'Probably' everything that Castlevania ripped off

The legendary whip comes full circle.

Gargoyle's Quest: Ghosts 'n Goblins began on Game Boy in 1990 and was followed by practically identical NES prequel Gargoyle's Quest II: The Demon Darkness in 1992.

An enhanced version of the latter was ported to Game Boy in 1993 for Japan and China.

Enemy turned protagonist Red Arremer (aka Firebrand) is out to save the Ghoul Realm from the tyranny of King Breager.

Demon's Crest

Initially brought in 1994, third and final SNES entry was way ahead of its time.

Basic aim is to kick the ass of Phalanx, but taking on the might of true end boss the Dark Demon should be your ultimate goal.

Trust me, he's one CHEAP bastard.

Securing the powers of elemental crests gives new abilities, allowing us to revisit locations and explore pastures new.

Along the way, we can visit The Wise Man (shop of spells), Black Lotus (carries only the finest potions) and Trio the Pago (specialises in gaming for demons).

Taking the meat and gravy into account, Symphony of the Night anybody?

Going further, Capcom previously introduced gameplay mechanic in the Mega Man X series.

Crest of Water gives licence to transform into the Tidal Gargoyle, making fly boy immune to the drink.

Amusingly, the Holy Symbol benefits Alucard in the same way.

What a miserable little coincidence.

As franchise grew, some bosses ring sinister bells.

Death Dragon - Legends¹ vs Somulo

¹Longtime Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi called Game Boy effort an embarrassment and removed it from timeline.

Not quite the same, but Circle of the Moon has a pair of Dragon Zombies.

Death (final form) - Harmony of Dissonance vs Flier

Gergoth - Dawn of Sorrow vs Crawler

For shits and giggles.

Castlevania - S4 E8

Miscellany

Signature tune Bloody Tears was composed by Kenichi Matsubara and first heard in Simon's Quest.

It's possible title refs Dracula Has Risen from the Grave.

As much as it makes me cry, beginning is eerily similar to Yngwie Malmsteen's Marching Out from 1985 album of same name.

Please compare big bad's death sequence in Super Castlevania IV to Dracula (1958), renamed Horror of Dracula in America.

Did they?

Probably.

This was recreated in Portrait of Ruin.

During Stage 21 of X68000 game, a random painting looks suspiciously like M.C. Escher's Relativity.

WTF?

The Dracula X Chronicles

2007 PSP compilation boasted a 2.5D remake of Rondo of Blood, the PC Engine CD original localised into English and a superficially enhanced version of SOTN.

I can't bitch too much, but CG sequence of Dracula's resurrection is definitely 'based' on Frost receiving the power of La Magra in Blade.

Blood droplet

Forehead

Eyes

Trope of werewolf howling against a full moon is about as classic as it gets.

Check this out.

Wolf Man cut scene vs Jon Talbain - Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge

Hmmm.

Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro

Second film featuring master thief Arsène Lupin III was released in 1979.

Akumajō Dracula - X68000

Dracula's Curse

Now for specifics.

X68000

Hooded figures

Clock

Dracula X was hardly subtle.

And weirdest of all.

Akumajō Densetsu: Legend of Demon Castle

Cross isn't decorated with protruding spikes in Dracula's Curse.

Vampire Hunter D

Presenting the big one.

SOTN intro

A story taking place in the distant future

The ONLY difference is scrolling.

Alucard² vs D

Both dhampirs brandish a sword.

²Debuted as a boss and became playable in Dracula's Curse.  Name is taken from Lon Chaney Jr.'s Count Alucard in Son of Dracula.

Now it's all about character design.

Maria Renard - Rondo of Blood (original) vs Doris Lang

Aria of Sorrow

Graham Jones vs Rei Ginsei

Hammer vs Whatley

Oh, each own a store.

HA HA HA!

Meet antagonist Count Magnus Lee.

Name is an amalgam of M. R. James story Count Magnus and Christopher Lee.

Doris confronts formidable vampire.

Early games appear to have literally copied shot for Dracula.

Simon's Quest³

The Adventure

³Why the fuck are we fighting Death?

Clutching at coffins

I admit the following may not stand up well in court, but whatever.

Rondo of Blood

Horse-drawn carriage

Behemoth

I'm more confident on this though.

X68000 intro

(Blushes).

Ending

Dracula's Curse was the first to have peeps witnessing castle crumble like a biscuit.

In one of four possible outcomes, Trevor (left) and Grant (right) set the standard in what would become staple diet.

No holy crosses for guessing where idea came from.

L-R: Dan, Doris and D.

HOW DID KONAMI KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS?

Castlevania (S2 E7) concludes in spectacular fashion.

L-R: Alucard, Sypha and Trevor.

Of course, creators were only paying homage to Dracula's Curse.