dracula, his life being erased? Or can he live his own life, the way he wants, without worrying about such a thing? Is there any compromise that can be reached between these two radical extremes? Is Soma Cruz a hero-in-the-making or a villain-to-be? It’s this constant struggle that makes Soma such an intriguing protagonist, as we, the player, pilot him on his journey towards whatever he must become. We care about him deeply, through all his trials and tribulations, and we don’t want to see him fall to darkness. The question is if he can truly avoid it. I won’t give away how things end, but suffice it to say, Soma’s adventures are some of the most poignant of any Castlevania character.

3. Death, a.k.a. The Grim Reaper.

Death is unavoidable, inevitable, and persistent. This is not only true of mortal life, but it is also true in the world of Castlevania. The Grim Reaper himself is the secondary antagonist of the entire franchise, and each separate version of the Castlevania universe reinterprets the character in a brand new way. In the Classic games, Death is Dracula’s second-in-command, and quite possibly his only true friend. The Reaper is the Count’s most loyal henchman; he is actually fought and faced in even more games than Dracula himself, usually as the penultimate boss (and, in at least one case, as the final boss). One of my favorite moments in the entire Castlevania series is the dual battle against both Dracula AND Death in “Portrait of Ruin”: by far my favorite boss fight of the entire franchise. In the “Lords of Shadow” Reboot, Death - also known as Zobek - is played by the redoubtable Patrick Stewart. (This is the version pictured here.) In this universe, things were turned on their head: Zobek starts off as an apparently friendly source of aid in the first game, but it’s ultimately revealed he’s just been using Gabriel (the future Count Dracula) as a means to his own evil ends. He returns in “Lords of Shadow II,” where he and Dracula forge an uneasy alliance…but by the end of the story, the pair once more find themselves at odds, leading to one of the best boss battles of the entire trilogy. While Satan is the main villain of the reboot, Zobek is Dracula’s TRUE nemesis. Finally, in the Animated Series, Death is reimagined once again, and combined with the penny dreadful figure Varney the Vampire. In the final season of the show, Varney is the main antagonist, and is ultimately revealed to be the Grim Reaper in disguise: he’s mighty peeved about Dracula’s destruction (albeit for completely different reasons than in the Classic games), and seeks revenge upon Trevor Belmont and his allies for the Count’s loss. This version was played with hilarious crudity by Malcolm McDowell. I love all three versions of the Reaper in the franchise. If there’s one thing these games prove without a shadow of a doubt, it’s that you cannot hide from Death.

2. Count Dracula.

And here he is, at last! The King of the Vampires, the Prince of Darkness, the Count of Transylvania, He Who Sells Chocolate Cereal…Dracula! I bet you all thought he’d be number one, didn’t you? Well, surprisingly, no, but we’ll get to that issue in a minute. Let’s focus on good ol’ Drac himself for a second, shall we? Dracula is the main antagonist of the original Classic game series: he appears in nearly every title, usually acting as the final boss. Even in the stories where Dracula either does not appear or simply does not act as the last boss, however, his impact on the series’ storyline is profound. This version of the legendary villain is both sympathetic and sinister: his reasons for his evil deeds are complex and varied, but there can be no denying the cruelty of his wicked ways. He is insanely powerful, with many magical abilities and immunities; every time the heroes think he’s down for the count (no pun intended), Dracula always finds a new way to return and bedevil the world again. In the “Lords of Shadow” reboot, like I said earlier in the list, Dracula is actually reimagined greatly: in the first game, we meet him as a monster hunter called Gabriel Belmont. It isn’t until the second game, “Mirror of Fate,” when he becomes Count Dracula and assumes his usual role as the main antagonist. In “Lords of Shadow II,” the third game of the bunch, he acts once more as the main protagonist, this time as a sort of anti-hero, torn between both the heroism and the villainy of his past lives. Then, in the animated series, Dracula acts once again as the main antagonist of the first two seasons; although he is defeated by the end of Season 2, both his actions and those of the ones who beat him continue to plague everyone’s lives for the next couple seasons onward. Every single version of Dracula is absolutely glorious. Castlevania’s Count is easily one of my favorite versions of the character, and the Classic rendition is one of my favorite video game villains of all time. Yet he’s only second place on my list…what heresy have I cooked up, one wonders?

1. Alucard.

Who else could possibly top Dracula but his own son? While the Belmont clan may be the main collective protagonists of the series, Alucard, to me, is one of my favorite heroes in video game history, and a solid shoe-in for the number one spot here. Alucard is not technically a vampire, but a dhampir: half-human, half-vampire. He first appeared in the game “Dracula’s Curse.” However, Alucard really didn’t become popular or interesting until “Symphony of the Night.” In THAT game, we learned the full story of his origins, and the exact nature of his relationship with his bloodthirsty father. Alucard loves his father, and knows that, deep down, there is genuine good in him. But when Alucard’s mother, Lisa, is killed by witch hunters, the two forge different paths. Dracula’s instinct is vengeance, as he goes on a crusade to destroy all of mankind! Alucard, however, knows that isn’t what his mother would want, and chooses to defy his father as a result. After Symphony of the Night, Alucard continued to appear in numerous games, sometimes as a main protagonist, and sometimes as a featured supporting role. Like I said before, in the LoS reboot, his character was combined with Trevor Belmont. I’ve always had mixed feelings about this: on the one hand, it almost feels like a disservice to Trevor as a separate character. On the other hand, I actually didn’t mind the new take on Alucard, overall, as it kept many of the same ideas while twisting things slightly to fit the new universe and storyline. I still prefer the original more, however, and always will…which brings us to the animated series. This, I think, is probably the best Alucard we’ve ever gotten: sticking true to the original, but now giving him a sense of humor and playing with his own inner demons in some unique ways. Regardless of which universe you look at, however, I love the character’s swashbuckling and dramatic touches, while still being a legitimately compelling character. When I think of Castlevania, he is one of the first characters I think of. For all these reasons and more, I happily dub Alucard as My Favorite Castlevania Character.

HONORABLE MENTIONS INCLUDE…

Sypha Belnades.

Richter Belmont.

Charlotte Aulin.

Cornell.

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