Akumajō Dracula / Castlevania : Localization and Franchise Identity

Castlevania is a longstanding video game franchise from Japan which debuted in 1986. Known for its heavy Gothic inspiration and for having defined a gameplay genre, the franchise has seen critical acclaim in Japan and abroad.... [ view full abstract ]

Castlevania is a longstanding video game franchise from Japan which debuted in 1986. Known for its heavy Gothic inspiration and for having defined a gameplay genre, the franchise has seen critical acclaim in Japan and abroad. Now, more than thirty years and over thirty title releases later, it has cycled through multiple development studios and has evolved considerably since the release of the original game. These changes have been the result of various influential factors ranging from consumer tastes to publisher pressure. Considering the value of video games as an entertainment medium, an art form, and as a powerful form of mass-media, I have conducted research on the production and localization of the popular game franchise, Castlevania. I will present part of this research and focus on how localization has affected the franchise’s identity over its lifetime.