Simon Belmont

is the main protagonist of the original Castlevania and Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. He is a renowned vampire hunter from the 17th century, and also the first and one of the most recognized heroes from the Castlevania franchise. Simon also made appearances as a playable character in the spinoff games, Castlevania Judgment and Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, and more recently he made a reappearance in the main timeline title, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls.
Various incarnations and cameos of him have appeared in other games of the series. Besides these appearances, Simon has made several cameos in other games from Konami as well, being regarded as one of the company's most renowned mascots.
==History==
===Background===
Simon Belmont was a member of the ancestral Belmont Clan of vampire hunters and heir to the renowned Vampire Killer whip. He was born around the year 1669Castlevania Judgment. Press release bio. and became the most famous vampire hunter of all.Castlevania Judgment instruction booklet. Konami. 2009. p. 21.
Simon grew up hearing stories of his great ancestors, who had defeated the Vampire Lord, Count Dracula, along with those who helped them. As he trained in the ways of the whip, he would often wonder how he compared to these legendary warriors.Castlevania Judgment. Konami. 2009. Story Mode. Simon Belmont. Opening prologue.
===Castlevania===
At the age of 22 in 1691, he would be given the opportunity to prove himself worthy of his family's legacy. On Easter Day, 100 years after he was defeated by Christopher Belmont, Count Dracula had returned. He was reawakened by a dark order of humans on Easter Day during a dark mass in an abandoned monastery.
Simon was determined to end the threat of a new reign of terror, and entered Dracula's Castle alone to face the Count. Simon slew Dracula's servants and then faced off against Dracula himself as his ancestors had. Unable to kill him in the battle and unbeknown to Simon at the time, Dracula had managed to place a curse on a wound he inflicted on Simon's back.Akumajō Dracula instruction booklet. Konami. 1986. p.4, 5, 6, 7. KDS-AKM.Dracula II: Noroi no Fūin instruction booklet. Konami. 1987. p. 4. 5. 6. 7. KDS-DRK.
===Castlevania II: Simon's Quest===
The curse that Dracula had placed upon Simon 7 years ago slowly began to ravage his body. He began to think that his death was near. One night, six years after he returned from the time rift, he was contemplating his situation at his family's cemetery.
Suddenly, a Mysterious Woman appeared behind Simon standing in the morning mist. She explained to him that this feeling he had was due to a curse that Dracula had placed on him and that his life was in real danger. In order to be free of this curse, he would have to collect Dracula's remains - his nail, heart, rib bone, eyeball, and ring, and burn them all in the ruins of Dracula's castle. While this would defeat him for the time being, she warned him that even this might not be enough to defeat Dracula forever. She then vanished within the mist as mysteriously as she had appeared.
Simon resolved to take up this challenge and began his new quest. The land had once again become infested with monsters and the villagers would board up their houses at night and hide from the creatures that would take over their towns. Some villagers, perhaps grateful to be able to help the man who had saved their land from Dracula years earlier, assisted Simon on his quest by offering him advice on where to go next. Others did so for the money and items he would give them in exchange for their goods. Other villagers, perhaps fearful that Dracula's return would be hastened if Simon was successful in gathering his remains, would refuse to help him or offered him misleading information.
Simon was able to find each of the remains that had been gathered by Dracula's servants and placed in their strongholds in various mansions throughout the land. He returned to the site of the ruins of Dracula's castle, which was abandoned by humans and monsters alike, and placed his remains there. However, through the power of a sixth body piece, the fang, Dracula was revived. Simon managed to defeat him a second time. This time, he burned his remains and his curse was lifted. He buried what was left of Dracula in a graveyard. He was forever remembered for his bravery.Dracula II: Noroi no Fūin Kanzen Hisshōbon.Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. Konami. 1988. Ending.
After Simon's great effort fighting against Count Dracula, the long-hated Belmont family was reconciled with the residents. Simon was regarded as a life-saver, and people started to look upon him as a hero; little by little, the people started to gather around them. A village, therefore, was formed around the Belmonts. Juste Belmont would later grew up in this environment with his childhood friends Maxim Kischine and Lydie Erlanger.Interview: Konami's vampire Harmony at CVG. (archived: April 2, 2009)
==Appearance and personality==
Simon is rather brash and inclined to force his way through situations.Castlevania Judgment instruction booklet. Konami. 2009. His brashness was demonstrated when meeting Genya Arikado for the first time, where he attempted to attack him under the belief that he was one of Dracula's vampire minions due to the Vampire Killer whip reacting to his presence, although after learning from Arikado himself as well as Lucy Westenra that Arikado was in fact Alucard, with Simon apologizing for his earlier behavior.
He's also shown to take matters regarding any negative aspects about the Belmont Clan, in particular their disappearance by the time of the 19th Century, to heart, feeling responsible for the clan's failure by that point.
He was also not too knowledgeable about magical practices, by his own admission. He also trains extensively and (by the standards of those born during the 20th Century) excessively, which caused Jonathan Morris some horror when Simon eagerly accepted him to be his training partner.
===Castlevania===
Simon first debuted in Castlevania for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
He wears a leather breast plate, tall boots, and a bandana. He is sometimes also depicted with a cape.
Simon's hair color is brown on the cover art, contrary to the artwork from the Japanese instruction manual, in which it is red. This hair color would later carry on to Kojima's design of the character.
===Castlevania II: Simon's Quest===
In Castlevania II, Simon's barbaric design is dropped and he takes on a more knightly appearance.
He wears red armor decorated with yellow engravings and pearls, shoulder plates and iron gloves. Furthermore, Simon also wears a belt with a pearl in the middle, black trousers, knee-guards, and long boots.
His hair color is blond on the cover art and brown in the Japanese instruction booklet.
===Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls===
Simon's design in Grimoire of Souls is largely similar to his appearance in Castlevania, although he's depicted with blond hair instead of brown/red. This design was utilized in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as well.
==Other appearances==
===Captain N: The Game Master===
A reimagined version of Simon Belmont appeared in the '80s-'90s animated TV series Captain N: The Game Master. This portrayal of the character differed greatly from that of the video game series, both in his physical appearance as well as behavior, giving him a more vain and self-centered demeanor, although at the same time having a strong sense of justice; always making sure to never let down the family name and carry on his responsibility to always stop the Count from accomplishing his evil plans no matter what.
===Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance===
The original NES Castlevania 8-bit version of Simon Belmont can be unlocked as a playable character in Boss Rush Mode. To play as him, the game must be completed once; this will unlock Boss Rush Mode. When the Konami logo shows up at the game's startup, the player has to quickly input the Konami Code: ↑, ↑, ↓, ↓, ←, →, ←, →, B, A. If done correctly, the main menu screen will turn to a blue scheme. Select Boss Rush Mode and the 8-bit version of Simon Belmont will be automatically selected.
===Castlevania Judgment===
Simon Belmont can only be unlocked in this game by purchasing his downloadable content package.
Galamoth plots to send the Time Reaper from 10,000 years in the future into the past to destroy his rival, Dracula, and change history. A time traveler named Aeon discovers this and pulls together champions from different eras of history into a dimensional rift in order to find a chosen one capable of destroying Galamoth's servant. Simon is one of these warriors.
Despite having already beaten Dracula a year ago, Simon remains troubled. He is uncertain if he was able to accomplish this with his own strength or with the strength provided by his whip.
Simon wears a black vest and pants with a silver lining and a golden symbol of a cross at his back. Following Ayami Kojima's artwork, Simon has red hair; he also wears slightly armored arm guards and boots with black and silver lining with small cross motives on some parts of the armor.
Simon's theme in Judgment is Vampire Killer.
===Castlevania: Harmony of Despair===
The Grimoire is a magical book that records the history of Dracula's castle. A memory of Simon is recorded in this book. Certain individuals find themselves trapped in the Grimoire and borrow the powers of the heroes which are recorded in the book in order to find a way out.
Simon appears, in his 8-bit version, as a bonus downloadable character. He uses the Vampire Killer and sub-weapons to fight his enemies.
==Non-Castlevania appearances==
===Hai no Majutsushi===
Hai no Majutsushi is a mahjong game that was released only in Japan for the MSX2 in which eight Konami mascots are included. While Simon is not playable in this game, he can be picked as one of the three opponents against whom to play. It is said in the game that after Simon defeated Dracula, he became a pervert.
===Ganbare Goemon Gaiden 2: Tenka no Zaihō===
In this action role-playing game on the Famicom, Simon Belmont is a recruitable character. He is met by the party when it arrives in Europe. In combat, he can use a Holy Water ability.
===Wai Wai World 2: SOS!! Parsley Castle===
Wai Wai World 2: SOS!! Parsley Castle is the sequel to Konami Wai Wai World. The main character is a robot named Rickle who has to rescue Princess Herb of Konami World. Unlike the previous game, Rickle does not rescue other characters; instead, he has the ability to transform into three other Konami heroes via power-ups, determined at random at the beginning of the game. One of these heroes is Simon, who controls like he did in the original game, although without his Cross. Simon is nearly invincible, but can only be played as for a limited amount of time before reverting to Rickle.
===Contra: Hard Corps===
A parody of Simon makes an appearance as a secret boss in this entry of Konami's Contra series. In it, if the player climbs the wall before the door to the boss of Stage 3, they will be invited to participate in the Battle Arena. The first opponent is Simondo Belmont, entering by first destroying a candle in the middle and grabbing the sub-weapon that drops from it. He sports sunglasses and a large afro with a guitar on his back. He uses a chain morning star whip which extends from the inside of his arm, and also throws a fish as a sub-weapon, which functions in the same way as the Cross. Once the player damages him enough, his head will explode and expose wires, revealing him to be an android. After he has been defeated, a large amount of the fish sub-weapons will gush out from his neck and he'll finally explode. The theme song used for this battle is a techno version of Vampire Killer called "SIMON 1994RD".
The Simon portrayed in this game is a mixture of Simon Belmont and Masato Shimon, a Japanese musician, and the fish sub-weapon is an allusion to one of Masato's famous song "Oyoge Taiyaki-kun", with taiyaki being a fish-shaped Japanese confection.
===Battle Tryst===
Battle Tryst is a rare arcade game released in 1997. It was intended to have cameo roles for Simon Belmont and Richter Belmont, but these were canceled. They are still playable, although they are known as Shemon and Rehter.
===DreamMix TV: World Fighters===
DreamMix TV: World Fighters is also one of Konami's mascot-themed games, but characters from other companies (Hudson Soft, Takara and Red Entertainment) are also included. One of these characters is Simon (his appearance is based on how he is portrayed in Castlevania Chronicles) and he fights with his traditional whip and cross sub-weapon. Simon can use his whip for basic attacks and combos, while his cross is used for three different special attacks (he can throw it forward, upward, or in a circle). This game also includes two Castlevania themed stages (based on a typical main hall). In both stages, "Bloody Tears" plays in the background.
===New International Track & Field===
New International Track & Field is an Olympic Games sports title released for the Nintendo DS. The game puts normal competitors, as well as Konami icons, against each other in certain events (100-meter dash, the 110-meter hurdle, bicycling, long-jumping, swimming, archery, the shot put, pole-vaulting, sprinting, gymnastics, javelin-throwing, high-jumping, etc.). There's also an archery event known as "Belmont's challenge", where the player must shoot bats to gain points and a chance to destroy the planks that cover the windows, in order to let sunlight in and destroy Dracula. The music that plays is yet another version of "Vampire Killer".
===Super Smash Bros. Ultimate===
Simon appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate alongside Richter Belmont as a playable character. He uses his Vampire Killer whip and sub-weapons (Axe, Holy Water, Cross), as well as martial arts to fight his opponents. Some of his moves are inspired by Richter, who is an Echo Fighter (clone character) based on Simon. Simon is the first third party character to have an Echo Fighter based on him to appear in a Smash Bros. game.
===Brawlhalla===
Simon Belmont and Alucard were included as guest playable fighters in this free-to-play fighting game on the October 19, 2022 update.
===Dead Cells===
It is possible to make the playable Beheaded appear like Simon by equipping the Simon Outfit that can be found in the Return to Castlevania expansion.
==Quotes==
===Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls===
*I am shocked that Dracula's castle exists this far into the future. Have none been able to destroy it?
*Calm yourself, Charlotte. I sympathize, but we must be careful.
*In Dracula's castle, one misstep could decide our fate.
*Another young woman... Times indeed have changed. Let us strike a decisive blow for humanity, Shanoa!
*To arms!
*That was some good exercise.
==Gameplay==
===Castlevania===
====Sub-weapons====
===Castlevania II: Simon's Quest===
====Sub-weapons====
===Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls===
Simon is the first hero to be summoned from the grimoires. He uses Whip weapons, as well as Axe and Knife sub-weapons.
==Gallery==
==Trivia==
*According to a statement made by the head director of the three Famicom Castlevania games, Hitoshi Akamatsu, the inclusion of the whip as Simon's weapon of choice is a reference to Indiana Jones.
*Simon was originally planned to be named "Peter Dante".
*Castlevania Judgment, for Nintendo's Wii, marks Simon's third appearance in a 3D fighting game, after his bouts in Battle Tryst and DreamMix TV: World Fighters. Like many of the other playable characters, Simon is also able to use his traditional sub-weapons in the game.
**Keith Silverstein, Simon's English voice actor, also did the voice of Albus in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia.
*The original concept behind the 2010 series reboot Castlevania: Lords of Shadow was to remake the original Castlevania starring Simon. While this idea was ultimately not followed through, Lords of Shadow's protagonist, Gabriel Belmont, wears armor which is reminiscent of Simon's artwork and sprite from Simon's Quest (confirmed in an interview by developer David Cox). This is presumably a reference to Gabriel being the first main character of a new Castlevania series, as Simon was of the original franchise.
**Simon Belmont's sprite also appears in Lords of Shadow after enabling Cheat mode. The sprite copies Gabriel's movements.
*Simon Belmont was the initial protagonist of Paul Anderson's original script for Castlevania: The Movie. Several rewrites of this script took place and it's not known if he was still planned to make an appearance in the final cut. The project was ultimately canceled.
*At the end of the original Castlevania, the name listed in the credits under "The Hero" is Simon Belmondo, while in Simon's Quest it is consistently Simon Belmont.
*His interaction with Genya Arikado in Grimoire of Souls is technically the only time that he and Alucard directly interacted with each other canonically, as Simon and Alucard had previously interacted in Captain N: The Game Master.
==References==
==External links==
*Simon Belmondo at the pop'n music Wiki
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*Simon Belmont at the Heroes Wiki
*Simon Belmont at Smashpedia
**Simon (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)
de:Simon Belmont
es:Simon Belmont
pt-br:Simon Belmont
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Category:Belmont Clan
Category:Humans
Category:Konami Mascots
Category:Male Characters
Category:Playable Characters
Category:Protagonists
 
Category:Vampire Hunters and Huntresses
Category:Castlevania Characters
Category:Grimoire of Souls Characters
Category:Harmony of Despair Characters
Category:Harmony of Dissonance Playable Characters
Category:Judgment Characters
Category:Simon's Quest Characters