History Memes / Castlevania

* The entirety of the infamous opening to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation version is insanely quotable.

* "As you can see, this is a UsefulNotes/PlayStation black disc. Cut number 1 contains computer data, so please don't play it... but you probably won't listen to me anyway, will you?" (secret music track plays) [[labelnote:Explanation]]This track plays when someone tries to play the disc in a regular CD player and the part about computer data refers to the fact that older CD players, not knowing how to handle data on a CD that isn't Red Book audio, would screw up when trying to play data for a computer or game console. (It's supposed to be Alucard delivering the message.)[[/labelnote]]

** "Die monster! You don't belong in this world!"[[labelnote:Explanation]]Richter's opening line to Dracula and fondly remembered for its strange delivery.[[/labelnote]]

* "Behold my true form, and this pear!"[[lablenote:Explanation]]{{Mondegreen}} of "Behold my true form, and despair!"[[/lablenote]]

* Jonathan! Charlotte! Jonathan! Charlotte! Jonathan! Charlotte! Jonathan! Charlotte! Jonathan! Charlotte! [[labelnote:Explanation]]The main characters of ''Portrait of Ruin'' call each other's names when tagged. This can be spammed rapidly, and speedrunners frequently do so to [[LagCancel speed up their attack rate.]][[/labelnote]]

* Those are a ''[[BuxomIsBetter sacred gift]]!'' [[labelnote:Explanation]]The game portrays Maria as a breast-obsessed UsefulNotes/{{Pettanko}}. This is her response to Sypha (who would become a SweetPollyOliver) bemoaning her own femininity.[[/labelnote]]

* [[InexplicablyPreservedDungeonMeat Wall Chicken]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]A long-running joke in the fandom stemming from all the health-restoring chickens you can unveil by whipping walls. Often given {{Shout Out}}s by other {{Metroidvania}} games such as VideoGame/DustAnElysianTail.[[/labelnote]]

* Stairs of doom. [[labelnote:Explanation]]In the classic games, your character moves slowly on stairs, can't always jump off (or it's risky to do so), can't attack, and can fall through stairs trying to jump onto them. A [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ROJT7A3ClY ROM Hack]] based entirely around ''Castlevania'' stairs was made to examine this phenomenon, and the Creator/HideoKojima game ''VideoGame/{{Snatcher}}'' has an optional conversation where ''Castlevania''[='=]s stairs are explicitly discussed during a conversation.[[/labelnote]]

* No-No-No-No-Not bad. [[labelnote:Explanation]]In the online multiplayer ''Castlevania'' game, you're provided with sound bits for basic communication in a character's voice. Players who are quick and/or clever enough with their inputs can interrupt a given sound bit by having their character start another. This is one of many instances of this, as seen in the other examples below.[[/labelnote]]

*** Take this crap. Here's crap.[[labelnote:Explanation]]Another Soma Cruz instance, involving his 'All Yours' and 'Here' sound bits respectively interrupted by doing the input for his 'Oops' basic communication.[[/labelnote]]

* No-No-No-No-Not bad. [[labelnote:Explanation]]In the online multiplayer ''Castlevania'' game, you're provided with sound bits for basic communication in a character's voice. This is one of many instances of this, as seen in the other examples below.[[/labelnote]]
** Cra-Cra-Cra-Crap.
*** Take this crap. Here's crap.
** He-He-He-He-He-He-He-Here.

[[folder:Series Wide:]]

** When Koji Igarashi[[note]]''Castlevania''[='=]s most famous head-honcho, particularly famous for introducing {{Metroidvania}}[[/note]] promoted his upcoming game, ''VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight'', even he couldn't resist throwing a wine glass! (Including [[https://youtu.be/lKlR0SEmIoI?t=4 a sprite version of him]] in one of the game's trailers, and a [[https://youtu.be/d79KArgmgcc?t=42 live action version]] in the release trailer.). When the game finally is released, Miriam, the heroine, has the ability to chuck wine glasses as an attack, obtained from an enemy who does exactly that.

* "EROTIC VIOLENCE" [[labelnote:Explanation]]A phrase used to promote the 2015 pachislot game is adopted by fans to mock the game for seeming to pander to the PerverseSexualLust crowd. It is also used to criticize Konami for not developing any "real" games since the ''Lords of Shadow'' saga, which was polarizing anyway. [[/labelnote]]
[[/folder]]

* The entirety of the infamous opening opening to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation version is insanely quotable.
** "Die monster! You don't belong in this world!"[[labelnote:Explanation]]Richter's opening line to Dracula and fondly remembered for it's strange delivery.[[/labelnote]]

** The animation made out of it: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-ZqSlrCVcE diemonster.wmv]], isn't far behind in being beloved by the fandom for it's hilarious DerangedAnimation and great {{Visual Pun}}s.

* Richter spamming [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHCkF7uFrbw Hydro Storm]] because of it's sheer [[GameBreaker Game Breakability]].

* Jonathan! Charlotte! Jonathan! Charlotte! Jonathan! Charlotte! Jonathan! Charlotte! Jonathan! Charlotte! [[labelnote:Explanation]]The main characters of ''Portrait of Ruin'' call each other's name when tagged. This can be spammed rapidly, and speedrunners frequently do so to [[LagCancel speed up their attack rate.]][[/labelnote]]

* No-No-No-No-Not bad. [[labelnote:Explanation]]In the online multiplayer ''Castlevania'' game, you're provided with sound bits for basic communication in a character's voice. Other examples below.[[/labelnote]]
* Cra-Cra-Cra-Crap.
** Take this crap. Here's crap.
* He-He-He-He-He-He-He-Here.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY19dl4dcLM "Hmm! Hmm! Hoi!"]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]This is what Maxim's grunts sounds like. Due to a certain tool-assisted speedrun of Maxim mode, they became synonymous with glitching through and inside walls within the nicovideo TAS community.[[/labelnote]]

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBVrPG2qmnI Pull out your bible]] and SPIN SPIN SPIN! This is the power... the power of RELIGION! [[labelnote:explanation]]A song about how the Bible is the greatest subweapon.[[/labelnote]]

** The animation made out of it: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-ZqSlrCVcE diemonster.wmv]], isn't far behind in being beloved by the fandom for it's DerangedAnimation.

** "Die monster! You don't belong in this world!"[[labelnote:Explanation]]Richter's opening line to Dracula and fondly remembered for it's strange delivery.[[/labelnote]

** The version of the speech where [[https://twitter.com/castlegaynias/status/1153689030346903554 an entire server starts quoting the whole speech]] is fondly remembered for how much of a train wreck it is.
** The animation made out of it; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-ZqSlrCVcE diemonster.wmv]] isn't far behind in being beloved.

* Series General:
** [[InexplicablyPreservedDungeonMeat Wall Chicken]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]A long-running joke in the fandom stemming from all the health-restoring chickens you can unveil by whipping walls. Often given {{Shout Out}}s by other {{Metroidvania}} games such as VideoGame/DustAnElysianTail.[[/labelnote]]
** Stairs of doom. [[labelnote:Explanation]]In the classic games, your character moves slowly on stairs, can't always jump off (or it's risky to do so), can't attack, and can fall through stairs trying to jump onto them. A [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ROJT7A3ClY ROM Hack]] based entirely around ''Castlevania'' stairs was made to examine this phenomenon, and the Creator/HideoKojima game ''VideoGame/{{Snatcher}}'' has an optional conversation where ''Castlevania''[='=]s stairs are explicitly discussed during a conversation.[[/labelnote]]
** Medusa Heads.[[labelnote:Explanation]]Medusa Heads are enemies that move in sine waves across the screen and have a strong tendency to knock the player around, [[DemonicSpiders often into a bottomless pit]]. In some games they can petrify the player and make them take additional damage from enemies as well as preventing them from moving, usually in [[PlatformHell areas with rotating or falling platforms]].[[/labelnote]]
** [[HaveANiceDeath The death jingles.]][[labelnote:Explanation]]The "classic" ''Castlevania'' games [[NintendoHard feature death as the norm rather than the exception]], resulting in the various games' iconic death jingles being drilled into players' heads for eternity. You can listen to a collection of them [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6W3obQfByo here]].[[/labelnote]]
** The wine glass.[[labelnote:explanation]]In some games, Dracula begins the fight by first drinking from his wine glass and then tossing it.[[/labelnote]] To the point that it gets referenced in outside media:
*** ''VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy'' parodies the entire exchange from ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight''[='=]s intro, on top of turning the wine glass lethal (as mentioned below).
*** When Koji Igarashi[[note]]''Castlevania''[='=]s most famous head-honcho, particularly famous for introducing {{Metroidvania}}[[/note]] promoted his upcoming game, ''VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight'', even he couldn't resist throwing a wine glass! (Including [[https://youtu.be/lKlR0SEmIoI?t=4 a sprite version of him]] in one of the game's trailers, and a [[https://youtu.be/d79KArgmgcc?t=42 live action version]] in the release trailer.). When the game finally is released, Miriam, the heroine, has the ability to chuck wine glasses as an attack, obtained from an enemy who does exactly that.
*** Dracula can be seen throwing a glass at the start of his boss fight in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''.
** "EROTIC VIOLENCE" [[labelnote:Explanation]]A phrase used to promote the 2015 pachislot game is adopted by fans to mock the game for seeming to pander to the PerverseSexualLust crowd. It is also used to criticize Konami for not developing any "real" games since the ''Lords of Shadow'' saga, which was polarizing anyway. [[/labelnote]]
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaI'':
** [[Creator/ChristopherLee "CHRISTOPHER BEE"]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]During the [[Videogame/CastlevaniaI first game's]] [[SarcasmMode "Credits"]], there are no actual credits, the names are just parodies of classic horror movie actors, like [[Creator/BelaLugosi Bela Lugosi]], [[Creator/BorisKarloff Boris Karloff]], and the aformentioned [[Creator/ChristopherLee Christopher Lee]].[[/labelnote]]
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaIISimonsQuest'':

* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'':
** "What is a man? [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters A miserable little pile of secrets]]!" [[labelnote:Explanation]]From the infamous opening to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation version. While the whole dialogue can be considered memetic, this is the most quoted line.[[/labelnote]]
*** [[VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy What is a man? Pssh! GAME OVER PRESS R TO TRY AGAIN]][[labelnote:Explanation]]In ''VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy'', the scene plays out like normal (albeit with the squeaky-voiced protagonist speaking Richter's lines), except Dracula will drop his wine glass on you, killing you, if you don't jump out of the way.[[/labelnote]]
** "As you can see, this is a UsefulNotes/PlayStation black disc. Cut number 1 contains computer data, so please don't play it... but you probably won't listen to me anyway, will you?" (secret music track plays) [[labelnote:Explanation]]This track plays when someone tries to play the disc in a regular CD player and the part about computer data refers to the fact that older CD players, not knowing how to handle data on a CD that isn't Red Book audio, would screw up when trying to play data for a computer or game console. (It's supposed to be Alucard delivering the message.)[[/labelnote]]
** "DOG METAMORPHOSIS!" (Or, alternately, "DOG MEN OF OFFICES!") [[labelnote:Explanation]]How some players misheard "[[CallingYourAttacks Dark Metamorphosis]]." Ironically enough, Alucard ''can'' [[VoluntaryShapeshifting metamorphose into a wolf]]... but it's ''not'' via that ability. (Canine office workers, by contrast, are nowhere to be found.)[[/labelnote]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV0edD_Gsw8 "I'm interested in this."]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]Alucard says this in a somewhat ''un''-interested tone when you open the Librarian's shop menu. It's become a stock response to any sort of good news pertaining to ''Castlevania'' due to how hilariously understated it is.[[/labelnote]]
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaJudgment'':
** Those are a ''[[BuxomIsBetter sacred gift]]!'' [[labelnote:Explanation]]The game portrays Maria as a breast-obsessed UsefulNotes/{{Pettanko}}. This is her response to Sypha (who would become a SweetPollyOliver) bemoaning her own femininity.[[/labelnote]]
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaPortraitOfRuin'':
** Jonathan! Charlotte! Jonathan! Charlotte! Jonathan! Charlotte! Jonathan! Charlotte! Jonathan! Charlotte! [[labelnote:Explanation]]The main characters of ''Portrait of Ruin'' call each other's name when tagged. This can be spammed rapidly, and speedrunners frequently do so to [[LagCancel speed up their attack rate.]][[/labelnote]]
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLamentOfInnocence'':
** "I'll kill you [[LargeHam AND THE NIGHT!]]" [[labelnote:Explanation]]Leon's {{Narm}}ful response to Walter's declaration that he is "beloved by the night".[[/labelnote]]
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaAriaOfSorrow'':
** '''''D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-Dueh!''''' [[labelnote:Explanation]]In tool-assisted speedruns of Julius mode, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayaWIKM9iRE this]] is what Julius' fastest movement style (rapid-fire jump kicks, with Julius emitting the same grunt at every jump kick) sounds like.[[/labelnote]]
** The first boss, Creaking Skull, has become a MemeticBadass of screenshot hoaxes that portray him hijacking other bosses or invading other games.
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaHarmonyOfDespair''
** No-No-No-No-Not bad. [[labelnote:Explanation]]In the online multiplayer ''Castlevania'' game, you're provided with sound bits for basic communication in a character's voice. Other examples below.[[/labelnote]]
** Cra-Cra-Cra-Crap.
*** Take this crap. Here's crap.
** He-He-He-He-He-He-He-Here.
** [[CastFromHitPoints Emo Charlotte.]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]A common setup for Charlotte before a balance patch was having her use HP instead of MP for magic and then have her heal. She'd heal more than she'd use for the spell and so had limitless HP and MP.[[/labelnote]]
** [[GameBreaker Somanway.]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]The most common setup online and easily the most overpowered is equipping Soma with two Valmanway+1s. The sheer power of each hit and the large number of them per second, plus the fact that you can attack while moving, causes the amusing sight of Soma just walking in a straight line to the end of the level, everything in his way dying.[[/labelnote]]
*** Most likely inspired by the roughly-4-times-as-powerful Crissaegrim abuse in ''Symphony of the Night''.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBVrPG2qmnI Pull out your bible]] and SPIN SPIN SPIN! This is the power... the power of RELIGION! [[labelnote:explanation]]A song about how the Bible is the greatest subweapon.[[/labelnote]]
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaHarmonyOfDissonance'':

** [[HaveANiceDeath The death jingles.]][[labelnote:Explanation]]The "classic" ''Castlevania'' games [[NintendoHard feature death as the norm rather than the exception]], resulting in the various games' iconic death jingles [[EarWorm being drilled into players' heads for eternity]]. You can listen to a collection of them [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6W3obQfByo here]].[[/labelnote]]

*** When Koji Igarashi[[note]]''Castlevania''[='=]s most famous head-honcho, particularly famous for introducing {{Metroidvania}}[[/note]] promoted his upcoming game, ''VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight'', even he couldn't resist throwing a wine glass! (Including [[https://youtu.be/lKlR0SEmIoI?t=4 a sprite version of him]] in one of the game's trailers, and a [[https://youtu.be/d79KArgmgcc?t=42 live action version]] in the release trailer.)
*** And also from ''Bloodstained'', early drafts of that game mentioned that the game's heroine would ''also'' get to throw a wine glass as an ability!

*** When Koji Igarashi[[note]]''Castlevania''[='=]s most famous head-honcho, particularly famous for introducing {{Metroidvania}}[[/note]] promoted his upcoming game, ''VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight'', even he couldn't resist throwing a wine glass! (Including [[https://youtu.be/lKlR0SEmIoI?t=4 a sprite version of him]] in one of the game's trailers.)

** "As you can see, this is a UsefulNotes/PlayStation black disc. Cut number 1 contains computer data, so please don't play it... but you probably won't listen to me anyway, will you?" (secret music track plays) [[labelnote:Explanation]]This track plays when the someone tries to play the disc in a regular CD player and the part about computer data refers to the fact that older CD players, not knowing how to handle data on a CD that isn't Red Book audio, would screw up when trying to play data for a computer or game console. (It's supposed to be Alucard delivering the message.)[[/labelnote]]

*** ''VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy'' parodies the entire exchange from ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'''s intro, on top of turning the wine glass lethal (as mentioned below).
*** When Koji Igarashi[[note]]''Castlevania''[='=]s most famous head-honcho, particularly famous for introducing {{Metroidvania}}[[/note]] promoted his upcoming game, ''VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight'', even he couldn't resist throwing a wine glass! (including [[https://youtu.be/lKlR0SEmIoI?t=4 a sprite version of him]] in one of the game's trailers).

** [[Creator/ChristopherLee "CHRISTOPHER BEE"]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]During the [[Videogame/CastlevaniaI First game's]] [[SarcasmMode "Credits"]] there are no actual credits, the names are just parodies of classic horror movie actors, like [[Creator/BelaLugosi Bela Lugosi]], [[Creator/BorisKarloff Boris Karloff]]. and the aformentioned [[Creator/ChristopherLee Christopher Lee]]. [[/labelnote]]

** "DOG METAMORPHOSIS!" (Or, alternately, "DOG MEN OF OFFICES!") [[labelnote:Explanation]]How some players misheard "[[CallingYourAttacks Dark Metamorphosis]]." Ironically enough, Alucard ''can'' [[VoluntaryShapeshifting metamorphose into a wolf]]...but it's ''not'' via that ability.  (Canine office workers, by contrast, are nowhere to be found.)[[/labelnote]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV0edD_Gsw8 "I'm interested in this."]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]Alucard says this in a somewhat ''un''-interested tone when you open the Librarian's shop menu. It's become a stock response to any sort of good news pertaining to Castlevania due to how hilariously understated it is.[[/labelnote]]

** '''''D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-Dueh!''''' [[labelnote:Explanation]]In tool-assisted speedruns of Julius mode, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayaWIKM9iRE this]] is how Julius' fastest movement style (rapid-fire jump kicks, with Julius emitting the same grunt at every jump kick) sounds like.[[/labelnote]]

** [[CastFromHitpoints Emo Charlotte.]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]A common setup for Charlotte before a balance patch was having her use HP instead of MP for magic and then have her heal. She'd heal more than she'd use for the spell and so had limitless HP and MP.[[/labelnote]]

*** Most likely inspired by the roughly 4 times powerful Crissaegrim abuse in ''Symphony of the Night''.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY19dl4dcLM "Hmm! Hmm! Hoi!"]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]This is how Maxim's grunts sounds like. Due to a certain tool-assisted speedrun of Maxim mode, they became synonymous with glitching through and inside walls within the nicovideo TAS community.[[/labelnote]]

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY19dl4dcLM "Hmm! Hmm! Hoi!"]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]This is how Maxim's grunts sounds like. Due to a certain tool-assisted speedrun of Maxim mode, they became synonymous with glitching through and inside walls within the nicovideo TAS community.[[/labelnote]]

** GET A SILK BAG FROM THE GRAVEYARD DUCK TO LIVE LONGER. [[labelnote:Explanation]]''Simon's Quest'' has a number of villagers who, through either design intent or mistranslation, often have incredibly useless information. This is a key example, and yes; the dialogue really is referring to the bird. This one is intentional. The manual states the villagers mislead you to prevent you from completing your quest and reviving Dracula. The original Japanese really did refer to a waterfowl.[[/labelnote]]

** Hit Deborah Cliff with your head to make a hole. [[labelnote:Explanation]]Another example.[[/labelnote]]

** "What is a man? [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters A miserable little pile of secrets]]!" [[labelnote:Explanation]]From the infamous opening. While the whole dialogue can be considered memetic, this is the most quoted line.[[/labelnote]]

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV0edD_Gsw8 "I'm interested in this."]] [[labelnote:Explanation]]Alucard says this in a somewhat uninterested tone when you open the Librarian's shop menu. It's become a stock response to any sort of good news pertaining to Castlevania due to how hilariously understated it is.[[/labelnote]]

*** When Koji Igarashi[[note]]''Castlevania''[='=]s most famous head-honcho, particularly famous for introducing {{Metroidvania}}[[/note]] promoted his upcoming game, ''VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight'', even he couldn't resist throwing a wine glass!
*** And from ''Bloodstained'', early drafts of that game mentioned that the game's heroine would ''also'' get to throw a wine glass as an ability!

** The wine glass.[[labelnote:explanation]]In some games, Dracula begins the fight by first drinking from his wine glass and then tossing it.[[/labelnote]]
*** This isn't just referenced in this series: ''VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy'', as mentioned, parodies this (by turning the wine glass lethal), and when Koji Igarashi[[note]]''Castlevania''[='=]s most famous head-honcho, particularly famous for introducing {{Metroidvania}}[[/note]] promoted his upcoming game, ''VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight'', even he couldn't resist throwing a wine glass! (And that's not all; early drafts of that game mentioned that the game's heroine would ''also'' get to throw a wine glass as an ability!)

** "FRED FUCHS" [[labelnote:Explanation]]One of the names mentioned in the above "Credits" is this guy called 'Fred Fuchs'. Thanks to WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd, this name becomes memetic [[DontExplainTheJoke in a way that it can easily be mispelled or mistyped as 'Fred Fucks']][[/labelnote]]