Castlevania II: Simon's Quest

"A different direction with great results."

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest - The legendary sequel to it's legendary predecessor. Obviously the oddball of the old school Castlevania series but still fun none the less. Coming out only a year after the original, Simon's Quest attempts to take the series in a new direction but yet still retains the feel of a classic NES Castlevania. It takes out alot of the original's action and replaces it with more of an adventure style. Being a "first sequel" on the NES this game definetly keeps with the tradition of other sequels, such as Zelda II and Mario 2, by being much different from it's predecessor and later sequels. But how did it all turn out? Ask any NES collector and they'll tell you they really enjoyed it. I know I sure did and other than a few of the other reviews posted here I've never heard of anyone hating this beloved game. Besides who could ever forget that famous "what a horrible night to have a curse" line The Castlevania series has always been known for trying something new without really taking away from the gameplay and keeping the feel of the game alive. (Or dead in this case considering that you're fighting skeletons and such). Let's get on with this review.

Story - 7/10
Taking place a few years after Dracula's defeat at the hands of Simon Belmont, the countryside again plunges into darkness. Simon picks up his vampire killer whip and heads out to put a stop this evil. But Simon doesn't feel so well. He learns that during his battle with Dracula, a curse had been placed upon him and the only way to rid himself and the land of it was to assemble all of Dracula parts, revive the Count, and destroy him again. Sounds like Simon has his work cut out for him this time.
Sounds like a pretty generic storyline but considering this came out in 1988 it was pretty good for it's time.

Graphics - 7/10
Pretty average graphics for the time but the color of the game gives it more of a darker feel than Castlevania did. You're not going to see a whole lot of really bright colors here but instead there are very dark areas like graveyards and caves to walk through. Along with really depressing looking towns and mansions. Really does look like the land is cursed. There are alot of reused settings and sprites that sometimes makes it hard to find your way around without maps or guides. As for characters Simon's sprite from Castlevania returns with a different color pallete. I actually like the his color better in this game for some odd reason. Overall the graphics aren't anything to get too excited about. It's about standard for this era of 8-bit gaming.

Sound - 7/10
The music sets the mood for the game. As scenes change from day to night different music plays. Not as much variety for your listening pleasure as in Castlevania but with the introduction of Bloody Tears, who really needs a whole lot of music anyway. That's an excellent recurring piece that makes it's debut here. It's the daytime theme for those who are wondering. As for the others nighttime has it's own theme. So do towns and mansions.
As for the regular sounds of the game this is another area where Simon's Quest has alot in common with Castlevania and other games of this era. Nothing really to get worked up on just standard NES sounds.

Gameplay - 7/10
Here's where things really get interesting. As stated in the story you must find Dracula's parts, revive him, and then destroy him. You'll go through towns, forests, graveyards, swamps, and mansions to complete your quest. Items that aid you in your quest can usually be bought in towns with hearts. Hearts are found by killing enemies outside the towns. But be quick about all this as there are three different endings based on your time and continues used. Also remember to be careful at night. The enemies become tougher after nightfall. Expect to see a few enemies return from Castlevania. The whip is all you need. It's much more upgradeable here going through five different levels.

Control - 10/10
Perfect NES control. A jumps, B whips. There is a sub-menu to help keep track of your quest and to use different items. Simon is also a little easier to control here as opposed to Castlevania. It feels alot more responsive. Obviously the NES controller was made to play this type of game and it certainly shows.

Fun Factor - 9/10
This one holds alot more replay value for the casual gamer and Simon's Quest turns out to be significantly easier than the original. Enemies and bosses alike are nothing compared to an upgraded whip. Another difference we see here is that the game is also longer. But with the simple difficulty an amatuer player can clear it in just a few hours. However for your first time through it may take a bit longer. Luckily a handy password feature is available to save your progress. So overall what we have here is an enjoyable classic.

To buy or not to buy?
Buy it. It can be had for about ten dollars nowadays. This is another true classic that belongs in any NES library. An excellent sequel to an excellent game this one stands the test time and should be played by many gaming generations to come.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/30/04