Editing Castlevania (universe)

{{ArticleIcons|ultimate=y}}{{Title|''Castlevania'' (universe)}}
{{Infobox Series
|title             = Castlevania (universe)
|image             = [[File:CastlevaniaLogo.png|250px]]
|caption           = [[File:CastlevaniaSymbol.svg|50px|class=invert-dark]]
|publisher         = [[Konami]]<br>Hamster Corporation<br>Nintendo
|developer         = Konami<br>Eighting<br>MercurySteam<br>Kojima Productions<br>Hamster Corporation<br>M2<br>Distinctive Software<br>Novotrade International
|designer          = Hitoshi Akamatsu<br>Koji "IGA" Igarashi
|genres            = Action-adventure<br>Metroidvania
|originconsole     = Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom Disk System)
|firstinstallment  = ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania|1986 video game}}'' (1986)
|latestinstallment = ''Castlevania Dominus Collection'' (2024)
|interwiki         = wikipedia
|interwikiname     = Wikipedia
|interwikipage     = Castlevania
}}
The '''''Castlevania'' universe''' ({{ja|悪魔城ドラキュラ|Akumajō Dorakyura}}, ''Demon Castle Dracula'') refers to the ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' series' collection of characters, stages and properties that hail from the famous gothic horror action-adventure series created by [[Konami]], inspired by Bram Stoker's novel ''Dracula''. The series is the second of Konami's to see representation through characters and stages, following {{uv|Metal Gear}}. Its logo is a silhouette of [[Dracula's Castle]] (often referred to as the titular Castlevania), which most protagonists of the series venture through on a quest to slay Dracula. Additionally, ''Castlevania'', along with the {{uv|Metroid}} series, were responsible for kickstarting the existence of a subgenre of exploration-based adventure games known as "Metroidvania".

==Franchise description==
After the Famicom/Nintendo Entertainment System proved itself as a wildly successful video game console that gave particular rise to the 2D platformer genre, [[Konami]] employee Hitoshi Akamatsu decided to create a more ambitious take on the genre. This game was approached "from a film director's eye" in a deliberate attempt to make a game more cinematic than what came before.<ref>[https://shmuplations.com/castlevania/ Castlevania – Developer Commentary]</ref> The developers took inspiration from many public domain horror figures such as Bram Stoker's ''Dracula'', Mary Shelley's ''Frankenstein'', and the Greek myth of Medusa, as well as the {{iw|wikipedia|Universal Pictures}} monster movies of the early-to-mid twentieth century. This game would release on {{iw|wikipedia|Famicom Disk System}} as ''Akumajō Dracula'' ("Demon Castle Dracula") on September 26, 1986. The before being released internationally on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania|1986 video game}}''. The name change was due to the localization team believing the game would not be able to release with the word "Demon" in the title, which coincides with the more blatant religious references in the game being censored or removed. The game follows vampire hunter [[Simon Belmont]] of the Belmont clan, a bloodline devoted to defeating Dracula whenever he is resurrected; armed with his bloodline's legendary whip, Vampire Killer, he embarks on a journey through [[Dracula]]'s [[Dracula's Castle|Castle]] to defeat the Count himself. The time period of the game was later revealed to take place in the year 1691, starting the trend of the series directly and implicitly referencing real historical events. The game received praise for its unique gothic atmosphere, excellent soundtrack, and difficult gameplay, particularly its intentionally stiff movement and reliance on items making the game more methodical and precise that set it apart from the competition.

The game has also received many remakes and re-releases. A sister release for the {{iw|wikipedia|MSX2}} titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Vampire Killer}}'' was developed concurrently with the console version and contains some exclusive content. The 1988 arcade game ''Haunted Castle'' was a very loose retelling of the events with more new content. The Sharp {{iw|wikipedia|X68000}} received a more faithful port of the game in 1993, which itself was re-released alongside a remake of its own as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania Chronicles}}'' for PlayStation in 2001. Another reimagining was released for Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991 as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Super Castlevania IV}}''. Another arcade version released as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: The Arcade}}'' in 2009, this time as an on-rails adventure game.

A sequel was put into production after the financial success of the seminal entry, which released on August 28, 1987 for Famicom Disk System as ''Dracula II'', which retroactively received a subtitle when it released internationally as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania II: Simon's Quest}}''. Set several years after the first game, Simon needs to retrieve the body parts of Dracula in order to revive and kill him again to reverse a curse put upon him. Something of note is that the move to the NES meant scrapping the save feature of the disks to a password system, which saved memory and made the game load faster, which left room for enhanced graphics and a completely remastered soundtrack, ironically making the NES version the superior version to play. The game is a radical departure from the previous entry in that it is a non-linear adventure game with a greater emphasis on puzzle solving and time management. The team admitted that games like {{uv|Metroid}} and ''{{iw|wikipedia|The Maze of Galious}}'' were major inspirations, laying the foundation for what the series would eventually become. These changes were controversial upon release for being so radically different and not necessarily for the better, and the game is still contentious to this day. However, this game is still influential, with other franchises like {{uvm3|Getsu Fuma Den}} taking inspiration from this game in particular and building the experience around the framework to much more positive reception.

A spinoff released for Game Boy in 1989 titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: The Adventure}}''. This game stars Christopher Belmont, ancestor to Simon in the late 1500s, who goes on a quest to defeat Dracula like the rest of his family. This game was widely panned upon release for its slow pace, tedious and confusing level design, and unnecessary changes like a timer and altered item utility. The game received a sequel in 1991 titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge}}'', where Christopher returns to save his son Soleil from being captured and used by Dracula to take over the world. The game was a noted improvement over the previous entry for a faster pace, more fair level design, and overall being more in line with other games in the franchise. The first game received a remake in 2009 exclusive to the WiiWare service titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth}}'', and was considered a significant improvement over the original with better graphics and smoother gameplay.

A third NES entry released in 1989 titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse}}''. Set in 1476, vampire hunter Trevor Belmont recruits Grant Danasty, Sypha Belnades, and Dracula's own half-human son [[Alucard]] to stop the count from destroying humanity. The Japanese version is notable for using a custom sound chip that utilizes 8 music channels instead of the standard 5 channels. The chip was not used in the international version, so the soundtrack had to be paired down to fit on the system. This again saved on memory, which was filled with new content like hidden game modes and rebalanced characters. This game was seen as a return to form for the series and set the standard for the 2D platformer side of the ''Castlevania'' series.

A parody of the series was made in 1990 for Famicom titled ''Kid Dracula'', which is a cutesy take on the classic formula with Dracula as a child going on whacky adventures. The game received a remake for Game Boy in 1993 and has made cameos in a few games since.

The next mainline entry would be released in 1993 for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² as ''Akumajō Dracula X: Chi no Rondo''. Set in 1791, Dracula returns and kidnaps four maidens in order to take over the world, most of which are directly connected to vampire hunter [[Richter Belmont]], who must liberate these women and defeat Dracula. The game utilized the new CD format for higher quality audio, full voice acting, and cutscenes to tell the plot. While different playable characters were not new to the series, this entry was the first to have an alternate campaign with Maria Renard, a young girl and magician in training who is a distant relative to the Belmonts, who even has an alternate joke ending. This game was reviewed as an excellent entry to the series with many innovations that would later be core to the series, though it would take many years to properly release outside of Japan. It received a loose remake for SNES titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Dracula X}}'' in 1995 that was widely seen as a step down from the original. The game received a 2.5D remake for PlayStation Portable in 2007 as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles}}'', and the original version would finally release overseas on the [[Wii]] [[Virtual Console]] in 2010, where it was officially titled  ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Rondo of Blood}}''.

In 1994, an entry for Sega Genesis released as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Bloodlines}}''. Taking place in 1917, John Morris, descendant of both the Belmonts and Quincy Morris from Bram Stoker's ''Dracula'' novel, as well as friend Eric Lecarde, team up to foil an attempt to resurrect Dracula. The game was designed around the hardware of the Genesis, with a faster pace and more visual effects than previous entries. The game is also more violent and bloody due to Sega's more lax content restrictions. Despite this, the game was altered and rebranded as ''Castlevania: The New Generation'' for PAL regions.

The next entry is a direct continuation of  ''Rondo of Blood '', released in 1997 for PlayStation and Sega Saturn as  ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Symphony of the Night}}''. This game was primarily overseen by up-and-coming employee {{iw|wikipedia|Koji Igarashi}}, who joined Konami in 1990 and had worked on several PC projects. Development began in 1994 for the Sega 32X add-on for the Genesis, going under the tentative title of ''Castlevania: The Bloodletting ''.  After the add-on's commercial failure and the dawning of a new console generation, Konami decided to cancel this project and transitioned the remains into what would become the final product three years later. The plot sees Richter Belmont disappear in the years following his battle with Dracula, whose castle suddenly reappears. With no Belmont to face this issue, Alucard reawakens and returns as an emergency back-up plan to deal with the crisis himself. Gameplay is a drastic departure from what came before, taking inspiration from  ''Simon's Quest'' and refining the experience into an action RPG based around exploring the castle and backtracking after acquiring new abilities to overcome previously impossible obstacles. The game was a massive success for Konami in a world where a 2D game like itself was seen as archaic and stuck in the past. Praise was given to its genius level design and worldbuilding, providing more insight into the histories of Alucard, Dracula, and their tying into the history of the Belmonts. This game would even solidify a genre of gaming alongside its direct inspiration, Metroid, colloquially dubbed “Metroidvania” by fans.

Also in 1997, another Game Boy title released titled  ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania Legends}}''. Gameplay is mostly similar to previous entries, though this was not seen as a good thing and the game felt antiquated upon release. The plot involves Sonia Belmont, matriarch of the entire Belmont clan at the time, in the family's first conflict with Dracula. However, this plot was later declared non-canon along with Sonia. She was planned to reappear in the Dreamcast game ''Castlevania: Resurrection'' before it was canceled.

Despite the franchise still doing well by sticking to its 2D roots, Konami wanted to break the franchise into 3D gameplay. This resulted in the title simply known as  ''Castlevania'' in 1999 for [[Nintendo 64]]. The game is a departure from the series due to its design based on 3D exploration and combat. The team behind this game had little experience in 3D game design, which shows in the final product with clunky controls, awkward level design and a cumbersome camera that made the game frustrating to play. Sales were decent, but the game left a permanent mark on the franchise. The game received a sequel only a few months later titled ''Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness''. The game is mostly the same as its predecessor, but with some quality-of-life improvements and reintroduction of some cut content. Though these marginal improvements were not enough to save face and the game sold even worse, now considered a rare collector's item. Both titles have also been struck from canon after the fact.

While those games were being made, a different team were working on a successor to ''Symphony of the Night'', this time for the new Game Boy Advance as the style of game they were making was suitable for the pick up and play nature and small scale of a handheld console. This game released in 2001 as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Circle of the Moon}}''.  The game refined what audiences liked about the previous game and added some new ideas like cards that create unique attacks when paired together that are effective against certain enemies. The game was well received as the Metroidvania formula on a handheld and sold well for a launch title, though this game was also struck from canon as new games contradicted with its plot.

The groundwork created with ''Circle of the Moon'' was iterated at a fairly frequent rate on handheld consoles. The first was released in 2002 titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance}}'', again for Game Boy Advance and developed by the actual team behind ''Symphony of the Night''. Taking place in 1748, Juste Belmont, grandson of Simon Belmont, travel to a mysterious castle to save his friends and stop the revival of Dracula. New additions include being able to travel between two different versions of the castle to progress as well as multiple endings depending on actions taken during the game. This game was more divisive upon release. While its gameplay and level design was as tightly designed as ever, it being one of the easiest games in the series up to that point, overall smaller scale and less ambitious ideas held its potential back, as well as its soundtrack being uncharacteristically generic and forgettable. The game still sold well off the hype of the previous entries.

These criticisms would be addressed in 2003 with the next release ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow}}'', again for Game Boy Advance. Taking place in 2035, the game stars young man Soma Cruz as he makes his way through Dracula's castle alongside friends new and old as he tries to stop Dracula's revival and figure out who he really is. This game in particular is seen as a high point of the series, with additions like more weapon variety and different abilities acquired from defeated enemies would again inspire other games in the future. This game would get a direct sequel in 2005 for {{b|Nintendo DS|universe}} titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow}}''. Set one year after the previous game, the past of Soma Cruz starts catching up with him and now he has to deal with the many threats and enemies drawn to him as a result. This game again received high marks as a great game, particularly with the inventive ways it utilized both screens.

On home consoles, another team was tinkering with the Nintendo 64 games and wanted to improve their formula for future entries. The first attempt at this initiative released as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Lament of Innocence}}'' in 2003 for PlayStation 2. Set in 1094, the game stars Leon Belmont, patriarch of the entire Belmont clan, and his involvement in the origin of Dracula that was hinted at in previous games. The developers would admit to regretting this plot, as it gives a hard limit on the amount of times Dracula can resurrect, and thus the amount of games that can be made without going into the far future. Audiences recognized the significant improvements to the 3D ''Castlevania'' formula, with snappier gameplay and introducing elements found in the Metroidvania titles for cohesion and variety. That being said, the game was seen as repetitive and tedious with few attempts at being inventive with its concept, and the game has aged poorly in this regard.

A second attempt at this formula was in 2005 as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Curse of Darkness}}'' for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Taking place three years after the event of ''Dracula's Curse'', the game sees the return of Trevor Belmont and his cohorts deal with new threats in the wake of them defeating Dracula. While the battle system was considered a marked improvement over its predecessors, the game overall felt samey and did not do much to stand out.

Back on the Nintendo DS, a wholly original title in the series released in 2006 titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin}}''. Taking place in 1944 and serving as a continuation of ''Castlevania: Bloodlines'', the game sees John Morris's descendant Jonathan team up with Charlotte Aulin to travel a Europe ravaged by the second World War to stop a revived Dracula. This game was also the first in the series to have online capabilities, notably using [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]] to interact and play with others cooperatively. The game was overall received as an excellent entry in the series, although some elements like the two characters were divisive at the time.

The Nintendo DS then received another entry in 2008 titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia}}''. Set in the 1800s after the events of ''Symphony of the Night'', the Belmont clan and the Vampire Killer whip have largely disappeared after the incident with Richter. With no other options, a magical vessel named Shanoa is tasked with defeating Dracula herself. While the game received praise like previous entries, a sentiment of the franchise becoming oversaturated was growing with games coming out at too quick a pace, reflected in dwindling sales.

Also in 2008, the [[Wii]] received a new entry titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania Judgement}}'', an arena-based fighting game that notably had ''Death Note'' writer and illustrator Takeshi Obata redesign the entire cast. The game was poorly received at launch due to its awkward controls, shallow gameplay, incoherent plot, and unappealing redesigns. In hindsight, many fans consider this game the breaking point for the series.

Going into the new decade, Konami were looking to completely reboot the ''Castlevania'' series, particularly after several shepherds of the franchise resigned from the company around this time. As a response to this exodus and bide time before a plan can be put into place, the game ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Harmony of Despair}}'' was released in 2010 for Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 later in 2011. The game is mainly an asset-flip of previous games where players can explore famous locations as a host of different characters with a focus on online multiplayer. Six characters were available at launch, with more levels and playable characters being available in subsequent DLC packs. This was also notably the final ''Castlevania'' title overseen by Koji Igarashi, who would leave the company to become independent in 2014.

The Spain-based developer MercurySteam would catch the attention of Konami, as they were greenlit to make a new game in the series. Development was shaky, as Konami wanted to pull MercurySteam as primary developer, before {{uv|Metal Gear}}'s creator Hideo Kojima stepped in to personally oversee the project and shield Mercury Steam from Konami's influence. The game released in 2010 as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Lords of Shadow}}'' for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, with a PC version in 2013. Being a total reboot of the series, the game is set in a new continuity with Gabriel Belmont facing various demonic threats while also trying to figure out who and what he really is. Gameplay drew inspiration from earlier 3D entries while refining those systems and taking inspirations from other games. The game was praised for its bold and different take on the franchise, though criticism was levied over its gameplay being derivative and chasing trends. This did not stop the game from selling incredibly well, becoming the best-selling game in the franchise to this day.

This game received a spin-off for [[Nintendo 3DS]] titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate}}'', which combined gameplay elements of the first game into a 2D Metroidvania style of game. This entry would be remastered in high definition for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC less than a year later.

A proper sequel would be released in 2014 as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2}}'' for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. This game sees the return of Gabriel Belmont as he deals with the fallout of the events of the previous game and all the new threats as a result. Development was even rockier this time around, as Hideo Kojima was embattled with Konami over his own projects and could not oversee MercurySteam, allowing Konami to meddle with the project much more than before. This game was received much worse than the first, with complaints being a confusing story and gameplay now trying too hard to be different, and this entry sold significantly worse and spelled the end of this particular subseries.

The ''Castlevania'' franchise was in a dormant phase for a decade, with publisher Konami largely pulling out of the home console game market. The last notable title at the time was initially the 2019 free-to-play mobile game ''Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls'', which was shut down in 2020 and then relaunched the following year as a Apple Arcade exclusive. In 2024, Konami released a new ''Castlevania'' game, a remake of ''Haunted Castle'' called ''Haunted Castle Revisited'', as part of the ''Castlevania Dominus Collection'' by M2. It has received praise as an improvement over the original ''Haunted Castle''. Additionally, Konami has rereleased their ''Castlevania'' games via several compilations throughout the years. The ''Castlevania Classic Collection'' was released in 2019 as part of Konami's 50th anniversary and ''Kid Dracula'' was released outside of Japan for the first time. The ''Advance Collection'' was released in 2021 and the ''Dominus Collection'' in 2024. Konami has made several pachinko games that used the  ''Castlevania'' branding since 2015.

During the State of Play of February 12, 2026, the franchise saw a brand new game being in development for its 40th anniversary and set after ''Castlevania III'', titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Belmont's Curse}}'', breaking its dormant status with a release date set for 2026.

Outside of the core series, a few games have featured cameos such as ''Konami Wai Wai World'', ''DreamMix TV World Fighters'', the indie game ''Dead Cells'', a few installments in the {{uv|Bomberman}} franchise, and a dedicated DLC expansion in ''{{iw|wikipedia|Vampire Survivors}}''. Outside of games, Simon Belmont makes a starring role in the tv show  ''Captain N: The Game Master''. The franchise also received a [[wikipedia:Castlevania (TV series)|Netflix animated series]] adapting the events of ''Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse'', premiering in 2017 and concluding with the fourth season in 2021. A sequel series, ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Nocturne}}'', focuses on Richter Belmont and Maria Renard during the French Revolution. It premiered its first season on Netflix in 2023, with a second season premiering in 2025. Dracula, Trevor Belmont, Soma Cruz, and Alucard are also playable characters in the 2016 asymmetrical survival horror game ''{{iw|wikipedia|Dead by Daylight}}''.

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''==
This game marked the much-anticipated debut of the highly-requested ''Castlevania'' universe, with the addition of two fighters, an Assist Trophy, a new stage with a handful of cameos, 34 total music tracks, and a boss character. This was the first new third-party universe to be featured in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' and the only one not introduced through DLC.

===Fighters===
*66. [[File:SimonIcon(SSBU).png|50px|right|link=Simon (SSBU)]]'''{{SSBU|Simon}}''' ([[Unlockable character|Unlockable]]): The main character of several ''Castlevania'' titles, including the first, and often considered the original mascot of the series, Simon appears as an unlockable newcomer, being revealed during the August 2018 Smash Direct. In battle, he fights using his iconic whip, the Vampire Killer, which grants his normal attacks massive reach at the cost of speed. His attributes and sound effects have been faithfully transplanted from his original games into ''Smash'', including his strut, stilted jumps and aerial mobility. His special moves incorporate classic sub-weapons, including the [[Axe]], [[Cross]], and [[Holy Water]], functioning exactly as they did in the original titles. His Final Smash is an Item Crash called [[Grand Cross]], which seals any captured opponents in a coffin before unleashing a flurry of light upon them.{{clr}}
*66<sup>ε</sup>. [[File:RichterIcon(SSBU).png|50px|right|link=Richter (SSBU)]]'''{{SSBU|Richter}}''' ([[Unlockable character|Unlockable]]): The protagonist of ''Rondo of Blood'' and one of the many descendants of Simon debuts as an unlockable [[Echo Fighter]] of Simon, revealed alongside him in the August 2018 Smash Direct. Like the other Echo Fighters, Richter's voice clips, taunts, and victory animations are all his own. He performs identically to his base character, but with one notable difference, being the properties of their down special, Holy Water. Many of Simon's attacks, such as down tilt, up special, and Grand Cross, are actually derived from Richter's moveset from ''Symphony of the Night''.{{clr}}

===Boss===
*[[File:Dracula Phase 1 SSBU.png|right|120px|link=Dracula]]'''[[Dracula]]''': Dracula, the recurring chief antagonist of the series, appears as a [[boss]] in {{SSBU|Classic Mode}} and [[World of Light]]. His boss fight has two main phases, both with drastically different designs and attack patterns. His boss fight is the only one to feature two phases.{{clr}}

===Stage===
*[[File:DraculasCastleIconSSBU.png|75px|right|link=Dracula's Castle]]'''[[Dracula's Castle]]''' ([[Starter stage|Starter]]): The series's titular castle appears, taking inspiration from its appearance as a final boss arena in various ''Castlevania'' games. Enemies and bosses from the series appear here as [[background character]]s, including: 
**'''Carmilla''': A high ranking vampire in Dracula's court.
**'''The Creature & Flea Man''': Frankenstein's monster and a mutant beast (sometimes referred to as Igor).
**'''Death''': Dracula's confidant and right-hand man.
**'''Medusa''': A recurring monster often found within the gardens of Dracula's Castle.
**'''Mummy''': A recurring monster that is often either a powerful boss or common enemy type.
**'''Werewolf''': A recurring monster that is often either a powerful boss or common enemy type.

===[[World of Light]] Sub-World===
*[[File:DraculaCastleCharacterLocations.jpg|100px|right|link=Dracula's Castle (World of Light)]]'''{{b|Dracula's Castle|World of Light}}''': Based on the titular castle from the series, Dracula's Castle appears as a sub-world in [[The Dark Realm]]. The map is based on its appearance in the original ''Castlevania'', with the world's mechanic involving firing cannonballs at ghosts blocking the path. Cannonballs can bounce off of gold walls depending and their angle and the player can reset the room using an hourglass if they aren't satisfied with the result. [[Dracula]] appears as the boss of the sub-world. {{SSBU|Daisy}}, {{SSBU|Wario}}, {{SSBU|Ridley}}, {{SSBU|Ken}}, {{SSBU|Dark Pit}}, {{SSBU|Robin}}, and {{SSBU|Richter}} can be unlocked here, with Richter only appearing once the player defeats all ghosts.{{clr}}

===Items===
*'''[[Death's Scythe]]''': Recurring endgame boss Death's weapon, it can be used to instantly KO heavily damaged fighters when inputted like a smash attack.

====Assist Trophy====
*'''[[Alucard]]''': The main protagonist of ''Symphony of the Night'', a minor ally within other installments, and Dracula's own son. When summoned, he wields the Crissaegrim, can transform into a bat, and can evade attacks by assuming mist form or backdashing. He can be KO’d.

===Music===
{{main|List of SSBU Music (Castlevania series)}}
''Castlevania'' received a total of 34 tracks and remixes, the third most (behind ''Tekken'' and ''Fatal Fury'') of any debuting major franchise in ''Ultimate''.
====Original Tracks====
Sakurai noted that ''Castlevania''{{'}}s music was especially popular among the music composers. As such, ''Castlevania'' received 13 remixes in ''Ultimate'', more new remixes than any other universe except {{uv|Mega Man}} and {{uv|Fatal Fury}}.

*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Vampire Killer (Remix)|Vampire Killer}}''': A remix of the theme of the first level in ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania|1986 video game}}'', and a recurring theme in the franchise. Heard in Simon's character trailer.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Starker / Wicked Child}}''': A remix of the second and third level themes in ''Castlevania''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Out of Time}}''': The theme of the Clock Tower stage, the final level of ''Castlevania''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Bloody Tears / Monster Dance}}''': A medley of the themes that play during the day and night in ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania II: Simon's Quest}}''. This song was [[Leak#Castlevania_music_leak|accidentally leaked by Nintendo ahead of its official announcement]].
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Cross Your Heart}}''': A remix of the theme of the first stage of ''{{iw|wikipedia|Haunted Castle|video game}}'', an arcade remake of the original ''Castlevania''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Beginning}}''': A remix of the theme for the first stage of ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse}}''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Aquarius}}''': A remix of the theme that plays in the Sunken City of Poltergeists stage in ''Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Divine Bloodlines}}''': A remix of the theme of the first stage from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Rondo of Blood}}''. This remix borrows elements from other versions of the theme, such as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin}}'', ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Dracula X}}'', "Bloodlines Bequeathed" from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania|1999 video game}}'' (N64), and "Blood Relations" from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Symphony of the Night}}''. Heard in Richter's character trailer.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Iron-Blue Intention}}''': A remix of the theme of the fourth stage of ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Bloodlines}}''. 
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Dance of Gold}}''': A remix of the theme of the Alchemy Laboratory from ''Castlevania: Symphony of the Night''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Lost Painting}}''': A remix of the theme of the Reverse Caverns, Anti-Chapel, and Forbidden Library from ''Castlevania: Symphony of the Night''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Awake}}''': A remix of the theme of the Catacomb stage from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Circle of the Moon}}''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Lament of Innocence}}''': A remix of Leon Belmont's theme from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Lament of Innocence}}'', which plays on the second floor of the Pagoda of the Misty Moon; it also includes "Dracula's Theme" from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Super Castlevania IV}}''.

====Source Tracks====
Tracks sourced directly from the ''Castlevania'' games.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Vampire Killer}}''': Simon's theme, sourced from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania Judgment}}'', which itself is a remix of the first stage theme from ''Castlevania''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Nothing to Lose}}''': A remix of Dracula's first phase boss theme from ''Castlevania'', sourced from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Harmony of Despair}}''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Black Night}}''': A remix of Dracula's second phase boss theme from ''Castlevania'', sourced from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: The Arcade}}''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Dwelling of Doom}}''': The theme played inside mansions, sourced from the Famicom Disk System version of ''Castlevania II: Simon's Quest''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Can't Wait Until Midnight}}''': A remix of Julius Belmont's theme from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow}}'', which itself is a remix of the final stage theme from ''Haunted Castle''; it also contains "Heart of Fire" from the original ''Castlevania''. Sourced from ''Castlevania: Harmony of Despair''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Mad Forest}}''': Sylpha's theme, sourced from ''Castlevania Judgment'', which itself is a remix of the forest area theme from ''Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Simon Belmont Theme}}''': The theme played during the first stage and the final boss, sourced from ''Super Castlevania IV''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Simon Belmont Theme (The Arcade)}}''': A remix of the theme played during the first stage and the final boss from ''Super Castlevania IV'', sourced from ''Castlevania: The Arcade''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Slash}}''': A remix of the theme of stage 4'<!--The apostrophe is intentionally part of the name, NOT A TYPO.--> from ''Castlevania: Rondo of Blood'', sourced from ''Castlevania: Harmony of Despair''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Dance of Illusions}}''': Dracula's theme, sourced from ''Castlevania Judgment'', which itself is a remix of Dracula's boss theme from ''Castlevaia: Rondo of Blood''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Dracula's Castle}}''': Alucard's theme, sourced from ''Castlevania Judgment'', which itself is a remix of the theme of the first area of Dracula's Castle in ''Castlevania: Symphony of the Night''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|The Tragic Prince}}''': A remix of the Clock Tower theme from ''Castlevania: Symphony of the Night'', sourced from ''Castlevania: Harmony of Despair''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Ruined Castle Gallery}}''': A remix of the Castle Corridor from ''Castlevania: Aria of Shadow'', sourced from ''Castlevania: Harmony of Despair''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Jet Black Intrusion}}''': The theme of the first stage, sourced from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow}}''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Crash in the Dark Night}}''': A remix of a boss theme from ''Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow'', sourced from ''Castlevania: Harmony of Despair''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Ripped Silence}}''': A remix of a boss theme from ''Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin'', sourced from ''Castlevania: Harmony of Despair''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Hail from the Past}}''': The theme of Sandy Grave, sourced from ''Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Jail of Jewel}}''': The theme of the Great Stairway, sourced from ''Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Twilight Stigmata}}''': A remix of the theme played in the opening movie and in the entrance of Dracula's Castle from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia}}'', sourced from ''Castlevania: Harmony of Despair''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Jet Black Wings}}''': A remix theme played in certain parts of Dracula's Castle in ''Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia'', sourced from ''Castlevania: Harmony of Despair''.
*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Castlevania|Go! Getsu Fuma}}''': A remix of a theme from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Getsu Fūma Den}}'', sourced from ''Castlevania: Harmony of Despair''.

====Victory Theme====
*'''[[Victory theme#Castlevania Victory Theme|Victory! Castlevania Series]]''': A remix of the stage clear theme from the original ''Castlevania''.

===Spirits===
{{main|List of spirits (Castlevania series)}}

==Games with elements appearing in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series==
{{main|Castlevania (universe)/Elements appearing in the Super Smash Bros. series}}
The ''Castlevania'' universe has media represented throughout the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series with a total of 28 games. The latest game represented in this universe is ''Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls'', released on September 20, 2019.

==Trivia==
*''Castlevania'' is one of four universes with multiple playable characters in which none of them have made a non-playable appearance in the ''Smash'' series prior to their playable debuts. The other three are {{uv|The Legend of Zelda}}, {{uv|EarthBound}}, and {{uv|Final Fantasy}}.
*With the playable appearances of Simon and {{SSBU|Richter}}, ''Castlevania'' is the first third-party franchise to have more than one playable fighter (the others are {{uv|Street Fighter}} and Final Fantasy) and the only one to debut with more than one character.
**It is also the first third party franchise to have a [[clone]] character (the other is {{uv|Street Fighter}}).
**It is also notable for having both a character and their [[clone]] debut within the same installment, something that has not occurred since ''[[Melee]]'' with {{SSBM|Marth}} and {{SSBM|Roy}}. 
**Additionally, ''Castlevania'', {{uv|Mario}}, {{uv|Pokémon}}, and {{uv|Fire Emblem}} are the only universes to have multiple playable characters in their debut ''Smash'' game.
*''Castlevania'' is the third of five third-party series represented in ''Smash'' which debuted on a Nintendo console, the others being {{uv|Mega Man}}, {{uv|Final Fantasy}}, {{uv|Dragon Quest}}, and {{uv|Banjo-Kazooie}}.
**Out of these franchises, they all debuted on the NES except for ''Banjo-Kazooie''.
*''Castlevania'' is the only fighter-based third-party franchise to have an [[item]]: in this case, it has [[Death's Scythe]].
**This also makes it the only third-party franchise with both an Assist Trophy and an item.
*''Castlevania'' and {{uv|Bayonetta}} are the only two universes with significant religious design elements to introduce a playable fighter.
**Of the two, ''Castlevania'' is the only universe which has their fighters use religious-themed attacks.
*Following ''Metal Gear'', ''Final Fantasy'', and ''Bayonetta'', the ''Castlevania'' series is the fourth primary series represented in ''Super Smash Bros.'' to include games that have been rated M (Mature) by the ESRB.
**However, Richter is the second character in ''Super Smash Bros.'' who is from an M-rated series, but has never actually appeared in an M-rated game, alongside Cloud.
*''Castlevania'' is the only new third party franchise to have a fighter introduced in ''Ultimate''{{'}}s base roster.
**Additionally, ''Castlevania'' and {{uv|Splatoon}} are the only two new franchises introduced in ''Ultimate'' to receive fighters in its base roster.
*''Castlevania'' is one of three universes with multiple characters to have all of them originate from different games, the other two being ''Animal Crossing'' and ''EarthBound''.
**However, if [[Banjo]] and [[Kazooie]] are counted as separate characters, then the ''Banjo-Kazooie'' universe also follows this distinction as Banjo made his debut in ''Diddy Kong Racing'' while Kazooie appeared in ''Banjo-Kazooie'', though Kazooie is mentioned in ''Diddy Kong Racing''{{'}}s manual.
*Currently, ''Castlevania'' is the latest third-party universe to gain a playable fighter in ''Super Smash Bros.'' to feature more than one playable fighter.
**However, if [[clone|echo fighters]] are not counted, this title goes to {{uv|Final Fantasy}}.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External Link==
*Article on the [https://castlevania.fandom.com/wiki/Castlevania_(series) Castlevania Wiki].

{{universe}}
{{Castlevania universe}}
[[Category:Castlevania universe| ]]
[[Category:Konami]]
[[Category:Third-party universes]]
[[es:Castlevania (universo)]]
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