Difference between revisions of "Castlevania II: Simon's Quest"

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[[Image:Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American box art.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
 +
| SortTitle        = Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest
 +
| Image           = Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - USA.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = NES - USA - 1st edition.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Konami|Konami Industry}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Konami}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1987
 +
| PublishedMonth  = 08
 +
| PublishedDay    = 28
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|Famicom Disk System}}, {{Platform|NES}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Adventure video game|Adventure}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Beat 'em up|Beat 'em up}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Metroidvania|Metroidvania}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platformer|Platformer}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Action}}, {{MediaTheme|Adventure}}, {{MediaTheme|Horror}}, {{MediaTheme|Vampires}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[Castlevania (universe)|Castlevania]]''
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
 +
}}
  
 
'''''Castlevania II: Simon's Quest''''' is a [[Metroidvania]] video game by [[Konami]] released on the [[Famicom Disk System]] in 1987-08-28 and later ported to the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] in 1988. As the title suggests, it is a [[Castlevania (universe)|''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.
 
'''''Castlevania II: Simon's Quest''''' is a [[Metroidvania]] video game by [[Konami]] released on the [[Famicom Disk System]] in 1987-08-28 and later ported to the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] in 1988. As the title suggests, it is a [[Castlevania (universe)|''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, the vampire's 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.  
+
In the game's story, though Simon Belmont vanquished Dracula, he didn't properly dispose of his corpse, and the vampire's body parts have been 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 properly once and for all.
  
 
==Personal==
 
==Personal==
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.
+
{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      = I only have a manual, catalog NES-QU-USA.
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      =
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
I had the [[Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (LCD game)|LCD game]] and saw ''Castlevania II'' in video game magazines and even found the game's manual in the snow while walking home from a friend's house, all before I ever 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, [http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Hacks/SimonsRedaction.html which I did]. It was even featured on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFi2vcseEz8 The Angry Video Game Nerd] and several other game review shows.
 
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, [http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Hacks/SimonsRedaction.html which I did]. It was even featured on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFi2vcseEz8 The Angry Video Game Nerd] and several other game review shows.
 
==Status==
 
I do not own the game, nor have I beaten it.
 
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
Line 32: Line 52:
 
* People late in the game often give you advice that you would most certainly have known by then.
 
* People late in the game often give you advice that you would most certainly have known by then.
 
* The text for the three endings don't really fit with how well you do in the game.
 
* The text for the three endings don't really fit with how well you do in the game.
* The text read out and day/night transitions are obnoxiously slow.
+
* The controls for the password entry are poorly designed.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
 
* The poorly translated dialogue and manual makes it impossible to progress very far, and thus makes the game unwinnable without several explicit hints.
 
* The poorly translated dialogue and manual makes it impossible to progress very far, and thus makes the game unwinnable without several explicit hints.
 +
* The text read out and day/night transitions are obnoxiously slow.
  
 
==Media==
 
==Media==
 
===Box Art===
 
===Box Art===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - Japan.jpg|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!
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Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - Japan.jpg|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! This is my favorite.
Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - USA.jpg|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.
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Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - USA.jpg|The North American uses the same art 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.
 
Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - EU.jpg|The European box is tamer still eliminating Dracula altogether. Worst of the three by far.
 
Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - EU.jpg|The European box is tamer still eliminating Dracula altogether. Worst of the three by far.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
Line 47: Line 68:
 
===Documentation===
 
===Documentation===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - USA - Manual.pdf|Game manual (uses [[Eras]] typeface).
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Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - NES - USA.
Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - USA - Manual (Digital).pdf|Digital manual.
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Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - USA - Manual (Digital).pdf|Manual - NES - USA - Digital.
Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - Cover.jpg|''[[Nintendo Power]]'', 1988-09 - cover.
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Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - Cover.jpg|''[[Nintendo Power]]'' - 1988-09 - cover.
Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - Simon's Quest Map.jpg|''Nintendo Power'', 1988-09 - Simon's Quest map.
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Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - Simon's Quest Map.jpg|''Nintendo Power'' - 1988-09 - Simon's Quest map.
Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 024-025.jpg|''Nintendo Power'', 1988-09 - part 1.
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Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 024-025.jpg|''Nintendo Power'' - 1988-09 - part 1.
Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 026-027.jpg|''Nintendo Power'', 1988-09 - part 2.
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Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 026-027.jpg|''Nintendo Power'' - 1988-09 - part 2.
Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 028-029.jpg|''Nintendo Power'', 1988-09 - part 3.
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Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 028-029.jpg|''Nintendo Power'' - 1988-09 - part 3.
Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 030-031.jpg|''Nintendo Power'', 1988-09 - part 4.
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Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 030-031.jpg|''Nintendo Power'' - 1988-09 - part 4.
Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 032-033.jpg|''Nintendo Power'', 1988-09 - part 5.
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Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 032-033.jpg|''Nintendo Power'' - 1988-09 - part 5.
Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 034.jpg|''Nintendo Power'', 1988-09 - part 6.
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Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 034.jpg|''Nintendo Power'' - 1988-09 - part 6.
Nintendo Power - 1988-11 - 024-025.jpg|''Nintendo Power'', 1988-11 - [[Howard & Nester]] comic.
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Nintendo Power - 1988-11 - 024-025.jpg|''Nintendo Power'' - 1988-11 - [[Howard & Nester]] comic.
Nintendo Power - 1989-01 - 050-051.jpg|''Nintendo Power'', 1989-01 - Counselor's Corner.
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Nintendo Power - 1989-01 - 050-051.jpg|''Nintendo Power'' - 1989-01 - Counselor's Corner.
 
Worlds of Power - Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - Mass Market - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|[[Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (book)|Novelization]].
 
Worlds of Power - Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - Mass Market - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|[[Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (book)|Novelization]].
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
Line 66: Line 87:
 
Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - Map.png|Map without spoilers.
 
Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - Map.png|Map without spoilers.
 
Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - Map With Spoilers.png|Map with spoilers.
 
Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - Map With Spoilers.png|Map with spoilers.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Screenshots===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - Screenshot - Password.png|The [[video game password|password]] screen.
 +
Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - Screenshot - Password Entry.png|The password entry screen.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
===Videos===
 
===Videos===
{{#ev:youtube|V4we8iFk-fY|256|inline|Angry Video Game Nerd, Episode 1.|frame}}
+
{{YouTube|avhtw9nAsus|Review - NES Works.}}
{{#ev:youtube|RFi2vcseEz8|256|inline|Angry Video Game Nerd, Episode 119.|frame}}
+
{{YouTube|HTD0cDHd5Wk|Review - Metroidvania Works.}}
{{#ev:youtube|U1VNQRQ6wfc|256|inline|Longplay.|frame}}
+
{{YouTube|D6FkLH6uo5U|Review - What's So Great About Gaming?}}
 +
{{YouTube|V4we8iFk-fY|Angry Video Game Nerd, Episode 1.}}
 +
{{YouTube|RFi2vcseEz8|Angry Video Game Nerd, Episode 119.}}
 +
{{YouTube|U1VNQRQ6wfc|Longplay.}}
 +
 
 +
==Play Online==
 +
{{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/fds-games/dracula-ii-noroi-no-fuuin-japan.html|Famicom Disk System}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/nes-games/castlevania-ii-simon-s-quest-europe.html|NES (Europe)}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/nes-games/castlevania-ii-simon-s-quest-usa.html|NES (USA)}}
 +
 
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Fail
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = The only women are medusa heads, harpies, and Carmilla.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = No women ever talk to each other.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Fail
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = All the characters are white.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
  
 
==Titles==
 
==Titles==
Line 86: Line 132:
 
{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest}}
 
{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest}}
 
{{Link|StrategyWiki|https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest}}
 
{{Link|StrategyWiki|https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest}}
 +
{{Link|GameFAQs|https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/nes/587179-castlevania-ii-simons-quest}}
 
{{Link|VGMPF|2=http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest_(NES)}}
 
{{Link|VGMPF|2=http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest_(NES)}}
{{Link|NESHacker|http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php?title=Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest}}
+
{{Link|ROMDetectives|2=http://www.romdetectives.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest_(NES)}}
 +
{{Link|TVTropes|https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/CastlevaniaIISimonsQuest}}
 
{{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest}}
 
{{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/Castlevania_II:_Simon%27s_Quest}}
  
 
* [http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Hacks/SimonsRedaction.html thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Hacks/SimonsRedaction.html] - Translation patch.
 
* [http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Hacks/SimonsRedaction.html thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Hacks/SimonsRedaction.html] - Translation patch.
 +
* [https://www.thonky.com/castlevania-ii-simons-quest/password-generator thonky.com/castlevania-ii-simons-quest/password-generator] - Password generator.
  
  
[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: 1987 Video Games]]
 
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Adventure, Action, Strategy]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Adventure, Action, Strategy]]
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Adventure]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Multiple Endings]]
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Metroidvania]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Platformer]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Scrolling Platformer]]
 
[[Category: Media Theme - Action]]
 
[[Category: Media Theme - Adventure]]
 
[[Category: Media Theme - Horror]]
 
[[Category: Media Theme - Vampires]]
 
[[Category: NES Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games That Fail the Bechdel Test]]
 
[[Category: Video Games I Haven't Beaten]]
 

Latest revision as of 15:24, 7 March 2024

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest

Castlevania II - Simon's Quest - NES - USA.jpg

NES - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Konami Industry
Publisher Konami
Published 1987-08-28
Platforms Famicom Disk System, NES
Genres Adventure, Beat 'em up, Metroidvania, Platformer
Themes Action, Adventure, Horror, Vampires
Series Castlevania
Distribution Commercial

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest is a Metroidvania video 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 vanquished Dracula, he didn't properly dispose of his corpse, and the vampire's body parts have been 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 properly once and for all.

Personal

Own?I only have a manual, catalog NES-QU-USA.
Won?No.

I had the LCD game and saw Castlevania II in video game magazines and even found the game's manual in the snow while walking home from a friend's house, all before I ever 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.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
5 3 5 7 3

Best Version: NES (Translation Patch)

— This section contains spoilers! —

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 great for the platform.
  • 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 text for the three endings don't really fit with how well you do in the game.
  • The controls for the password entry are poorly designed.

Ugly

  • The poorly translated dialogue and manual makes it impossible to progress very far, and thus makes the game unwinnable without several explicit hints.
  • The text read out and day/night transitions are obnoxiously slow.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Maps

Screenshots

Videos

Review - NES Works.
Review - Metroidvania Works.
Review - What's So Great About Gaming?
Angry Video Game Nerd, Episode 1.
Angry Video Game Nerd, Episode 119.
Longplay.

Play Online

Famicom Disk System, NES (Europe), NES (USA)

Representation

Strong female character?FailThe only women are medusa heads, harpies, and Carmilla.
Bechdel test?FailNo women ever talk to each other.
Strong person of color character?FailAll the characters are white.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

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

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-StrategyWiki.png  Link-GameFAQs.png  Link-VGMPF.png  Link-ROMDetectives.png  Link-TVTropes.png  Link-TCRF.png