Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest (NES) Playthrough
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- A playthrough of Konami's 1988 action-adventure game for the NES, Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest.
Reprising his role from Castlevania ( • Castlevania (NES) Play... ), Simon Belmont sets off once again in pursuit of pure evil. This time, however, the adventure is much more personal in nature: Simon was badly injured in his fight with Dracula seven years ago in Castlevania‘s finale.
A mysterious and beautiful woman appeared to warn Simon that the wound had laid a curse upon his mortal soul, and that if he didn’t take action, the taint would kill him. Simon’s only hope for salvation is to return to Transylvania, find the five remaining intact body parts of Dracula, and burn them at his castle.
In a huge departure from the style of the original, this sequel incorporates several RPG mechanics and a non-linear exploratory structure similar to that found in Vampire Killer, a 1986 Castlevania title released for the MSX2 home computer ( • Vampire Killer (MSX2) ... ). Simon must speak with townspeople for hints about what he should do next (though they are oftentimes purposely misleading), buy items in shops, gain levels by collecting hearts from downed enemies, and more. A day/night cycle has also been implemented, significantly changing the flow of the game: at sunset, villagers turn into murderous zombies, and enemy monsters become much more powerful.
In order to find all five body parts, Simon must traverse the Transylvanian countryside seeking out mansions that house Dracula’s nail, eyeball, rib, ring, and heart. Once collected, these pieces can be equipped as items (the rib can shield Simon from damage, the eye allows him to see hidden items, the nail allows walls to be destroyed, and so on). Once all of these pieces are collected, Dracula’s citadel, Castlevania, will become available for the final showdown. The game features multiple endings, and which you see is determined by how many in-game days it took to finish the game.
The platforming action of Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest is quite similar to that of its predecessor and its controls feel nearly identical. The game is significantly less linear than Castlevania, but the awkward translation and the lying villagers' advice results in a lot of time being spent aimlessly wandering. This isn’t time completely wasted, however, since Simon will inevitably build up a necessary stockpile of experience and hearts while exploring.
And then there are the aesthetics. What atmosphere!
The graphics are a big improvement over the original game with better detailed character sprites and fewer garish color schemes - I love the Simon sprite's blood red clothes and the "old world" look of the towns - and the music set a new high bar for NES audio. Complementing the action are some of gaming's most memorable tunes, several of which have appeared remixed in later Castlevania games. Of particular note is the difference in the sound quality between the American NES version and the Japanese disk version: though not usually the case, the cartridge version of the game sounds significantly better than its floppy-based counterpart. The disk system's hardware could handle more sound channels than the base NES system, but the heavier bass and the drum samples in the American version make the music far more driving and dynamic.
Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest is an excellent game and unquestionably a worthy successor to Castlevania, and it's my favorite game in the entire series. Though the intentional misdirects and the hokey English script makes the game a bit more obtuse than it should have been, the improved graphics, sound, and story make this a worthwhile play for any fan of the Belmont clan.
It is, after all, a key stop on the series' road to Symphony of the Night.
(All three endings are shown at the end of the video for anyone who would like to see them.)
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocom...) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
![[TAS] NES Castlevania II: Simon's Quest by zggzdydp in 28:11.11](/img/1.gif)
3:33 That day to night changed in music always gets me! Iconic!
“What a horrible night to have a curse.”
Simon: 🕺💃🕺💃
The night-time music is so awesome w/ plenty of danger and intrigue!
Yes!!! That music slaps 🪩🪩
It took me more than a week to finish this game in 1988.
And you finished it in an hour and forty one minutes. 😲
26:00 nice dance lol
Would love to see you do a full playthru of Konami's Mouryou Senki Madara!
Jogo besta
Castlevania 2 is my favorite game of the entire series, and music doesn't get much better than this on the NES!
Must be play the Redaction version...
Underrated game in the series, especially when we talk about the early entries.
The groundwork for metroidvania. You love to see it
Looking forward to AVGN comments!
Not to mention, the "Nintendo Power" magazine cover is one of the most amazing things ever.
my dad worked the night shift, and he would come home with his work buddy, i would setup the Nintendo and they would play this game for hourssss while i watched....this game is always have a special place in my heart man....love this game
Nice. Did they ever beat the game?
@@petep.7868 heheheh no lolololool
@@hbicgrizzly8212 Back then there was no "google" to tell you how to win, had to write stuff down and remember! Good ole days!
I love this comment. Nostalgia,like going to rent a VHS tape and ordering pizza on Friday night.
@@kittenface8577 exactly.
Oh, man…that music. I just love LOVE how dark this one was in every way. The music, and art, the whole vibe. I remember as a kid, playing this late at night in this shed thing we had that was separate from the house. It had a tv a couch and a mini fridge. I’d spend so many nights out there playing this game, right on the verge of being scared enough to go in the house, but not wanting to imagine what I might run into on the way! Ahh, the nostalgia of these old games seems to age better and better with time. I remember in the early 2000’s there being a resurgence of NES nostalgia. Basically every decade or so, I come back to these old games with a renewed appreciation. For me, and perhaps many of us, these games represent a time special to us individually, a time of safety and simplicity and dare I say happiness. Sadly, it’s a time that will never be again. These old games provide a window back to that time, and that’s why they’ll always be dear to me, and why I’ll be playing them until I physically can’t anymore!
Your video game shed story is an awesome memory.
But how can you like this game? Don't you know that some guy on the Internet said it was bad? Also don't you know that some other guy on the Internet said the only correct way to play it was with a hack that replaces the entire text with an in-game walkthrough and kills the whole "the hints are supposed to be riddles" thing from the Japanese version? Now you have to correct your entire outlook on one of your favorite video games according to two random guys' opinions. Sorry, pal, I don't make the rules.
[insert enormous tag here]
Shit, this changes my outlook not on just games, but on life. Where have I been? Thanks from the heart man, you really saved me from myself.
Your sarcastic humor comment gives me deepjoy and I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter.
@@NintendoComplete Happy to help, dude. 👍
Going through a few Horrible Nights to lift a curse or else the Belmont lineage would have met its end. For all the notorious flaws it has, this game did add a lot of neat ideas that paved the way for more highly regarded entries in the series a decade later. This game deserves its respect for what contributed to the series in the long run.
Without this game we likely never would have gotten Symphony of the Night.
From what I understand, the structure of this entire game is sitting on the foundation of something it calls the 13 clues, all of which were horrifically butchered in translation. I can only imagine how incredible an experience this might've been had it been localized with it's original intention intact. And, yes, we can all play "fixed" versions of this that benefit from hindsight, but that does absolutely nothing for 2nd grade me.
The Music in this Series is So Hot
The haunting music always set the tone
This game was amazing, definitely one of the few games that truly gave you a sense of danger, with its dark and scary vibes/atmoshere and challenge. The only thing that got me though, was how cryptic they made this game. Idk how anyone figured out how to travel through that wall unless they read a guide or something. Or using the oak stake on the crystal balls.
Your little dance while waiting for night to end was fantastic. Laughed pretty good about it 👌 🤣.
I wasn't sure when this comment would come into play, but it was beautiful.
please timestamp these things
25:36
Pretty solid game. Wish more Castlevania's would embrace RPG elements and let you visit shops, talk with people and the like. Also is it ever a good night for a curse?
This one had the best music by far! When I hear it I immediately go back in time. ❤❤❤❤
@Gildedbutterfly1976 ditto for me Sheels1976 I had the NES game, however I didn't like Simons cartoon incarnation of Captain N LOL! 🙋🤠❤🙏
f'n A
This game was my first real introduction to _Castlevania_ and I was six when it came out. It used to scare me but now I'm so jaded even _Terrifier 2_ doesn't elicit more than mild fear. I actually miss the feeling of a good, safe scare.
I thought I was the only one, I can never explain this to other people very well but I agree. I was younger so my first entry was Castlevania 64 the only other game that scared me that bad was the first Diablo.
Wait until it turns to night.
To be fair I don't think Terrifier 2 or the first one are scary, just really mean-spirited
@@cody10184 Diablo 1 has a brilliantly creepy atmosphere.
Fun fact: In 1987, Konami had three, count 'em, three Metroidvanias, and all timeless classics. "The Goonies II" (for the NES), "Knightmare II: The Maze of Galious" (for both the MSX and NES), and "Castlevania II: Simon's Quest" (Japanese Disk System version).
The Goonies was amazing. I remember passing it back in 1988. It wasn't easy to say the least. 😂
This is not a horrible day to play this game. This is a great game. Simon's Quest is my favorite game by far in the series.
Please list all horrible days to play so I may avoid them. Thanks
@@patrickbennett439
9/11
Days with solar flares
Days right after a surgery
Your death date
Days where you’re blind
Thank you!@@Dr.Livingdark
@@patrickbennett439 though it’s a technicality, any nights with curses are a bad idea (they’re usually horrible too but that goes without saying)
Thanks for clearifying!@@Dr.Livingdark
Great job on this playthrough of one of my favorite NES games. The music alone makes this a must-play but the gameplay is also extremely satisfying. Back then, imagination took you to a different place in these old games, and Simon’s Quest was oozing with atmosphere. I love how Castlevania 3 went the way it did of a more traditional action platformer, and with that move it made Simon’s Quest that much more special in the NES trilogy. Hats off to this great game!
Despite all of the undeserved hate Simon's Quest gets, it's still my favorite Castlevania game.
With minor RPG elements, world exploration, item collection, and towns with NPCs to interact with. Simon's Quest could be considered the prototype for the "Metroidvania" style Castlevania games like Symphony of the Night and Circle of the Moon.
You are probably young and that's why you like 2 so much. Simon's Quest is a lot of great ideas very poorly executed. The clues to what you are supposed to be doing are very vague and nearly impossible to figure out on your own. There was no internet, and unless you had a magazine with a walkthrough or had a friend who knew what to do, this game became a paperweight.
@@MattyIcecubes To this day I played Castlevania 2 more than 1 and 3. I liked Simon's Quest as its more open world then just being in a castle or set in levels.
@@MattyIcecubes And that's why I like thoae games so much, the magazines. I even almost finished the game blind without help because I couldn't read Japanese back then.
That's not a coincidence, because Symphony of the Night (the first proper "Metroidvania" game in the series) looked at Simon's Quest specifically for inspiration!
Undeserved? Simon's quest is terrible in every way
0:36 Nice to hear my phone's ringtone! Seriously, anybody who loves Castlevania owes it to themselves to play this game if they haven't already. It's actually a pretty important game in the series lore-wise too, and the soundtrack bestowed upon us such classics as _Bloody Tears_ .
They really just decided to pull a Zelda 2.
Even Rambo.
As a kid I always got the gray ending, not realizing it was the worst one. I thought I had won, I didn’t know I had died!
A year late, but there is wide speculation about the text for each ending not matching the visual. The text for the neutral ending was most likely meant for the gray visual, the text for the best ending meant for the daylight visual (blue background) & the text for the worst ending intended with the sunset visual.
Haha, same here!
Looking back on the NES era of sequels, it is quite interesting how the second game tends to be when developers really started to experiment. Some notable examples include this, Mario 2 and Zelda 2: the Adventure of Link. They would also introduce a lot of staple elements to their franchise’s. Simon's quest introduced nonlinear exploration into the franchise, multiple endings, and different weapons. Zelda 2 introduced magic and towns in the franchise alongside helping inspire Link's moveset in Smash. With Mario 2, it introduced multiple playable characters and staple enemies and characters like bob-ombs, Birdo, and Shy Guys.
both sequels 2 are very different (and at the same time somewhat problematic) so they were revolutionary in their ideas and evolved a lot in future games
Mario 2 is Doki Doki Panic, the real one is like SMB but HARD
that one doesn't count
Although I hold Castlevania 3 higher (the best of the NES trilogy, in my opinion), this game is a guilty pleasure right alongside Zelda 2. Such a classic game!
Thanks for the playthrough!
whats guilty about it castlevania 2 is awesome
💯 I owned 3, and it was the cream of the crop, but this is one is so unique. Hilariously, I'm currently on vacation running through it on my switch. Doing a marathon of the Castlevania collection. 🤣😂
@@cubanref9670 Hell yeah! Enjoy the marathon! I'm probably due for one myself.
Castlevania 3 is my absolute favorite of the NES trilogy, but as you said, this one is so unique, and I have fond childhood memories of it.
@LordSephleon The Castlevania Advance Collection deserves praise as well. All we need left is the DS collection. I seriously have a problem, though, because I also purchased 2 copies of the TNMT collection. One for the ps5 and one for the Switch. Not to mention the Contra collection on both. If you grew up in the 80s, these compilations are bliss. There's nothing like running through Contra again without the Konami code on your big ass tv.
@@cubanref9670 I see no problem here. Just someone who really appreciates the amazing games of the 80s and 90s and wants to play on every possible medium. :)
Even though I grew up in the 80s having played video games since before I learned to read, I personally consider the 90s 16-bit console generation - namely the SNES and Sega Genesis - to be the best we ever achieved in video games, but I can't argue that the 8-bit NES paved the way to that era with an unmatched legacy. Those collections you mentioned are great ways for people young and old to reconnect with the classics.
This game is my favourite in the series. I never played the first game in the series until many years after part 2. I don’t see the hate this game gets. I play this game every so often and often remember all the lore this game had being 6-7 years old when this game came out.
Classic. Would be cool if Konami revisited this franchise like this type of game. Exploration and a chill vibe.
First NES game I ever purchased with my hard earned cash. I still 100% respect my decision
Why are all old games unnecessarily hard like that secret to get the chain whip nobody said nothing about it you either knew it by accidentally throwing the holy water or learned it from someone else back in the day (I am currently going thru the anniversary collection lol)
Beautiful, for one of the most tragically under appreciated Castlevania title of all and hands down my personal favorite version of Simon Belmont as the Gothic warrior/Hunter that he was always meant to be
i did a No Hit-No death Guide for this glorious true Metroidvania NES classic 🤘
WHAT A HORRIBLE NIGHT TO HAVE A CURSE 🌙
"WHAT A HORRIBLE NIGHT TO HAVE A CURSE 🌙"
ikr wtf?
you put the little Moon and everything
good attention to detail buddy 🤙
I like the way this game is so random and you get disinformation from the people. it really doesnt follow the mold like
all the other adventure games
As much as internet has ripped this game apart, you have to give it credit for trying something different. Let me ask this: What would you have wanted from a Castlevania -sequel? A linear game that plays exactly the same as the first one? Or a game that has open world exploration and new gameplay mechanics?
Both Castlevania 2 and Zelda 2 weren't safe sequels and did something different that influenced later entries.
@@Rokabur Very true 👍
This.
So he comes out of town and there are lots of werewolves and skeletons hanging around ? Tough neighborhood.
I love the fact that they weren’t afraid to try new things and if it didn’t work they’ll address it in the next game. I miss the good ol days
I'd already forgotten how cool the music is here. Thanks for the video!
Guys, on my channel I'm making a walkthrough of a very rare, little-known game of this series - Castlevania RPG (恶魔城 RPG - 血之召唤). It was released in 2008 by Chinese developers. If you are interested - I invite you to familiarize yourself with this project.
4:20 Fuck living in this town. Ghouls wander the roads at night and shit. Guess you cant just go out for food or anything I’d imagine.
Can't have crap in Ohio.
When I was little this game would actually scare me when it turned night
It’s a really good game and all, but having only 3 dungeon bosses was always disappointing. Kind of like Metroid with only 3 bosses.
AVGN: "This game sucks"
Rented this game from the video store one of my moms boyfreind they broke up lmao it was never returned 😢😢😢😢
This game sucks. Castlevania 1 and 3 are great Classic nintendo games. -Jimmy Rolfe
And with those lines, a YTuber was born
I guess there's no accounting for taste, eh? :)
@@NintendoComplete 🤣
I mean, he's not wrong. This game really does suck... But the music is good.
@@Dorian_Scott he did horrible in this game he didn't get the good ending
I still love this game and think it really is a masterpiece very under rated is game has one of the most and detailed background’s not to mention the sound track as it gets better as you go along in game that’s my thoughts 💭 about this as a fan when this game first came out still play today 🫡
My first Castlevania game, and I was deeply confused by it.
Holding the red Crystal at the dead-end would stump just about anyone
@@worsethanhitlerpt.2539 Yeah. But funny enough, my brother and I accessed the second half of the game prematurely. We didn't get Dracula's Heart and Eyeball before, only his Rib. So either way, we were stuck at a dead end.
Same here, totally lost at the lake
@@Koekie5616 But thank God for emulation and walkthroughs, because I eventually got even with the game that had tormented me for years. Same for Snake’s Revenge.
@@SolCresta3405 woah nice!
Looking at the videos I sometimes have an impulse to buy these kind of retro games and play it again 😅
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest was my first Castlevania and, believe or not, i managed to finish the game by only talking with the villagers, finding the hidden clue books (i noted the clues for consulting), exploring every way of interaction (that's how i discovered that you need to show Dracula's heart to the ferry man in the Dead river, so he takes you to the third mansion), and a friend of mine told me how to use the garlic, but i always got the bad ending. I didn't know i needed to kill Dracula in less than 14 days, or else Simon dies by the injuries after defeating Dracula's wraith.
I played again recently and got the best ending.
This is my favorite Castlevania game, i love the game's soundtrack and Simon is my favorite Belmont.
I was addicted to playing this when I was young. Lol. After I beat it, I just played again. 😄 I do like at the end on Draculas tombstone it has his actual birth and death year (Vlad the Impaler). I didn't know that till years later.
I was in junior high when this came out... geeze brings back alot of memories
Played this when I was a kid...very nostalgic to see this game again.
Very cool. Too cryptic, however. If Simon’s Quest got a remaster, fix everything but the music.
This is probably the hardest Castlevania game!
Man some of the pixel perfect jumps this game requires gives me anxiety😂
That sound track though is lit 🔥
I remember playing this game at my cousin's Pegasus in the early 90s. I had no idea what to do or where to go, but I enjoyed taking down monsters and the blood-pumping music. It wasn't until 2014 or so that I bought this game on Wii Virtual Console and took an entire afternoon to finish it. Managed to find all items and power-ups, Flame Whip included. As different as it is from Castlevania 1 and 3, from me that's a compliment.
Red sky best ending, blue sky worst, and night middle ending?
Awesome gameplay bro 😁👍
My favorite Game 😏👉👉
This was the first game that basically gave me the feeling of an RPG
*Destroy The Curse And You'll Rule Brahms Mansion*
i have this framed and displayed on my wall ...:/
BEAUTIFUL upload, NC.
What a fun game for the NES!! Castlevania is the best series that I've ever played, I'm waiting on a new one too come out......❤❤❤❤❤❤
Another great video plus it's another game I've never seen defeated before great job
Hated this game but the music is one of the best
32 years and I still can't clear the final level... Which is why this game is the BEST
I was about 6 years old, I remember crying when I saw the end of the game... too much suffering this game was very hard
Konami's first attempt at a Metroidvania...sure they nailed it with SOTN, but Simon's Quest was a very ambitious game. Despite its flaws, it's still one of my favorites to this day.
This title brings back lots of memories. I loved it back when I was a kid.
2:48
*Bloody Tears* 😭
dance simon dance!~ 25:40 lolol
I like how when you're waiting for morning, you move to the music. Lmfao. I used to do the same thing 🤣
My first Castlevania game!
25:36 my goodness lol
!!I LOVE PLAYIN THYS AOUNDTRACKT\OST TO PEOPLE!!?!?
*they be like dude,🤮Wah da HELL is DAT?!
'i KNOW, you want IT huh?!'
.......yes.
Simmons quest and snakes revenge are two of my favorite NES games of all time not because they’re great but because of the gameplay and music soundtrack plus big time nostalgia points
WHAT A
HORRIBLE
NIGHT TO
HAVE A
CURSE.
============
THE MORNING
SUN HAS
VANQUISHED
THE HORRIBLE
NIGHT.
WHAT A
HORRIBLE
NIGHT TO
HAVE A
CURSE.
============
THE MORNING
SUN HAS
VANQUISHED
THE HORRIBLE
NIGHT.
Oh goodie.....
20 plus minutes of wasting time exploiting a broken spawning mechanic to earn cheap hearts.
Glad I missed out on this game afterall.
I remember a friend of mine lent me this game because he did not understand it.
After playing the first one i was expecting the same thing but found it confusing yet intriguing. I kept playing and playing and loved it due to how different it was from the first one.
The only problem was i had no guide, no reference or friends that had beat it. So there was no way for me to know to kneel at that cliff where the tornado takes you away, or no way of knowing where you were supposed to perform specific tasks to keep moving forward.
I spent years just going back and forth without being able to get passed the initial areas and thought maybe the game is broken?
After about 5 years or so of not playing it since i had completely given up on it, i asked a friend if he had ever finished it? He said yes and gave me all these odd details of a tornado and kneeling here and there, i thought nah he is lying.
So i started asking him specifics to which he would just tell me what to do but could not remember the details.
I invited him over and asked him to show me what he meant.
At first he struggled to remember but after going back and forth for a while he finally made it! Seeing him kneel at that cliff with the tornado put me in shock. I thought omg after so many years i will finally have closure!
Anyways it became one of my all time best games on the NES.
Playing this game was great, Zelda 2 NES with similar side stroll game play where the best hard to play fun games
The "music" is so metal! 🤘
Love this game ♥️
this game sucks
What a horrible night to Have a Simon's Quest dance partyyyyyyy
At first when it was released, I didn’t like it, because it was so different from the first Castlevania. But today, it’s my favorite in the series on the 8-bit system!
prossess?
I remember having to use the holy water on every inch of every city to see if I could find something special needless to say I wasted my entire summer of 8th grade doing it lol
When i was a kid, i thought the half hearts were ice cream cones, until i saw a full heart drop, then i was like "oohhhhhhh..." 🤣
Always disagreed with The Nerd about this one. Despite its butchered translation, its biggest sin was being a bit too ambitious for the hardware.
Destroy Dracula's Parts In CASTLEVANIA 2 SIMON'S QUEST.
"This game sucks." -The Angry Video Game Nerd (May 2004)
Wow....!!! I'm feeling nostalgia now ❤
The part that dead ends with the invisible steps, is there anything there? I never figured it out.
First thing you need to do in this town is buy an old English 40!
That moment at 50:02 when that devil straight up dipped through the wall.
1:17:57 How do they expect a kid to figure this shit out man...
T2UJ RTDX U45V 82R1 your welcome 😅
24:45
42:26
The one game I wish I could like. And I’ve tried.
And guess how you drop It
Up and B
"The Nerd"
"This game sucks"
AVGN
I dont understand why some think this is bad game in the franchise. Yes it was hard af and confusing but thats what makes it great in the end.
Not if you stay stuck in a place. No guides in that time, just "guess". And the answers don't make sense
@@Daniel-kx3zzI was forever stuck at the place where you need to go down. I managed to do it once, but didn't know how and never managed to do it again lol
The graveyard should not have all of this shit in it.