The Requiem for Simon Belmont is a 60+ chapter novelization of the Castlevania 2, Castlevania 1, and Haunted Castle video games. At time of writing, the fic is still ongoing, and updates weekly.
The story follows Simon’s quest in present-day chapters. Between each present-day chapter, we’re given glimpses into Simon’s past. These vignettes of the past cover eight years worth of Simon’s life prior to the events of Castlevania 2. It affords the reader a unique perspective on the highs and utter lows of one of Castlevania’s most iconic heroes.
You can read the story on AO3 here.
This animation illustrates Simon’s eventual return to the ruins of Castlevania in chapter 60.
This animation is a collaborative effort between my spouse and I. I’ll be sharing some details about our process in another post. :)
For now, I’ll leave you with some wonderful summaries/reviews of TRFSB, written by a handful of incredibly kind and dedicated readers:
“TRFSB is a love letter to Castlevania/Haunted Castle and Castlevania 2. It fleshes out the story of those games, while still respecting canon.
The first chapter alone amazingly sets the mood for what is to come.
The characters are well-defined and have their own personality and agency; the reader truly starts to cheer and mourn with them. Original Characters like Gabriel (Simon's close friend), Laurent (Simon's grandfather) and Mathieu (Simon's and Selena's son) feel natural next to Simon and fit the story well.
A special mention goes to Selena (Simon's wife). While appearing in Haunted Castle, her character was kept as a blank slate, only serving as a reason for Simon to charge Castlevania. TRFSB's Selena is a well-written female character, fierce when she needs to be, soft when the situation allows it. She and Simon complement eachother well, and the gentle scenes between the two of them (and their son later on) are a welcome break from the often somber plot.
My personal conclusion: TRFSB is one of my favourite stories currently. I'm always excited to see it updated. Many of the characters (even Laurent) have grown dear to me, and I want to see Simon succeed in the end.
I warmly recommend it to anyone searching for Castlevania fanworks.” - FrozenKirby93
“Simon Belmont's journey to fulfill his destiny is paved with thorns and obstacles. His land and body wracked by a mysterious curse, he sets himself to solve the mystery of his condition and the possible return of the wicked Count. No monster, nor illness will stop him: he is a Belmont, and that is all he has ever known. A novelization of the events of the first two classics for NES, starring the most famous and noble of the Belmont clan.” - Beevean
Alternatively, “Simon goes through the Horrors in search of one joy (he doesn't find it)” - also Beevean
“If I had to say one thing to recommend The Requiem For Simon Belmont I would have to say it is so genuinely filled with love for not just the games it’s based on but the entire series as a whole. So much work is put into a game that’s been largely forgotten by the community. A true labor of love.” - Summerf0x
“TRFSB is for true Castlevania fans. No other fan work does these underrated classics justice. Simon finally gets the recognition, attention, and development he deserves in a project of exceptional caliber as well as obvious care and love for the franchise.” - Maria-Renard-kin
