In the Famicom release and the Japanese version of the Game Boy port, the first boss' forehead bears a manji, a Buddhist symbol for balance representative of love, mercy, strength, and intelligence. However, outside of East Asia, the manji is widely seen as a hate symbol due to Nazi Germany appropriating a modified version of it as the swastika. Consequently, the international release of the Game Boy edition removes the icon; the top of the boss' head is also made rounder to further reduce visual similarities to a Ku Klux Klan member.

The Castlevania Anniversary Collection reissue of the Famicom version similarly removes the manji from the boss' design, but does not alter the shape of his head. This change is also present in all versions of Castlevania Anniversary Collection rather than being limited strictly to the international release.

Originally when Kid Dracula is flying in the intro sequence, he will pass a part of a church with a cross on the very top of it and a bell ringing. The tower was altered in the International version to not give any resemblances to religion. Despite this change, you can still hear the bell ringing even though it was removed.