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twistedtummies2 · 7 months ago

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Top 10 Castlevania Dracula Boss Themes

While Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” is most often associated with All Hallow’s Eve, many people don’t realize that the original novel was actually published in May. In fact, World Dracula Day - commemorating the publication of this seminal work of literature - is May 26th, every year. I’ve been on a Dracula kick basically all year now, by this point, due to various things…and I’ve decided, with this in mind, it’s time to give another spotlight on one of my favorite stories and characters. So, I’m declaring this entire month of May to be “Dracula Month!” Throughout this month, I will be uploading various little lists (and, in two cases, re-releasing old countdowns in an updated format) all related in some way to the King of the Vampires. And there’s no better place to start the celebration than with one of my favorite versions of Dracula, from one of my favorite video game franchises: Castlevania.

While Dracula isn’t directly battled in every Castlevania game, his specter looms large across the series. From the Classic games to the “Lords of Shadow” Reboot Trilogy, even if Dracula doesn’t appear as the final boss or main antagonist, he’s ALWAYS present in some form or another. As the main villain of the entire franchise, the Count of Transylvania has rarely been shown as persistent or as powerful as he is in these great games. And of course, with so many boss battles with Dracula in so many games…there must also come a great number of boss themes.

The music of Castlevania is one of its strongest points, and Dracula’s many battle themes are no exception. Some are more well-known or more frequently used than others, but it’s interesting to hear just many different musical stylings and compositions have been attributed to the Prince of Darkness throughout the franchise. So, I’m going to countdown my ten favorite Dracula boss themes from throughout the Castlevania series, just for a lark. I should point out I’m specifically focusing on the games and their boss battles, so you won’t be seeing any music from the (most excellent) animated series here. Also, I am specifically talking about boss themes, so any other pieces of music attributed to Dracula won’t be discussed, at least not in this list. BUT ENOUGH TALK! These are my Top 10 Dracula Boss Themes from Castlevania! HAVE AT THEE!

10. Black Banquet, from Symphony of the Night.

Considering “Symphony of the Night” is widely regarded as one of the best Castlevania games ever, if not the best - and with one of the greatest soundtracks of the series to boot - it’s funny that I often feel the final battle with Dracula in the game tends to get overlooked. More people seem to remember the impossible-to-lose Prologue opening battle between Richter and the Count, both musically and in terms of the fight overall. There are lots of reasons why, but while while the final battle with Dracula in “Symphony” may not be his absolute best encounter as a boss, and “Black Banquet” isn’t usually people’s first choice for a great Dracula boss theme, I don’t think this piece of music is bad at all. There’s a low, deep, pumping quality to the music, which really gives a sense of size and dread to this final duel between Alucard and his father. It’s a fittingly eerie sort of theme, tense and low, almost like something from a modern stealth/survival horror title. It may not be the most memorable or the most popular, but it’s far from terrible.

9. Creatures in the Depth, from Castlevania Chronicles.

Yes, for those who don’t know, it’s “Depth” not “Depths.” Don’t ask me why. Anyway, I’m specifically talking about the Arranged version of this theme. A lot of older, more “retro” sounding, “bit-based” music themes tend to be hit or miss from me. I generally prefer things that have a more symphonic or orchestral sort of sound quality. Whichever version you listen to, however, this is a pretty fun theme for Dracula. This tune plays during the first stage of the Count’s boss fight. It’s one of the fastest-paced themes on the list, and has a sort of theatricality to it. There’s a sort of “bouncing off the walls” quality to the piece. The rhythm actually weirdly seems to sync up with Dracula’s frequently teleporting around the arena, almost like a warning sign of when he’s going to pop up next, and gives this final “en-Count-er” a sort of “rock star” quality. My only problem with the theme, and why it ranks so low, is that it’s very short; the soundtrack release has to loop the track at least three times, because the full piece in total is less than a minute. Some of the other themes on this countdown ARE on the short side, mind you, but none of them are THIS brief. Still, short as it is, it’s not bad.

8. Order of the Demon, from Harmony of Despair.

This theme first appeared in the game “Order of Ecclesia,” and while I think it’s fine there…once again, I prefer the more “full” version, in terms of instrumental style and quality, from the game “Harmony of Despair.” In that game, this theme plays during the first two stages of Dracula’s boss fight. (It changes to the tune “Dance of Illusions” in the final stage, which we’ll get to later.) “Harmony of Despair” took several classic themes from throughout the franchise’s history, and reworked them into a sort of symphonic rock or metal style. However, for “Order of the Demon,” they eschewed electric guitars and other such instrumental choices in favor of a more straightforward, orchestral sound, with heavy focus on brass and percussion. Like “Creatures in the Depth,” this is a very wild-sounding theme, with a rapid tempo, and I like it for similar reasons as a result. It’s a bit longer and has more variation to the way it plays with the melody though, which is ultimately what makes it stand out above the previous choice.

7. The Vampire’s Stomach, from Castlevania X Michiru Yamane: Autobiography Music.

Wow, what a title. If you’re wondering what game that title comes from…it’s not from any game. That’s really the primary reason this one gets a lower ranking, you see: the track itself IS found in a Castlevania game, but this specific ARRANGEMENT is not. Confused? Well, here’s the succinct version of things: Michiru Yamane is a composer who has worked on several Castlevania games, such as “Bloodlines” and the aforementioned “Symphony of the Night.” However (supposedly), she felt a bit disappointed with the way some of the tracks in Bloodlines, in particular, came out: that game came out on the SEGA Genesis, and the musical capabilities of that system weren’t able to live up to Yamane’s fullest desires. A special CD, with the above title, allowed Yamane to create more symphonic-sounding arrangements of some of her themes from Bloodlines that she wished could have been done a bit differently, among them being Dracula’s boss fight from that game, “The Vampire’s Stomach.” The arranged version is five minutes long and is extremely interesting; it would have been great to hear this rendition in an actual game of the series at some point. It still would be! But since it technically never did, and the original “Bloodlines” version, I have to admit, isn’t one I’m ESPECIALLY fond of (if I were ranking just that original take, this track would be at least a little lower in the ranks), I don’t think it’s fair to put it any higher. It still sounds awesome, though…and while the title is a bit odd, I love it, too, for the record.

6. Banquet of Madness, from Portrait of Ruin.

This is the theme that accompanies my single favorite boss fight in the entire Castlevania series, which is honestly the main reason it ranks as highly as it does: that’s just good background to help boost any theme, frankly. In this battle, you’re not only fighting Count Dracula, but also the secondary antagonist of the series: his right-hand skeleton, the Grim Reaper himself, Death. You could argue that means this doesn’t count for the list, since it isn’t JUST Dracula being fought…but a.) Dracula is doing most of the work (though Death playing support certainly helps to make this fight all the more challenging and memorable), b.) it follows the typical “formula” of a Dracula battle in these games, and c.) this is my list, so I make the rules. Ha! Anyway, this is another short, rather wild sort of theme, but I think that wild tone fits better here than anywhere else. You have to deal with two enemies during this fight, both of whom are very powerful, and both of whom are constantly on the move, throughout the first stage. When Dracula “absorbs” Death to help himself take on his “true form,” you’d think having just one target would make things easier, but no: the fight only gets even more intense at that point, as Dracula flies around using more devastating and frequent attacks than ever. The phrase “Madness” certainly begets the situation.

5. Dracula’s Room/Simon Belmont’s Theme, from Super Castlevania IV.

This one (well…really, these two) can be considered truly classic. It’s one of the most iconic and well-liked themes for Dracula battles in the Castlevania library, and I think there are two reasons why: one is the context, the other is the unique tone. Both of which sort of go hand-in-hand. Contextually, throughout the final stage of this game, the music is rocky and strong, very heroic and forward-driving. It rarely lets up the pace and rhythm, urging you to charge forward and make it to the end in this final gauntlet of chaotic evil. But after you defeat Death…suddenly, the music just cuts out, and for a moment there’s silence. Then, “Dracula’s Room” begins to play, as you make your way through the lonely halls towards the Count’s private chambers for the final duel. This theme is haunting, slow, almost sorrowful, with a sort of bitterness to it; it isn’t a grand, sweeping, adrenaline-fueled piece, but something cold and almost ethereal. It’s the sound of two old enemies, both of whom know this is the end, finally coming face to face for one last struggle. It’s a tonal jump from the rest of the stage that catches you off guard and unnerves you, and it makes the battle with Dracula all the more memorable. When Dracula gets down to his last several bars of health, and begins the second stage of his fight, the music changes to the more triumphant-sounding, mighty “Simon Belmont’s Theme,” almost like a pep talk to the player that you’ve almost won, or like Simon finally gaining the upper hand as Dracula grows more desperate. Separate, both themes are great, but when combined, they create a great story told through music. The only reason this DOESN’T rank higher is because, again, I prefer more symphonic/orchestral pieces to the more “retro” sounding music here…but as far as “retro” pieces go, this is one that has really stood the test of time well.

4. Final Fight, from Mirror of Fate.

In direct contrast to the previous choice, this is one that I feel is underrated, and goes in quite the opposite direction. “Mirror of Fate” was one of three games made for the “Lords of Shadow” reboot of the Castlevania games. These three games were an attempt to update and modernize the series, changing up the lore a bit (well…a lot, really) and using gameplay and aesthetic stylings influenced heavily by the “God of War” franchise. Fans of Castlevania are mixed about these creative decisions, but I personally didn’t mind them. While none of the three were perfect, I think they still stand as good games…and of the three, “Mirror of Fate” was my favorite. It was an attempt to combine the classic gameplay style of sidescrolling Castlevania games of yesteryear with the lore and aesthetics of the other “Lords of Shadow” titles. In the other two games, Dracula is actually the main protagonist…but as part of the “return to form” style of “Mirror of Fate,” in this title, Dracula is finally the main villain again. The Lord of the Vampires is fought twice in the game, and both battles use this theme. Fitting with the style of the LoS trilogy, this has a heavy, pounding, rhythmic, “epic” sound to it, with a lot of grit and toughness, but still carries strange of Gothic, almost operatic power typical to the Count as a character. There’s a twinge of bitterness and sadness to this theme, along with a heavy dose of bold horror; not only a result of our main character in other titles now playing the role of the villain, but the tragic circumstances that surround both duels with the Son of the Dragon in this game. It’s not a theme a lot of other Castlevania fans would likely place on their Top 10, let alone so high up, but I think it’s worthy of my own countdown.

3. Nothing to Lose/Black Night, from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

“Super Smash” may not ACTUALLY be a Castlevania game, but there’s a Castlevania world, and you CAN fight Dracula in it. You can even play one of the Belmont clan, no less! So I’m still counting it. (Also, technically these themes first showed up in “Harmony of Despair,” I think. So if Smash Bros. doesn’t count, that title DEFINITELY does.) These are actually remixes of Dracula’s boss themes from the very first “Castlevania” game, released all the way back in 1986. Those old themes are as retro as retro gets, and while they have a certain charm, I MUCH prefer these new arrangements, which combine high-flying Gothic strings and choral darkness with a screaming electric guitar and (literal) banging drums. “Nothing to Lose” plays during the first stage of Count Dracula’s battle in the game, while “Black Night” kicks in during the second stage. These were glorious, rocking-good reinventions of arguably the most classic of classic Castlevania Dracula battle themes; returning the series to its roots and revving things up to a hundred at the same time. While they did originate in “Harmony of Despair,” like I said, I will always remember them and appreciate them best for their use in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as they really helped to create the “Castlevania Package” for the game, so to speak.

2. Toccata Into Blood-Soaked Darkness, from Curse of Darkness.

“Curse of Darkness” has one of my favorite soundtracks in the Castlevania franchise, if not my favorite, so it stands to reason Dracula would have a great theme here. Much like with “Creatures in the Depth,” this tune plays during the first stage of Dracula’s boss battle, and far outshines the theme that follows it. Alongside “Dracula’s Room” and our number one pick (still to come), this seems to be considered one of Dracula’s absolute “signature” themes. It’s one a lot of people name as one of their favorites, if not their favorite, and for good reason. This theme is absolutely DRENCHED in Gothic power and decadent gloom. The virtuosic organ leitmotif that runs throughout gives the theme a sense of grandeur, while also driving it onward with its remarkable speed. The music starts out as a slight slow burn, with lower, darker, colder tones under the surface, which eventually crescendo, as the music grows wilder and more intense, matching the rising intensity of the fight itself. You hear this theme, and you just think “Dracula.” Plain and simple.

1. Dance of Illusions, from Dracula X Chronicles.

Also sometimes titled “Illusionary Dance,” I guess depending on translation. While the Toccata is a theme where you hear it and just think “Dracula,” this theme is one I hear and specifically, automatically think “Castlevania’s Dracula,” as well as, indeed, Castlevania in general. While this whole list has proven that the Count has had many unique variations on his boss music over the course of the franchise, “Dance of Illusions” is the track most recognized as Dracula’s “official” theme in the series. Originating in the game “Rondo of Blood,” this theme has since shown up in numerous Castlevania games as Dracula’s boss theme for at least one stage of his fight, if not the entire battle as a whole. This theme combines the Gothic darkness and power of the Toccata with the sort of swooping, theatrical sound that themes like “Creatures in the Depth” and “Banquet of Madness” have. When I hear this theme, it’s impossible for me to NOT imagine Dracula in his usual attack mode for the series, swirling his cape and laughing tauntingly as he uses his magic to combat the player. I knew this theme would be my number one from the start, and revisiting it did not change my mind…the hard part was figuring out which arrangement I would use. Some versions of this tune I considered include the ones from “Symphony of the Night,” “Legacy of Darkness,” and the recent homage “Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania.” Ultimately, however, I decided my favorite arrangement is from “Dracula X Chronicles,” which was - coincidentally - a remake of the original game this came from, “Rondo of Blood.” It’s the most dramatic, the most intense, and accompanies my single favorite solo battle with the Count (my second favorite Dracula boss after “Portrait of Ruin,” overall) in the entire franchise. While it is admittedly on the short side, clocking in at about a minute-and-a-half before looping, it makes FULL use of the length it has, and is therefore my favorite interpretation of the theme I best recognize as Dracula’s theme within this franchise. Therefore, it is more than deserving of recognition as number one on this countdown. Case dismissed.

HONORABLE MENTIONS INCLUDE…

The Devil’s Revival, from The Adventure ReBirth. (Very retro theme, and a fun one. ‘Nuff said.)

Metamorphosis to the Black Abyss of Death, from Curse of Darkness. (I liked the first battle’s theme more, but this one is good, too.)

You Goddamned Bathead, from Castlevania Chronicles. (Best. Title. Ever. XD Again, like with Curse of Darkness, just liked the first theme more.)

The Darkness That Chills Men’s Hearts, from Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2. (Wasn’t sure if this one should count, since the battle is against a creature called “Inner Dracula” and the player’s character is Dracula himself. However, for that same exact reason, it seemed like it should at least be an Honorable Mention.)

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