Castlevania is one of my favorite video game franchises. Recently, I discovered some Dracula fan art that I had scribbled a few years ago on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I’ve posted them below. Enjoy!
Castlevania (NES): Due to the color limitations of the NES, Drac was pretty much a purple head, red cape, and a lot of shadow. The prince of darkness looks like a California Raisin, or perhaps a Moai head.
Castlevania II – Simon’s Quest (NES): In the second game, Simon had to revive Dracula by gathering his body parts and then burn him again in the ruins of Castlevania. When summoned, he looked like Skeletor, had two frames of animation, and basically flew around in circles. Tossing the holy flame immobilized him, and the rest of Simon’s fate depended on how long it took you to finish the game.
Castlevania III (NES): Between the first and third game, the sprite artist learned how to use lighter colors to contour the cape and give it more depth. The result is a more detailed-looking Dracula. In this game, Dracula’s primary color is purple, which seems right out of Sesame Street.
Super Castlevania IV (SNES): Dracula actually has two ‘humanoid’ forms in this game. I didn’t bother drawing both at the time for whatever reason. The last form looks the same except for a more skeletal face. The first form is kind of like an undead Donald Trump.
Castlevania – Bloodlines (Sega Genesis): Konami incorporated Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory into series canon by making her Dracula’s niece. Other than that, there’s not much to say.
Castlevania X (PC Engine), Castlevania XX (SFC), Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PSX, Saturn, PSP): So this is the most commonly used Dracula sprite in recent years. Here, the vampire lord is depicted as a very tall, refined gentleman who sips blood with a chalice. Also, he “steals men’s souls and makes them his slaves.”
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (GBA) and Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (NDS): Soma Cruz is the main character in two of the handheld titles. The year is 2035 and Soma is an exchange student living in Japan. Oh yeah, he’s also the reincarnation of Dracula. Cue lifelong struggle to suppress inner demons.
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