History VideoGame / CastlevaniaRondoofBlood

* GracefulLoser: Dracula takes his defeat quite well in the original game, even wondering if Richard might be in the right, though he also points out how the avarice of man is what caused his resurrection [[WeWillMeetAgain and promises to face Richard again]]. This gets averted in the ''VideoGame/SymphonyOfTheNight'' rendition, where he's far more contemptuous of mankind and faces his demise with an anguished ThisCannotBe

* WhipItGood: Richter uses the signature Belmont Vampire Killer.

* TheXOfY: The subtitle.

* OurMinotaursAreDifferent: A [[AnAxeToGrind halberd-wielding]] Minotaur is the boss of the Stage 3's main path.

In 1792, the evil priest Shaft resurrects Dracula, who proceeds to do the usual: set a horde of demons on the nearby town of Aljiba[[labelnote:*]](Though it looks more like Jova...)[[/labelnote]] and kidnap any women who catch his fancy. This time, the women are Annette, who happens to be [[IHaveYourWife Richter Belmont's girlfriend]], a distant relative of the Belmont clan named Maria Renard, local nun Tera, and the town doctor's daughter Iris.

Richter, hearing of this in his hometown of Veros, heads off to save the townsfolk, get his girlfriend back, and settle this centennial blood feud his family has with Dracula. As he makes his way to the burning town, he's accosted by Death himself, and the game begins...

* VampireHunter: Richter and Maria both.

* VSign: An animated cutscene has Richter giving a peace sign while telling his name and occupation to Iris after rescuing her.

In 1792, the evil priest Shaft resurrects Dracula, who proceeds to do the usual: set a horde of demons on a nearby town and kidnap any women who catch his fancy. This time, the women are [[IHaveYourWife Richter's girlfriend Annette]], a distant relative of the Belmont clan named Maria Renard, local nun Tera, and the town doctor's daughter Iris.

In 1792, the evil priest Shaft resurrects Dracula. In a rare flash of brilliance, Dracula immediately attacks the current Belmont's hometown and tries to kill him right off the [[{{Pun}} bat]]. Richter Belmont was luckily out of town training. So, Dracula goes for plan B: [[IHaveYourWife kidnap Richter's girlfriend]] [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Annet/Annette]], a distant relative of the Belmont clan named Maria Renard, and two other villagers.

* AfterBossRecovery: As usual, an orb will appear to replenish your health after a boss fight, but sadly, not in the middle of a SequentialBoss.

* SceneryGorn: The backdrop of Stage 1 is Richter's hometown in flames.

** Richter's hometown, which comprises of a good chunk of the first stage, happens to be Aljiba, which players first visited in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaIISimonsQuest''. Even the city's layout is almost the same as in the NES game, complete with a readable sign with the town's name.

** Stage 1 is the Town of Veros from ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaIISimonsQuest Simon's Quest]]'', also named Aljiba, [[RemixedLevel combined]] with a portion of Stage 1 from ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaIIIDraculasCurse Dracula's Curse]]''.

* DifficultySpike: The game has a really easy first level. The rest of the game is considerably more difficult, especially Stage 2.

* WakeUpCallBoss: The Werewolf. Stage 2 is already a DifficultySpike in and of itself, but the Werewolf is much faster than your character, unpredictable, and requires you to think fast or die.

On [[https://twitter.com/NetflixGeeked/status/1403398744452648964 June 11, 2021]] an AnimatedAdaptation serving as a {{Sequel}} to ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017'' set during the UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution was announced.

* FingerlessGloves: Richter wears ''one'', just to handle his whip.

* MysteriousWatcher: Stage 3' (The Cemetery) has a silhouette in a wide hat and cape standing in the background. This has never been explained.

** The [[CaptainErsatz Dogether]] boss is named in reference to ''Manga/{{Bastard}}'''s Suzuki Dogezaemon, and naturally the original [[Tabletopgame/DungeonsAndDragons Beholder]].

''Rondo'' played similar to previous ''Castlevania'' entries, [[{{Platformer}} mostly linear]]. You could also find hidden exits to reach alternate paths through the stages to find different bosses. The ending [[MultipleEndings depends on which girls you rescue]], and [[SecretCharacter you could play the game as Maria if you found her]]. You could enhance your subweapons into an [[LimitBreak Item Crash]] that usually fills the screen with large projectiles.

* ALoadOfBull: A [[AnAxeToGrind halberd-wielding]] Minotaur is the boss of the Stage 3's main path.

** The portrait of the Captain at the midpoint of the ghost ship, stage 5, is the only enemy of its type in the game. It's not too difficult to defeat but if you miss a swing and it grabs you, it delivers an OneHitKill.

** The portrait of the Captain at the midpoint of the ghost ship, stage 5, is the only enemy of its type in the game. It's not too difficult to defeat but if you miss a swing and it grabs you, it delivers an InstantDeath.

* StandardStatusEffects: Being cursed slows down the player character's movements.

* EndOfAnAge: Chronologically, ''Rondo of Blood'' is the last time a Belmont would go toe-to-toe with Dracula. After Richter, the next person to deal with the vampire was Shanoa with [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia the Order of Ecclesia.]][[labelnote:note]]While ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaCircleOfTheMoon'' would chronilogically slot in between ''Rondo'' and ''Ecclesia'', it is non-canon. Ditto with ''VideoGame/Castlevania64'' (although it would occur after ''Ecclesia'')[[/labelnote]] After that, Dracula was tackled by the Morrises (first [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaBloodlines John]], then [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaPortraitOfRuin Jonathan]]) after which Dracula was defeated for good.[[labelnote:note]] Although the Morrises ''are'' distant relatives to the Belmonts, they are not closely related enough to be worthy to wield the Vampire Killer [[/labelnote]]. The next Belmont in the series, Julius, would interact with Dracula's reincarnation, Soma Cruz in [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow the Chronicles of Sorrow]]. Canonically, Soma remains on the side of good, and Julius only fights/kills him in the bad ending.

** Richter's hometown, which comprises of a good chunk of the first stage, happens to be Aljiba, which players first visited in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaIISimonsQuest''. Even the city's layout is almost the same as in the NES game.

* UniqueEnemy: The man-eating plant/stone rose only appears once in a corridor in the village. Going in that direction is entirely pointless, as it's a dead end. It's much more common in other games, though.

* EndOfAnAge: Chronologically, ''Rondo of Blood'' is the last time a Belmont would go toe-to-toe with Dracula. After Richter, the next person to deal with the vampire was Shanoa with [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia the Order of Ecclesia]]. After that, Dracula was tackled by the Morrises (first [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaBloodlines John]], then [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaPortraitOfRuin Jonathan]]) after which Dracula was defeated for good.[[labelnote:note]] Although the Morrises ''are'' distant relatives to the Belmonts, they are not closely related enough to be worthy to wield the Vampire Killer [[/labelnote]]. The next Belmont in the series, Julius, would interact with Dracula's reincarnation, Soma Cruz in [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow the Chronicles of Sorrow]]. Canonically, Soma remains on the side of good, and Julius only fights/kills him in the bad ending.

* EndOfAnAge: Chronologically, ''Rondo of Blood'' is the last time a Belmont would go toe-to-toe with Dracula. After Richter, the next person to deal with the vampire was Shanoa with [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia the Order of Ecclesia]]. After that, Dracula was tackled by the Morris's (first [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaBloodlines John]], then [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaPortraitOfRuin Jonathan]]) after which Dracula was defeated for good.[[labelnote:note]] Although the Morris's ''are'' distant relatives to the Belmont's, they are not closely related enough to be worthy to wield the Vampire Killer [[/labelnote]]. The next Belmont in the series, Julius, would interact with Dracula's reincarnation, Soma Cruz in [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow the Chronicles of Sorrow]]. Canonically, Soma remains on the side of good, and Julius only fights/kills him in the bad ending.