The evolution of Castlevania's 'Vampire Killer' theme

by Xav de Matos { Aug 29th 2009 at 11:30PM }

A wave of nostalgia washes over us when we hear music from our favorite classic franchises. One of those iconic pieces is Castlevania's "Vampire Killer" series theme. The folks at Tiny Cartridge (specifically, Joystiq's own JC Fletcher) stumbled upon a YouTube clip featuring every version the classic track has spawned since the origin of the Castlevania franchise.

While musical style and technology has evolved, this video showcases how Kinuyo Yamashita's original piece has lived on throughout nearly two dozen Castlevania games (as well as some non-Castlevania titles). Feel like taking a stroll down memory lane with us? Check out the comparison videos after the break ... but stop holding our hand. It's kind of weird.

Tags: belmont, castlevania, culture, jc-fletcher, kinuyo-yamashita, music, nostalgia, tiny-cartridge, vampire-killer

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

AvA (ice~) @ Aug 29th 2009 11:34PM

it would have been nicer to have a list too..... :P

Lurkero @ Aug 29th 2009 11:47PM

No matter how many versions of Vampire Killer there are, Bloody Tears will always be the song I associate with Castlevania
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjazC45Qkww

Wardo @ Aug 30th 2009 12:00AM

Bloody Tears is my fave too.

Jawmuncher @ Aug 30th 2009 12:24AM

Yep, that is by far the best one IMO.

D dogg @ Aug 30th 2009 12:32AM

I agree that Castlevania 2 is overlooked all too often and it's a complete shame. But, if you're listing music, one can NOT overlook Symphony of the Night.

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=6D692C49C153D064

Jawmuncher @ Aug 30th 2009 12:41AM

Out of SOTN, I have to say Dance of Gold is my favorite.

Rein [Prime Minister of the city-state of New Bjork] @ Aug 30th 2009 12:48AM

Bloody Tears is by far the ultimate Castlevania song.

Espiownage @ Aug 30th 2009 1:15AM

If you watch the full collection video, there is a related Bloody Tears collection.

ragetek @ Aug 30th 2009 1:59AM

@Espiownage yep,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FshGL3nYpIQ
best ever!!!!! i even learnt to play it on my guitar!!! :D

NinjaJesus @ Aug 30th 2009 2:57AM

Really? No one remembers "I am the wind"? Prepare to have your ear-pussies taken to dinner and made sweet sweet love to repeatedly...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3DxQ84shnE

yolarrydabomb @ Aug 30th 2009 5:39AM

Bloody Tears FTW

SunKing @ Aug 30th 2009 10:21AM

Dance of Gold is a good track but I've learnt to loathe it after how many times I found myself in that room, stuck.

Altairio @ Aug 30th 2009 12:41PM

Total agreement. Bloody Tears rocks.

Mr. Manly ESC Mcbeefington Ferguson The Second @ Aug 30th 2009 1:24PM

Truth.

Gambit07 @ Aug 30th 2009 3:01PM

I have a "Classical" version of Bloody Tears that I can't find on Youtube, it is by far the best version, I believe it was on a CD with all Classical editions of Castlevania themes. Does anybody have any ideas what I'm talking about?

Slayer8675309 @ Aug 30th 2009 12:07AM

I've always hated PS2's "Lament of Innocence" for skipping this theme. You'd think a game all about the creation of the Vampire Killer whip (and a series so fixated on musical fan-service) would include at least one reference to the song.

Deadpool @ Aug 30th 2009 2:21AM

You don't hate enough to murder it...do you? Because I'm not letting you borrow my Ford Bronco again.

ripslymemc @ Aug 30th 2009 12:16AM

the artwork is gorgeous...reminds me a bit of metal gear.

CrabBattle @ Aug 30th 2009 12:49AM

I love it. I wish they had a bigger pic so i could use it as a wallpaper.

nighttime @ Aug 30th 2009 8:51AM

they just don't make cover art like they used to!

+1 for the wallpaper.

13Yards2Victory @ Aug 30th 2009 5:05PM

Well you see if you google "castlevania" then click on the images tabs. This artwork in wallpaper form is about the 2nd one there..

bVork @ Aug 30th 2009 12:30AM

Heh, they reversed the first two games. Castlevania on FDS came before Vampire Killer on MSX2.

Laurens Holst @ Aug 30th 2009 12:47PM

Well they were released only 1 month apart so at least development took part simultaneously… it’s not that one really came ‘after’ the other. But yeah, guess you’re right.

Special Agent Steve @ Aug 30th 2009 12:33AM

I really like the Castlevania Judgment one, but the original was just awesome.

Rugged Savior @ Aug 30th 2009 1:53AM

I love the castlevania series. But I can tell you this; they forgot three vampire killer songs. One was from the unreleased "Castlevania Resurrection", which starred the short lived Sonia Belmont, set in the year 1666 (time travels i guess) to fight Dracula and team up with a disturbed Belmont who threatens to abandon his family's bloodline. The second was from the (horrible) GB "Castlevania Legends" , which starred Sonia Belmont (again) in the year 1450 (before Trevor) to fight Dracula during his first coming to earth (she also had to fight Alucard. Some rumored a love relationship.) The final song was from the GBA masterpiece "Harmony of Dissonance", which Starred Juste Belmont, grandson of the famous Simon Belmont, who teams up with his friend Maxim Kischine, in order to find his captured lover, Lydie Erlanger.
Sorry to be so detailed, but I'm a geek about the whole game series.

PS - The Castlevania Resurrection song was entitled "Another Vampire Killer", but it was still the same song, only a much faster beat. Harmony's version was entitled Vampire Killer 2k2, which was composed by Michiru Yamane herself.

Wayne @ Aug 30th 2009 9:55AM

They also omitted "Portrait of Ruin" for the DS.

Rugged Savior @ Aug 30th 2009 11:33AM

How is Portrait of Ruin omitted? I never heard the vampire killer tune in that game. If you're talking omitted as in storyline, it cannot be omitted. If I'm wrong on all fronts, enlighten me.

M.Garvey @ Aug 31st 2009 9:16AM

Michiru Yamane was a girl?! I never knew that!

Rugged Savior @ Aug 31st 2009 3:19PM

Yup, Michiru Yamane is a female, as well as the Symphony of the Night artist, Ayami Kojima.

superpidge21 @ Aug 30th 2009 1:55AM

Vampire Killer in Circle of the Moon is my favorite. I remember wondering when it would actually appear in the game since it didn't until the last part of the castle...but what a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment when I finally heard the track in the game.

THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Aug 30th 2009 2:58AM

NOICE!!!!

Backslash @ Aug 30th 2009 3:47AM

Mmm, I'd have to say Dracula X and the X68000 ones are actually my favorites, haha. Even though I've -never- heard either of them before.

Schpyder @ Aug 30th 2009 8:39AM

Bah, they left out the best version! While the samples in VK2K2 from Harmony of Dissonance are kinda low quality, the arrangement is easily the best of any VK version, IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqkJtnytk2s

LM2007 @ Aug 30th 2009 11:06AM

I haven't played the game or anything but i thought i saw the joker before clicking lol.

zewm @ Aug 30th 2009 8:43AM

When the page first loaded I thought that was a picture of The Joker. I've been playing WAY too much Batman: AA.

Schpyder @ Aug 30th 2009 8:50AM

"WAY too much Batman: AA"

Ain't no such thing.

Djiego @ Aug 30th 2009 9:42AM

you want a catchy Castlevania tune?
everybody get down to Symphony of the Night's Wandering Ghosts!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls0DMEwMO0M
BD
oh yeah..! lol
its not often I find a video game song that makes me wanna dance =]

MystileArmor @ Aug 30th 2009 9:59AM

So.. if they hate hot girls and big women, you're saying all that's left are skinny ugly bitches?
That doesn't sound like a fun website at all!

Slaziman @ Aug 30th 2009 12:15PM

Never reply to spammers, you'll look like an idiot when their comment gets removed! :P

M.Garvey @ Aug 31st 2009 9:23AM

I was just thinking that.

ChrisRX @ Aug 30th 2009 10:02AM

Don't forget Akumajou Dracula Melody from Pop'n Music 10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGADTVmSJrA

Rugged Savior @ Aug 30th 2009 11:18AM

I honestly think the one of the best songs in Castlevania aside Vampire Killer, is Iron Blue Intention, used in Castlevania: Bloodlines, Portriat of Ruin, and Judgement. However, there is an awesome metal version of Iron Blue Intention recently released on a video game music website. Go to dod.vgmix.com and click on the song under current duels "Crimson Twilight". There are also a lot more Castlevania songs, so check em out!

Rugged Savior @ Aug 30th 2009 11:21AM

Nope, never forgot. Cross your heart, and Bloody Tears from Haunted Castle. Good songs on an outdated arcade, but classic nonetheless. I had them on my music player for a long time now (Got the song from Castlevania Dungeon).

Joseff @ Aug 30th 2009 11:55AM

Only a sadist uses a whip!

Riddlesphinxx @ Aug 30th 2009 12:33PM

Ok, Never comment on these, but this ismy Castlevainia jam... Not just because I sang in the program, but because it's a collection of the best Castlevania songs, and it's a live symphony, and it's amazing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1fYiHfqXwk
PS: It gets EPIC right around 4:40