Difference between revisions of "Castlevania II: Simon's Quest"
(→Documentation) |
|||
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
==Review== | ==Review== | ||
* '''Overall:''' 3/10 | * '''Overall:''' 3/10 | ||
| − | * '''Best Version:''' | + | * '''Best Version:''' [http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Hacks/SimonsRedaction.html thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Hacks/SimonsRedaction.html Translation Patch] |
===Good=== | ===Good=== | ||
* The adventure element of the game is really quite nice. I prefer it over the stage-based system of the original. | * The adventure element of the game is really quite nice. I prefer it over the stage-based system of the original. | ||
| − | * The | + | * The idea that Dracula's body parts hold a curse over the land, and must be collected and killed properly, is a pretty cool plot. |
| − | * The graphics are | + | * The graphics are quite great. |
* The soundtrack composed by [[Satoe Terashima]] and [[Kenichi Matsubara]] is fantastic. | * The soundtrack composed by [[Satoe Terashima]] and [[Kenichi Matsubara]] is fantastic. | ||
* I like the idea of multiple endings depending on how quickly you can beat the game. | * I like the idea of multiple endings depending on how quickly you can beat the game. | ||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
===Ugly=== | ===Ugly=== | ||
| − | * The poorly translated dialogue and manual makes it impossible to progress very far | + | * The poorly translated dialogue and manual makes it impossible to progress very far, and thus makes the game unwinnable without several explicit hints. |
==Media== | ==Media== | ||
| Line 54: | Line 54: | ||
Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 034.jpg|Nintendo Power, part 6. | Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 034.jpg|Nintendo Power, part 6. | ||
Nintendo Power - 1988-11 - 024-025.jpg|Nintendo Power, [[Howard & Nester]] comic. | Nintendo Power - 1988-11 - 024-025.jpg|Nintendo Power, [[Howard & Nester]] comic. | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Maps=== | ||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - Map.png|Map without spoilers. | ||
| + | Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - Map With Spoilers.png|Map with spoilers. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===Videos=== | ===Videos=== | ||
| + | * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4we8iFk-fY youtube.com/watch?v=V4we8iFk-fY] - Angry Video Game Nerd, Episode 1. | ||
| + | * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFi2vcseEz8 youtube.com/watch?v=RFi2vcseEz8] - Angry Video Game Nerd, Episode 119. | ||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1VNQRQ6wfc youtube.com/watch?v=U1VNQRQ6wfc] - Longplay. | * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1VNQRQ6wfc youtube.com/watch?v=U1VNQRQ6wfc] - Longplay. | ||
Revision as of 10:56, 22 January 2019
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest is an action adventure platform game by Konami released on the Famicom Disk System in 1987-08-28 and later ported to the NES in 1988. As the title suggests, it is a Castlevania game and the direct sequel to Castlevania, however the format has been slightly modified to be more of an adventure game, making it the first Castlevania title to be a Metroidvania. In the game's story, though Simon Belmont has vanquished Dracula, but his body parts remain scattered throughout the land allowing his spirit to cause mayhem, especially at night. You must gather his body parts in order to resurrect Dracula and destroy him once and for all.
I had seen Castlevania II in video game magazines, and even found the game's manual in the snow while walking home from a friend's house, long before I had a chance to play the game. When I finally did play it, I was very disappointed. I died very quickly from being knocked into pits, and had no idea what I was doing. From everything I read about the game, it was pretty much unplayable without a walk-through, so I never bothered to get very far.
Years, later, I remember telling a friend of mine that I was sure someone made a translation patch for the game fixing all of the terrible dialogue, but, unable to find one, I decided to make one myself, which I did. It was even featured on The Angry Video Game Nerd and several other game review shows.
Contents
Status
I do not own the game, nor have I beaten it.
Review
- Overall: 3/10
- Best Version: thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Hacks/SimonsRedaction.html Translation Patch
Good
- The adventure element of the game is really quite nice. I prefer it over the stage-based system of the original.
- The idea that Dracula's body parts hold a curse over the land, and must be collected and killed properly, is a pretty cool plot.
- The graphics are quite great.
- The soundtrack composed by Satoe Terashima and Kenichi Matsubara is fantastic.
- I like the idea of multiple endings depending on how quickly you can beat the game.
- Having items and Dracula's body parts give you bonus abilities based on which one is selected is a good mechanic.
- The save feature in the FDS version is great, it's a shame the NES version got a password system.
- The manual has a nice layout and attractive drawings.
Bad
- The game requires far too much grinding for hearts.
- People late in the game often give you advice that you would most certainly have known by then.
- The description in the endings doesn't really fit with how well you do in the game.
- The text read out and day/night transitions are obnoxiously slow.
Ugly
- The poorly translated dialogue and manual makes it impossible to progress very far, and thus makes the game unwinnable without several explicit hints.
Media
Box Art
The original Japanese FDS box art is great. Simon looks bad-ass in his armor, his whip jumps out at you, and Dracula looms ominously in the background in his castle. The lettering is also fantastic, Japanese Kanji in a German Blackletter style, dripping with blood!
The North American uses the same are as the original, but covers portions up with the Konami gray box. That, and the more basic lettering, give the box a more tame look.
The European box is tamer still eliminating Dracula altogether. Worst of the three by far.
Documentation
Game manual (uses Eras typeface).
Digital manual.
Nintendo Power, September 1988 - cover.
Nintendo Power, September 1988 - Simon's Quest map.
Nintendo Power, part 1.
Nintendo Power, part 2.
Nintendo Power, part 3.
Nintendo Power, part 4.
Nintendo Power, part 5.
Nintendo Power, part 6.
Nintendo Power, Howard & Nester comic.
Maps
Map without spoilers.
Map with spoilers.
Videos
- youtube.com/watch?v=V4we8iFk-fY - Angry Video Game Nerd, Episode 1.
- youtube.com/watch?v=RFi2vcseEz8 - Angry Video Game Nerd, Episode 119.
- youtube.com/watch?v=U1VNQRQ6wfc - Longplay.
Titles
| Language | Native | Transliteration | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Castlevania II: Simon's Quest | ||
| Japanese | ドラキュラII 呪いの封印 | Dorakyura II: Noroi no Fuin | Dracula II: The Seal of the Curse |
Links
- mobygames.com/game/castlevania-ii-simons-quest - MobyGames (NES).
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest - Wikipedia.
- vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest_(NES) - Music.
- thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php?title=Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest - NES Hacker Database.
- thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Hacks/SimonsRedaction.html - Translation patch.
- tcrf.net/Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest - The Cutting Room Floor.
