10 year old me loved this game, and didn’t care that it was different from Castlevania, as I enjoyed them both. 47 year old me still feels the same. Great vid bud, keep em comin!
@@retronate oh for sure, the boss battles in Castlevania 2 were lacking lol. I even remember saying the same way back then. But something about the game still just captured my attention, and friends around me, and it still ranks right up there as one of my personal faves on the NES.
@@Wyldechylde77 the cryptic clues and really piecing it together without a walkthrough left a tremendous sense of accomplishment. That’s a very important factor for having a game be remembered well. This one has that.
@@retronate It would have been nice if they'd taken a little longer on this game and added more bosses and stuff and it would be well-known as a classic.
What I like about Castlevania II: Simon's Quest is it gives the player the full Transylvania experience. You visit towns, cemeteries, mansions, caverns, forests, etc. You meet various people. Not many Castevania games had this type of experience. Lot of neat features in this game.
Exactly- I love that they did something different. I was glad that Konami saw how the open world games like Zelda and Metroid were doing, and created something different. What's the point of being in a castle just beating up monsters? Although most of the series is just that. But this game had the guts to expand the lore.
Simon's Quest was the first NES game I bought with my own money and been a fan ever since of this franchise! Thanks for sharing it definitely takes me back!
@@retronate Definitely, a lot of unwarranted hate over the years lol but I have always been a fan of it. Not to mention the music is awesome for this game!
Google says that Dracula's Ring gives you a free hit point when your meter is full. It works even if not equipped. You can see it working at about 45:47
@@douggiebee glad to hear and my pleasure! This was the game my brother and cousin spent HOURS on as a kid and I never really grasped it until I went back through as an adult. Absolutely love metroidvanias and figuring out how to finish them efficiently.
Great game, had it when it was current, and I loved it. The music was sublime, gameplay fresh, and its play mechanics were unlike anything we had ever seen before. It was the culmination of so many differing play mechanics that it's a miracle that it actually worked as intended. Unfortunately, the game does have its share of issues. The one that bothered me the most was the 3 endings. Why create such an expansive world, with secrets everywhere, tons of places to explore, a leveling system, NPC's to speak to, and (for its time) incredible environments to fight in/explore? All while telling the player, "No time for that garbage, rush, rush, rush!" What happened to 'Nintendo hard' can't let them finish in one sitting? That went out the window with this one. Well, I refused back, and I still do today. It's like trying to rush Rondo of Blood or Symphony... you just don't do it. Addendum- I have never once tried to run through this game at break-neck speeds. I enjoy the music, action, and adventure too much. I have, of course, never had any issues beating this game before and have witnessed all 3 endings on my Nes (thank you, GameGenie).
Well said. Really digging around and finding all of the clues would be a satisfying play, but generally comes at the cost of getting the most rewarding ending to the common gamer. It’s a game that when I put it down, I miss it and wanna run it again. But after I run it I think, I can put this down for a while.
@retronate I'm the same way, my friend. I was a huge Castlevania fan who saw Simon's Quest as the true move forward for the series. I believe its designers saw this as well, and I think Castlevania 3 shows this. It was linear but had many branching paths. It was a mix of the old with the new in an attempt to compromise between the two play styles. Super Castlevania IV was very much a core, almost by the numbers adventure....that was the last. The sequel to Super Castlevania IV was technically Rondo of Blood, and it was glorious. The game has multiple paths, allowing you to rescue another playable character. Its anime art style, gameplay, Red Book Audio, player movement, or agency was unlike anything we had ever seen before. Which culminated in the creation of the best Castlevania ever created (in my eyes)... Symphony of The Night. I don't know if any more games will be created, but I sure hope they keep the Metroidvania alive.
I came here for completion walk-throughs. Def Subscribed. Because you gave a perfectly reasonable explanation for not getting all the iitems. Was this a live recording?
@@godagon97 thanks for the sub! I recorded this and then went back and overdubbed the commentary. I’ve since moved to recording both game and commentary live.
@ I never got to finish this game. I could never figure out some of the items I needed. I never had the map, or strategy guide. I actually found the game in the school yard behind my house! lol! Thanks for the play though. Brought back some good memories.
@@MercyfulFate1000 I remember Nintendo Power did a big spread about this one maybe in their second issue? But that’s about all we had to work from other than our own hand drawn maps/lists back in the day
@@arthurjones5261 I really hadn’t gotten into it until adulthood. Didn’t get it as a kid and I was much more into the simpler games. Now I absolutely love the complex/cryptic ones.
@@retronate I don't know if you've ever heard of this band called The Advantage, but they do all instrumental covers of old NES games (with plenty of tracks from the Castlevania and MegaMan series). Both albums are on Spotify if I recall correctly.
If you have every other body part you still won't be able to get into Dracula's mansion. The blocks at the end of the bridge won't break, even if you use Dracula's nail. I guess it's riffing off of the very old depictions of Dracula has having a big-ass ruby hyrax.
I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. No one has actually made a video about this almost 40 year old game and I felt the need to serve the world in this way lol.
@@retronate well finally we get answers on this game finally someone tell us about it!!! I wonder if people will start to speedrun it now after your valuable information???
@@AboveEmAllProduction maybe a magazine centered around NES content will do a feature on this game in the second issue of their publication? We may never know but I can dream…
I played Castlevania I and II as a kid. I don't recall if I ever played the third one. For some reason, I just never really became enamored of these games. I think it was just how little control you have over Simon Belmont compared to other platformers like Mario or Mega Man. And I hated getting stuck on the ladders without being able to jump off to avoid damage. Also, while I love open-world RPG's, for some reason, Metroid-style platformers just never did it for me, either. That being said, it's still fun to watch someone else tear through these games.
Mario and Megaman are definitely a different feel. Just a small thing but you can’t go multiple directions when you jump in Castlevania, which really changes the feel of going through it. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m glad you’re at least enjoying watching!
It’s awesome. Loved the boldness to take the series in a different direction. If they made the Dracula fight memorable it could’ve been among the best.
Played this game when I was a kid my Grandma let me borrow her copy of it after I played it one holiday. Loved what I played. I just never got anywhere honestly and it kinda sorta frustrated me. Alot of just wandering around and getting nowhere. The most I ever did was complete the first Mansion. Tho I did get to the spots to use the Blue & Red Crystals but never knew what to do.
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the bad and mid ending texts switched in error? So Simon dies and dracula lives for mid and both dracula and Simon dies for the worst ending.
@@retronate gasp! How dare you! I looked it up. The worst ending (over 15 days) :"The battle has consummated. Now peace and serenity have been restored to Transylvania and the people are free of Dracula's curse forever. And you, Simon Belmont, will always be remembered for your bravery and courage.". The mid ending(8-15 days): "Although the confrontation between Simon and Dracula has concluded. Simon couldn't survive his fatal wounds. Transylvania's only hope is a young man who will triumph over evil and rid the city of Dracula's deadly curse."
@@gmoss1679 interesting. Doesn’t totally shock me since they couldn’t spell check their game before releasing. “Hey Stan! You’re sure you checked the spelling and endings right?” Stan barely waking up with drool covering his mouth: “UH…Sure thing boss.”
Holy Water is good to use as a weapon against enemies that are located on short ledges below you. With the whip, you tend to take a hit if you drop down and try to attack really fast.
This is a game where I've heard folks give mixed results, though I think it's mainly because it was so different from the 1st and 3rd installments. Haven't tried it out myself so glad I now have a guide to walk me through it.
VERY different game. I admittedly love this genre and style, but I’m a little mixed on this one. Love some aspects, disappointed by others. Overall still a fun play and truly the enjoyment for me was in finding everything, understanding the clues, and discovering where to go next.
Hey Nate, do you remember ever playing ikri warriors. That was a childhood fave of mine when I was growing up..... And was just wandering if you had ever played it. Also I liked the video you did on jackel again another fav, of mine.
@@jasonyoung5254 I remember Ikari Warriors! I seem to remember the game never ended? But maybe I just wasn’t good enough to beat it? We’ll get to it eventually.
@@retronateIDK that's a good question because I don't remember it ending either. But I remember playing it before I ever played Rambo. I let our 4yr old play contra I think he's mad at me because he asked how you put it on "easy". I said easy what's this easy you speak of, ha ha ha! Lol
I had this game as a kid and I would just go in one direction and wonder what's going on.. Never beat it but since it was one of the very first of it's kind, and the music is the best on the NES, I remember it fondly!
This Was the First Castlevania Game I ever Played and even with some of the Problems with the Day to Night Transition, Lack of Boss Variety, and Vague and Cryptic Information I found this Game to be a Thoroughly enjoyable Experience!!!!! I love the Music (Especially Bloody Tears and Message of Darkness), The Multiple Endings, The Graphics, and When Simon Obtains the Flame Whip which has an Epic Sound and Power!!!!!
@@matthewdrake2210 I found that I’m one of the few that really likes this game - I guess it’s sort of considered to be the worst of the 3 on the NES but it still worked for me. Needed better boss fights but really a fun game to work through.
At the time I first played it, I loved it. Along with Final Fantasy 1, it fueled my hunger for an RPG feel. The NPCs either lying or rambling about nonsense felt like it was ripped straight from good ole B2- Keep on the Borderlands bundled with the Basic D&D set I had (chart for rumors in the module included misinformation along with useless info for adventurers, where there were only a couple useful tidbits offered at the tavern). Only real gripe about the hints was that the clue to use Dracula's Heart on the ferryman was inside the mansion you can only reach by showing the ferryman Dracula's Heart. Everything else though was hinted at before you needed it, albeit more in an archaic manner a D&D nerd could easily deduce but possibly not those who didn't tabletop at the time. EDIT: You weren't getting level 2 because you can only gain EXP if you're at an area area past the mansion number equal to your level (taking the dev intended route). You got Level 1 in the area associated with the first mansion. You did gain EXP during your nighttime grind in the third town and the area past the first mansion (associated with mansion 2) on your way to and from, just when inside the first mansion and backtracking from it you didn't gain any. Any hearts to the left of the first town (area associated with mansion 3) had you gain EXP again. From Town 4 to the cliff it's associated with mansion 4, to the left of mansion 4 (where the whirlwind teleports you) is considered associated with mansion 5. Dracula's Ring does nothing. Players tested everything, modders checked the code, it's just a quest item that does nothing aside from resurrecting Dracula at the end (the "it increases heart drop rate" was a schoolyard myth). Nail kills blocks like Holy Water (just in a straight line so not as useful as Holy Water). The Eye has the same function as the White Crystal with the added bonus of seeing where hints are inside the mansions and where the Sacred Flame is. The Heart is only used on the ferryman, no other use (the whole "it attacks you" is a schoolyard myth). You can also lure the Grim Reaper into a garlic- takes a while, but it stun locks him until he dies. Can't do the same with Dracula (tried that so many times over the years lol)
@@kamikaze9699 great info! Clues being useful or not in games like this seems to be a dividing line among players. Many don’t enjoy the bundle of NPC nonsense mixed in with useful information. Thanks for the lvl up info. Makes total sense
This was my all time favorite game of the series. It was unfortunately dethroned when Castlvania- Lament of innocence came out. I actually really liked Castlevania-bloodlines that came out on sega genesis. I love your walkthroughs by the way! I look forward to seeing you beat games like wizards and warriors, shadowgate, and sid meiers Pirates!
I feel that while Castlevania II was somewhat of the blacksheep on the 2d Castlevania games (I liked it as a kid) I think the lessons learned from it really paid off later with Symphony of the Night.
This was always my favorite Castlevania game. I would always argue with people that said this wasnt a real Castlevania game. I would explain to them that the "2" in every series was experimental. Like mario 2 and zelda 2. Wasnt until Symphony of the Night that we got another open world Castlevania and that was also slept on for a little while because it stayed 2D for the PlayStation 1. Funny how both those games hold up great today in the "Metriodvania" genre.
@@JahWillBlessKwaz It’s most definitely a Castlevania game, it’s just expressed differently. I’m partial to 3, but I thought each successive NES installment got better, this one being slightly better than the original.
The music in this game is pretty iconic. If you like it enhanced, with rock and metal twists, check out the band Vomitron if you haven't already, who showcase all 4 of their albums on here. Tracks from Castlevania I and II, Final Fantasy, Life Force, Ninja Gaiden (listen to that one first), Mega Man 1 & 2, Metroid, Contra, Zelda I and II..... Mind blowing.
You can actually whip and jump to get over the cliff in the grave yard, it’s not easy but it can be done. It’s how I beat the game as a kid, I never figured out the red stone kneeling at Deb’s cliff
@@christopherulrey3832 I knew you could get up there if you time taking a bump from one of those slimes. That’s crazy you’d never known about the cliff. I can imagine you sitting in the graveyard for hours trying to advance.
It was the season of the twos. Mario 2 zelda 2 castle castlevania 2. All foundational franchises for Nintendo. All 3 went in different directions before returning to their roots. Depending on how you received the games the developers either dropped the ball or gave you exactly what you were looking for.
@@gilnelson3217 it’s funny, I like the 2nd version of 3/4 of these more than the original, but I’m also glad they didn’t continue in that direction. The variety is appreciated, but I wasn’t looking for it to stay there.
Yet another case where Part 2 was different than Part 1 and rubbed people wrong. I still remember ppl telling me how confusing this game was for them, and using the password system to pass it, which made me sit down and master it, I can still beat this game in my sleep. Love it. Love the feel, the music, the system, the less than linear game play. I preferred this to 1 because 1 was just a linear game, no puzzles, no exploration, just battling.
@@kazejah1014 I appreciate both but did enjoy this more than the original. All the things you mentioned are to the game’s credit. The boss battles in 1 were superior though. Puts this one slightly ahead of 1 all things considered
Reminds me of the movie The Wizard. I believe the girl mentions Simon's Quest when they call the Nintendo tip line. Great movie (obviously). "You got 50,000 on Double Dragon?" Heh heh.
So this is a video where I'm just going on the journey with you because I like your stuff. I didn't grow up with Castlevania or Metroid (somehow 🤷♂️) and I tried getting into them as an adult. I just somehow don't really care for them. That might change some day but it hasn't yet. What's dumb is that most games that are described as a Metroidvania, I'm interested in. It'll make me sit up and pay attention when someone refers to a game like that. I love Rygar and Faxanadu and the OG Mega Man series and Battle Of Olympus. But, somehow I don't much care for Castlevania, Metroid, or Zelda 2.
@@CeeJayThe13th well I appreciate you coming along. Everyone had different flavors they preferred. I’ve heard very good things about the games you mentioned, particularly Faxanadu and Battle of Olympus. I was a huge Zelda 2 fan.
This’s one of my favorite NES games. Love the Metroidvania. I get why they a lot of people didn’t like it and they stopped making Castlevania games like this, but it’s extremely disappointing.
@@johndoe-uo1go I was surprised to find most people didn’t like it. I really liked the RPG feel to it and it presented a different sort of perspective on playing these games. Agreed it would’ve been nice if they tried another one
Now that I think about it, Castlevania Symphony of the Night’s considered as one of the best games ever by many and it’s a Metroidvania. I might have to try it.
Late to the party here, but man Symphony is amazing from it's design to its music to everything else. It's an absolute masterpiece and it's a style that I'm not as much into anymore, but one that I can still come back to over and over again. Maybe because of the rpg elements that it has. It's just an absolute blast.
@@retronate I always go back and forth which is better, the original or the second one. Until Breath of the Wild, I would die on a hill saying the original and Zelda 2 were the best 2 in the entire series. But unfortunately, Breath & Tears hold the top 2 spots now, with these originals in third and fourth. Not recency bias either, I felt like Breath of the Wild finally nailed what Myomoto intended with the first game ages ago and being fully open and going on an adventure and making your own path through the game. Obivously the dungeon design was not handled the best in both Switch games, and the story was less complex than the previous 4-5 games before them as well; but I feel like it hit the true spirit of the series with those games. If they can craft a better narrative around Breath/Tears structure; along with a 'return to form' dungeon structure - I think that would be the best and ideal Zelda formula moving forward.
@@NintendoFuse_Greg I’m admittedly out of the loop with current Zelda titles. Pretty much faded after Ocarina of time. I’ve got so many to catch up on.
@@chaos381 end to end I’d probably disagree but bloody tears makes a case as the best track ever. I’d probably go with one of the Megaman games for complete soundtrack. Ducktales also.
I don't understand why this game got so much hate. I absolutely loved it as a kid. The best games are the ones you want to play over and over. Not the ones you beat when you rented them. And I played it without any guides or hints. I had to rent it, as my family didn't want to buy it. But I would rent it every chance I got. The music and play were just great. What I didn't know back then is that time stops when you are in the mansions. You can literally farm all you want in there for the morning star or chain whip. Trying to figure out the puzzles was the real challenge since the clue books are mostly useless. Took me forever to figure out to kneel and wait for the tornado at the cliff. Couldn't believe how easy Dracula was, just throw the flame on him.
I have always felt this was a great Castlevania. The platformers are not bad, but just don't hold my interest as much as the open world games in the franchise. I think it says something about how good this game was that they decided to go back to the open world with Symphony of the Night, which many consider to be the greatest game in the franchise.
@@AngelicCypher it’s so very possible to have room to appreciate both styles. Not sure why this was a black sheep - it’s great. And I’ve heard that about symphony of the night although I’ve never played it
@@retronate I completely agree. I loved all three NES games. But for different reasons. Generally the entire series I have enjoyed (mostly. There are a couple of titles I could do without like Kid Dracula)
I love this game, 1st NES game I ever owned. My only criticism of the game is that they rushed the game out. A couple more months of polishing, especially the cryptic clues, and this game would have been a true masterpiece!
@@mikes4901 I really enjoy it too, and I guess we’re in the minority with that opinion. A really epic final battle with Dracula might’ve put this in the “elite” category for me. Loved traversing the map searching for everything.
Let's of people's talk bad about simon quest. People's forget at the time, legend of Zelda link adventure was the popular game, so many nes games was rush out! Also Simon quest is the first Metroidvania game (not symphony of the night) 😎🎮🎧
This game gets dumped on in reviews which I dont understand. Im with you. I loved this formula compared to the others. Adds dementions to it beyond hack and slash.
It’s a lot of fun to traverse the overworld, look for items, and like any metroidvania - optimizing your route is such a fun puzzle. Boss fights were very weak, enough to warrant some criticism, but not enough to downgrade the game to bad. It’s good. Borderline great.
How does everyone think the game is unfinished at the end and miss the point. The last town is empty because it is dead! The last castle is empty to build mood. You can’t tell me people didn’t feel tension knowing what was coming and the length is just right. Sure Drac is easy at the end if you use special weapons or laurels, but try whip only
@@nesmandan1037 I do like the anticipation factor. But my general rule is that if I have to augment a perfectly logical way to play the game to improve the experience, then the game has a shortcoming. It’s totally reasonable to use sub weapons to kill Dracula, and unfortunately doing so makes the fight very easy. Love the game. Love most aspects. The bosses were the only let down for me.
@ I think Konami got some feedback the original was too hard, particularly the Grim Reaper and the hallway, but even for beginners that endurance test of the mummy stage was a nightmare. CV2 went the other way adding mood and nerfing. There are also also some clear paths to take; don’t go left out of the first town. In the end I think they accomplished a good Transylvania feel, the castle and immediate area (town) is dead - nobody goes there, right outside are the most horrid creatures who don’t even dare to trespass and at the same time keep whatever villagers are left inside and prevent anyone going in. The overall countryside is a dangerous place and even at night you need to hide inside from the monsters who invade the town. To me this was perfect for the kids who got this between 8-10 and may have only experienced Atari difficulty before that. As an adult, having access to Internet, it falls short, but I was 15 at the time and it was the right balance. Oh, final thought, the access to the lake and tornado for the cliff was tons of trial and error for those who were familiar with Apple II games - was hard, but time consuming and frustrating trying to figure it out.
@ well said. And you’re right the context is key. Great points about the castle and town next to it being lifeless. Never really picked up on that but that’s a subtle element that adds
First was more difficult for sure, but set the tone for the series. This was difficult in a different way but eased up big time on bosses. I also like this one better than the original…by a slim margin.
@@prpunk187 it had enough to get you through it but it did take a lot of exploring around. Most of the clues were not particularly helpful but that made the real ones that much more significant.
I have a sneaking suspicion you also feel that Castlevania 2 was a mediocre game. It had Boring and cryptic world design and gameplay that focused on grinding monotonous, mostly unchallenging enemies.
@@HilariousButTrue on the contrary. I didn’t feel like it was grinding at all if it’s tackled the way I show in the video. I loved learning the map and decoding the clues from townspeople. With some memorable boss battles this would’ve been a great one. Still I enjoy it a lot
@@retronate Oh ok, well I guess I was wrong. You probably would not have been playing it if you didn't like it after all and to each their own. I just found that, for myself, going back and forth to farm hearts for 50% of the game was not ideal progression and that a lot of the game world was designed to sell nintendo power magazines since there would be no way to know what to do otherwise without spamming items mindlessly across the game map.
10 year old me loved this game, and didn’t care that it was different from Castlevania, as I enjoyed them both. 47 year old me still feels the same. Great vid bud, keep em comin!
I enjoyed both styles as well. Felt the boss battles lacked a bit in this one but loved the open world feel. Not sure which I prefer overall.
@@retronate oh for sure, the boss battles in Castlevania 2 were lacking lol. I even remember saying the same way back then. But something about the game still just captured my attention, and friends around me, and it still ranks right up there as one of my personal faves on the NES.
@@Wyldechylde77 the cryptic clues and really piecing it together without a walkthrough left a tremendous sense of accomplishment. That’s a very important factor for having a game be remembered well. This one has that.
@@retronate It would have been nice if they'd taken a little longer on this game and added more bosses and stuff and it would be well-known as a classic.
@ one of the biggest lacks of this was the boss battles. Other than that I really enjoyed it
I absolutely love the music in this game. I feel like Castlevania in general always has great music.
You’re a bit of a horror but aren’t ya?
If you want super upgrades of this game music and many others, check out Vomitron, they have about 4 albums and they're all here. Amazing.
I've been addicted to these guides. I think I've watch two or three a day. Since I found the channel. Love it. Keep it up
@@ZeklorWGD glad to hear! I’m trying to commit to making one per week. Happy to hear you’re enjoying them
What I like about Castlevania II: Simon's Quest is it gives the player the full Transylvania experience. You visit towns, cemeteries, mansions, caverns, forests, etc. You meet various people. Not many Castevania games had this type of experience. Lot of neat features in this game.
I really love that side of it. The open world and searching for items is very satisfying. Very different and leaves a lasting impression.
Exactly- I love that they did something different. I was glad that Konami saw how the open world games like Zelda and Metroid were doing, and created something different. What's the point of being in a castle just beating up monsters? Although most of the series is just that. But this game had the guts to expand the lore.
@57:15 "That was lucky!" (dies) LOL or as others say "And then I spoke"
Every time
Pride goeth before a fall. 🤣
Simon's Quest was the first NES game I bought with my own money and been a fan ever since of this franchise! Thanks for sharing it definitely takes me back!
@@thehorrorcatdad it’s a great one! Love the non linear map and different feel of this one.
@@retronate Definitely, a lot of unwarranted hate over the years lol but I have always been a fan of it. Not to mention the music is awesome for this game!
@@thehorrorcatdad bloody tears is…whew. Incredible
@@retronate no doubt a banger for sure!
Google says that Dracula's Ring gives you a free hit point when your meter is full. It works even if not equipped. You can see it working at about 45:47
@@kinglysandus I am not one to argue with the google
Really enjoyed this playthrough and the descriptions that went with it as you played. Thanks!
@@douggiebee glad to hear and my pleasure! This was the game my brother and cousin spent HOURS on as a kid and I never really grasped it until I went back through as an adult. Absolutely love metroidvanias and figuring out how to finish them efficiently.
Great game, had it when it was current, and I loved it. The music was sublime, gameplay fresh, and its play mechanics were unlike anything we had ever seen before. It was the culmination of so many differing play mechanics that it's a miracle that it actually worked as intended.
Unfortunately, the game does have its share of issues. The one that bothered me the most was the 3 endings. Why create such an expansive world, with secrets everywhere, tons of places to explore, a leveling system, NPC's to speak to, and (for its time) incredible environments to fight in/explore? All while telling the player, "No time for that garbage, rush, rush, rush!" What happened to 'Nintendo hard' can't let them finish in one sitting? That went out the window with this one. Well, I refused back, and I still do today. It's like trying to rush Rondo of Blood or Symphony... you just don't do it.
Addendum- I have never once tried to run through this game at break-neck speeds. I enjoy the music, action, and adventure too much. I have, of course, never had any issues beating this game before and have witnessed all 3 endings on my Nes (thank you, GameGenie).
Well said. Really digging around and finding all of the clues would be a satisfying play, but generally comes at the cost of getting the most rewarding ending to the common gamer. It’s a game that when I put it down, I miss it and wanna run it again. But after I run it I think, I can put this down for a while.
@retronate
I'm the same way, my friend. I was a huge Castlevania fan who saw Simon's Quest as the true move forward for the series. I believe its designers saw this as well, and I think Castlevania 3 shows this. It was linear but had many branching paths. It was a mix of the old with the new in an attempt to compromise between the two play styles. Super Castlevania IV was very much a core, almost by the numbers adventure....that was the last.
The sequel to Super Castlevania IV was technically Rondo of Blood, and it was glorious. The game has multiple paths, allowing you to rescue another playable character. Its anime art style, gameplay, Red Book Audio, player movement, or agency was unlike anything we had ever seen before. Which culminated in the creation of the best Castlevania ever created (in my eyes)... Symphony of The Night. I don't know if any more games will be created, but I sure hope they keep the Metroidvania alive.
@@Sinn0100 I’ve heard many people refer to Symphony of the Night as the best. I look forward to playing it
I came here for completion walk-throughs. Def Subscribed. Because you gave a perfectly reasonable explanation for not getting all the iitems. Was this a live recording?
@@godagon97 thanks for the sub! I recorded this and then went back and overdubbed the commentary. I’ve since moved to recording both game and commentary live.
I love this game it's what honestly I believe gave us symphony of the night
@@TimmyDatooth-fr5df it was so much fun. I’ve yet to plan that one but I’ve heard great things about
Loved this game!! I’m 45 now and the music still gives me chills. 😂
@@MercyfulFate1000 bloody tears is a certified banger of a track. But the entire soundtrack is really strong
@ I never got to finish this game. I could never figure out some of the items I needed. I never had the map, or strategy guide. I actually found the game in the school yard behind my house! lol! Thanks for the play though. Brought back some good memories.
@@MercyfulFate1000 I remember Nintendo Power did a big spread about this one maybe in their second issue? But that’s about all we had to work from other than our own hand drawn maps/lists back in the day
Check out Guitar Bros. They cover the whole Soundtrack and it rips.
I’d rather listen to 8 bit Nintendo riffs than radio
@ love new instrumentations of these
Aw man....one of the best games I've played on the NES.... Simon's quest was my favorite game
@@arthurjones5261 I really hadn’t gotten into it until adulthood. Didn’t get it as a kid and I was much more into the simpler games. Now I absolutely love the complex/cryptic ones.
Some of my favorite music from the NES library and it's not even close.
Bloody Tears gets hummed in my house on the regular.
@@retronate I don't know if you've ever heard of this band called The Advantage, but they do all instrumental covers of old NES games (with plenty of tracks from the Castlevania and MegaMan series). Both albums are on Spotify if I recall correctly.
@@livefreeprintguns haven’t heard them. There was another band called Arm Cannon that did the same. I’ll have to check them out.
Dracula's ring opens the entrance to Dracula's castle, along with the cross. Other than this, the ring has no function while equipped.
@@lorentsmuller yeah crazy that it’s not tied to anything else. However it still serves the ultimate purpose for finishing the game I suppose
This is my favorite Castlevania game. Symphony of the Night was good too, but this one has a charm that puts it above even that, in my opinion.
@@kinglysandus if the boss battles were better it would contend with 3, but I like that one the best.
If you have every other body part you still won't be able to get into Dracula's mansion. The blocks at the end of the bridge won't break, even if you use Dracula's nail. I guess it's riffing off of the very old depictions of Dracula has having a big-ass ruby hyrax.
@@brycelynch2138 wow no kidding. If you like him then you gotta put a ring on it
@@retronateheh nice one
Omg finally! After 35 years I finally know. Strange noone on RUclips made videos on this before!!!!!!
I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. No one has actually made a video about this almost 40 year old game and I felt the need to serve the world in this way lol.
@@retronate it's crazy!!!
@@AboveEmAllProduction man I whiffed on this thumbnail. Never considered how tone deaf it would come across. Meh…live and learn with this one.
@@retronate well finally we get answers on this game finally someone tell us about it!!! I wonder if people will start to speedrun it now after your valuable information???
@@AboveEmAllProduction maybe a magazine centered around NES content will do a feature on this game in the second issue of their publication? We may never know but I can dream…
I played Castlevania I and II as a kid. I don't recall if I ever played the third one. For some reason, I just never really became enamored of these games. I think it was just how little control you have over Simon Belmont compared to other platformers like Mario or Mega Man. And I hated getting stuck on the ladders without being able to jump off to avoid damage. Also, while I love open-world RPG's, for some reason, Metroid-style platformers just never did it for me, either. That being said, it's still fun to watch someone else tear through these games.
Mario and Megaman are definitely a different feel. Just a small thing but you can’t go multiple directions when you jump in Castlevania, which really changes the feel of going through it. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m glad you’re at least enjoying watching!
My favorite castlevania which also happens to be the first nes game I ever played.
It’s awesome. Loved the boldness to take the series in a different direction. If they made the Dracula fight memorable it could’ve been among the best.
Played this game when I was a kid my Grandma let me borrow her copy of it after I played it one holiday. Loved what I played. I just never got anywhere honestly and it kinda sorta frustrated me. Alot of just wandering around and getting nowhere. The most I ever did was complete the first Mansion. Tho I did get to the spots to use the Blue & Red Crystals but never knew what to do.
@@DarkClawtooth it was really cryptic and really helped keeping notes and a map. I did take a lot of satisfaction from figuring it out though
The Castlevania game I played as a kid was 2D and I remember nerding out on the map it came with do you know which one that is?
Could very well be this one. Other Castlevania games were level by level and didn’t require a map.
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the bad and mid ending texts switched in error? So Simon dies and dracula lives for mid and both dracula and Simon dies for the worst ending.
I’m not sure. But this feels very “bear in California Games” to me…but more plausible.
@@retronate gasp! How dare you! I looked it up. The worst ending (over 15 days) :"The battle has consummated. Now peace and serenity have been restored to Transylvania and the people are free of Dracula's curse forever. And you, Simon Belmont, will always be remembered for your bravery and courage.". The mid ending(8-15 days): "Although the confrontation between Simon and Dracula has concluded. Simon couldn't survive his fatal wounds. Transylvania's only hope is a young man who will triumph over evil and rid the city of Dracula's deadly curse."
@@gmoss1679 interesting. Doesn’t totally shock me since they couldn’t spell check their game before releasing.
“Hey Stan! You’re sure you checked the spelling and endings right?”
Stan barely waking up with drool covering his mouth: “UH…Sure thing boss.”
Holy Water is good to use as a weapon against enemies that are located on short ledges below you. With the whip, you tend to take a hit if you drop down and try to attack really fast.
@@mtwice4586 yeah it’s not that powerful but it’s effective for that scenario
@@retronate yeah, it is super weak against enemies, but yet somehow manages to obliterate solid stone with no problem, haha.
Right at 1:04:07 you can END up in a Strange Land if you Know the Gaming Trick That i Know 😁
This is a game where I've heard folks give mixed results, though I think it's mainly because it was so different from the 1st and 3rd installments. Haven't tried it out myself so glad I now have a guide to walk me through it.
VERY different game. I admittedly love this genre and style, but I’m a little mixed on this one. Love some aspects, disappointed by others. Overall still a fun play and truly the enjoyment for me was in finding everything, understanding the clues, and discovering where to go next.
Thanks for the Vid! I’ve been playing this game SO much in the last month crunching down 100% Glitchless runs. 45:25 is my best so far!
Whoa! That’s some serious work! Glad you enjoyed.
Hey Nate, do you remember ever playing ikri warriors. That was a childhood fave of mine when I was growing up..... And was just wandering if you had ever played it. Also I liked the video you did on jackel again another fav, of mine.
@@jasonyoung5254 I remember Ikari Warriors! I seem to remember the game never ended? But maybe I just wasn’t good enough to beat it? We’ll get to it eventually.
@@retronateIDK that's a good question because I don't remember it ending either. But I remember playing it before I ever played Rambo. I let our 4yr old play contra I think he's mad at me because he asked how you put it on "easy". I said easy what's this easy you speak of, ha ha ha! Lol
@ teach them early lol
@retronate have you thought about doing a walkthrough on 8 eyes?
@ my plan is to play through all of the NES games released in North America, so in short yes I have 😉
I had this game as a kid and I would just go in one direction and wonder what's going on.. Never beat it but since it was one of the very first of it's kind, and the music is the best on the NES, I remember it fondly!
@@gagadreams bloody tears is an elite track.
This Was the First Castlevania Game I ever Played and even with some of the Problems with the Day to Night Transition, Lack of Boss Variety, and Vague and Cryptic Information I found this Game to be a Thoroughly enjoyable Experience!!!!!
I love the Music (Especially Bloody Tears and Message of Darkness), The Multiple Endings, The Graphics, and When Simon Obtains the Flame Whip which has an Epic Sound and Power!!!!!
@@matthewdrake2210 I found that I’m one of the few that really likes this game - I guess it’s sort of considered to be the worst of the 3 on the NES but it still worked for me. Needed better boss fights but really a fun game to work through.
At the time I first played it, I loved it. Along with Final Fantasy 1, it fueled my hunger for an RPG feel. The NPCs either lying or rambling about nonsense felt like it was ripped straight from good ole B2- Keep on the Borderlands bundled with the Basic D&D set I had (chart for rumors in the module included misinformation along with useless info for adventurers, where there were only a couple useful tidbits offered at the tavern). Only real gripe about the hints was that the clue to use Dracula's Heart on the ferryman was inside the mansion you can only reach by showing the ferryman Dracula's Heart. Everything else though was hinted at before you needed it, albeit more in an archaic manner a D&D nerd could easily deduce but possibly not those who didn't tabletop at the time.
EDIT: You weren't getting level 2 because you can only gain EXP if you're at an area area past the mansion number equal to your level (taking the dev intended route). You got Level 1 in the area associated with the first mansion. You did gain EXP during your nighttime grind in the third town and the area past the first mansion (associated with mansion 2) on your way to and from, just when inside the first mansion and backtracking from it you didn't gain any. Any hearts to the left of the first town (area associated with mansion 3) had you gain EXP again. From Town 4 to the cliff it's associated with mansion 4, to the left of mansion 4 (where the whirlwind teleports you) is considered associated with mansion 5.
Dracula's Ring does nothing. Players tested everything, modders checked the code, it's just a quest item that does nothing aside from resurrecting Dracula at the end (the "it increases heart drop rate" was a schoolyard myth). Nail kills blocks like Holy Water (just in a straight line so not as useful as Holy Water). The Eye has the same function as the White Crystal with the added bonus of seeing where hints are inside the mansions and where the Sacred Flame is. The Heart is only used on the ferryman, no other use (the whole "it attacks you" is a schoolyard myth).
You can also lure the Grim Reaper into a garlic- takes a while, but it stun locks him until he dies. Can't do the same with Dracula (tried that so many times over the years lol)
@@kamikaze9699 great info! Clues being useful or not in games like this seems to be a dividing line among players. Many don’t enjoy the bundle of NPC nonsense mixed in with useful information.
Thanks for the lvl up info. Makes total sense
This was my all time favorite game of the series. It was unfortunately dethroned when Castlvania- Lament of innocence came out. I actually really liked Castlevania-bloodlines that came out on sega genesis. I love your walkthroughs by the way! I look forward to seeing you beat games like wizards and warriors, shadowgate, and sid meiers Pirates!
@@jonathanfitch32774 shadow gate has been mentioned a few times now. So many titles that I need to learn and study.
I feel that while Castlevania II was somewhat of the blacksheep on the 2d Castlevania games (I liked it as a kid) I think the lessons learned from it really paid off later with Symphony of the Night.
@@NoTimeAllTime ive yet to play that one but heard great things about
This was always my favorite Castlevania game. I would always argue with people that said this wasnt a real Castlevania game. I would explain to them that the "2" in every series was experimental. Like mario 2 and zelda 2.
Wasnt until Symphony of the Night that we got another open world Castlevania and that was also slept on for a little while because it stayed 2D for the PlayStation 1.
Funny how both those games hold up great today in the "Metriodvania" genre.
@@JahWillBlessKwaz It’s most definitely a Castlevania game, it’s just expressed differently. I’m partial to 3, but I thought each successive NES installment got better, this one being slightly better than the original.
Played this last time when i was a kid. It was very confusing to me but i completed it. A very confusing and misunderstood game, but not a bad one.
@@miasma82 I apparently like it a lot more than most. I didn’t realize it was such a black sheep in this franchise. Confusing yes, but not impossible.
The music in this game is pretty iconic. If you like it enhanced, with rock and metal twists, check out the band Vomitron if you haven't already, who showcase all 4 of their albums on here. Tracks from Castlevania I and II, Final Fantasy, Life Force, Ninja Gaiden (listen to that one first), Mega Man 1 & 2, Metroid, Contra, Zelda I and II..... Mind blowing.
@@robertanderson2898 ooh ill give it a look!
You can actually whip and jump to get over the cliff in the grave yard, it’s not easy but it can be done. It’s how I beat the game as a kid, I never figured out the red stone kneeling at Deb’s cliff
@@christopherulrey3832 I knew you could get up there if you time taking a bump from one of those slimes. That’s crazy you’d never known about the cliff. I can imagine you sitting in the graveyard for hours trying to advance.
I've settled on this one to lull me into sat. night cozy Castlevania pizza coma.
I had pizza tonight too! Great minds…
It was the season of the twos. Mario 2 zelda 2 castle castlevania 2. All foundational franchises for Nintendo. All 3 went in different directions before returning to their roots. Depending on how you received the games the developers either dropped the ball or gave you exactly what you were looking for.
@@gilnelson3217 it’s funny, I like the 2nd version of 3/4 of these more than the original, but I’m also glad they didn’t continue in that direction. The variety is appreciated, but I wasn’t looking for it to stay there.
I feel like some people are just more talented than others… that’s my excuse for never having finished this game 😂😂
@@Imwhisper76ontwitch it’s very doable! This one is more about knowing the path than anything. Final Dracula fight is super simple.
Yet another case where Part 2 was different than Part 1 and rubbed people wrong. I still remember ppl telling me how confusing this game was for them, and using the password system to pass it, which made me sit down and master it, I can still beat this game in my sleep. Love it. Love the feel, the music, the system, the less than linear game play. I preferred this to 1 because 1 was just a linear game, no puzzles, no exploration, just battling.
@@kazejah1014 I appreciate both but did enjoy this more than the original. All the things you mentioned are to the game’s credit. The boss battles in 1 were superior though. Puts this one slightly ahead of 1 all things considered
I like how you kept getting the name wrong for the Sacred Flame. I do love me a Bangles reference.
@@kentmicek897 perhaps I’m biased and just wanted to reference the Bangles. Now that I write that, I’m sure that’s what happened lol
Reminds me of the movie The Wizard. I believe the girl mentions Simon's Quest when they call the Nintendo tip line. Great movie (obviously). "You got 50,000 on Double Dragon?" Heh heh.
@@robertanderson2898 I love the power glove. It’s so bad.
@@retronate How'd I miss that quote......
So this is a video where I'm just going on the journey with you because I like your stuff.
I didn't grow up with Castlevania or Metroid (somehow 🤷♂️) and I tried getting into them as an adult. I just somehow don't really care for them. That might change some day but it hasn't yet.
What's dumb is that most games that are described as a Metroidvania, I'm interested in. It'll make me sit up and pay attention when someone refers to a game like that.
I love Rygar and Faxanadu and the OG Mega Man series and Battle Of Olympus. But, somehow I don't much care for Castlevania, Metroid, or Zelda 2.
@@CeeJayThe13th well I appreciate you coming along. Everyone had different flavors they preferred. I’ve heard very good things about the games you mentioned, particularly Faxanadu and Battle of Olympus. I was a huge Zelda 2 fan.
This’s one of my favorite NES games. Love the Metroidvania. I get why they a lot of people didn’t like it and they stopped making Castlevania games like this, but it’s extremely disappointing.
@@johndoe-uo1go I was surprised to find most people didn’t like it. I really liked the RPG feel to it and it presented a different sort of perspective on playing these games. Agreed it would’ve been nice if they tried another one
Now that I think about it, Castlevania Symphony of the Night’s considered as one of the best games ever by many and it’s a Metroidvania. I might have to try it.
@@johndoe-uo1go same. I’ve never played
Late to the party here, but man Symphony is amazing from it's design to its music to everything else.
It's an absolute masterpiece and it's a style that I'm not as much into anymore, but one that I can still come back to over and over again.
Maybe because of the rpg elements that it has.
It's just an absolute blast.
@@JohnLoutsenhizer I’ve got a lot of Castlevania left to play. Only ever tackled the NES ones.
As someone that also likes Metroidvanias, I liked this entry a lot. But I'm also someone that likes the experiment games like Zelda 2.
I really love Zelda II. I’ve always believed it’s better than the original but I’ll go back through it soon enough to try to give each a fair shake.
@@retronate I always go back and forth which is better, the original or the second one. Until Breath of the Wild, I would die on a hill saying the original and Zelda 2 were the best 2 in the entire series. But unfortunately, Breath & Tears hold the top 2 spots now, with these originals in third and fourth. Not recency bias either, I felt like Breath of the Wild finally nailed what Myomoto intended with the first game ages ago and being fully open and going on an adventure and making your own path through the game. Obivously the dungeon design was not handled the best in both Switch games, and the story was less complex than the previous 4-5 games before them as well; but I feel like it hit the true spirit of the series with those games. If they can craft a better narrative around Breath/Tears structure; along with a 'return to form' dungeon structure - I think that would be the best and ideal Zelda formula moving forward.
@@NintendoFuse_Greg I’m admittedly out of the loop with current Zelda titles. Pretty much faded after Ocarina of time. I’ve got so many to catch up on.
Best soundtrack on the nes!
@@chaos381 end to end I’d probably disagree but bloody tears makes a case as the best track ever. I’d probably go with one of the Megaman games for complete soundtrack. Ducktales also.
@retronate Mega man 2 intro is fire!
That Konami sound and feel just makes me want to play the games. Castlevania 1,2 and 3 first. I have your walkthrough's if I am 100% stuck.
@@MikeSteele-g7y you won’t regret it. A nice bucket list item to cross off
@@retronate Loving the first Castlevania so far, but those Madusa heads are a pain in the butt!
@ I like to whip as they’re coming up from the bottom most point on their arc. Gotta get used to em…they’re littered throughout 1 and 3
I don't understand why this game got so much hate. I absolutely loved it as a kid. The best games are the ones you want to play over and over. Not the ones you beat when you rented them. And I played it without any guides or hints. I had to rent it, as my family didn't want to buy it. But I would rent it every chance I got. The music and play were just great. What I didn't know back then is that time stops when you are in the mansions. You can literally farm all you want in there for the morning star or chain whip. Trying to figure out the puzzles was the real challenge since the clue books are mostly useless. Took me forever to figure out to kneel and wait for the tornado at the cliff. Couldn't believe how easy Dracula was, just throw the flame on him.
@@leoda_lion4107 the cliff was a common point where people got stuck. There was never any indication you had to duck. Very cryptic game
@@retronate That’s why I kept calling the Nintendo hotline in Redmond, Wa, lol!
@@Saintjohnzman hahaha a worthy use of the hotline
He’s not ducking he’s 🙏
@@jefferyboring4410 dear lord please send a tornado to get me the heck out of this place!
I have always felt this was a great Castlevania. The platformers are not bad, but just don't hold my interest as much as the open world games in the franchise. I think it says something about how good this game was that they decided to go back to the open world with Symphony of the Night, which many consider to be the greatest game in the franchise.
@@AngelicCypher it’s so very possible to have room to appreciate both styles. Not sure why this was a black sheep - it’s great. And I’ve heard that about symphony of the night although I’ve never played it
@@retronate I completely agree. I loved all three NES games. But for different reasons. Generally the entire series I have enjoyed (mostly. There are a couple of titles I could do without like Kid Dracula)
I love this game, 1st NES game I ever owned. My only criticism of the game is that they rushed the game out. A couple more months of polishing, especially the cryptic clues, and this game would have been a true masterpiece!
@@mikes4901 I really enjoy it too, and I guess we’re in the minority with that opinion. A really epic final battle with Dracula might’ve put this in the “elite” category for me. Loved traversing the map searching for everything.
Let's of people's talk bad about simon quest. People's forget at the time, legend of Zelda link adventure was the popular game, so many nes games was rush out! Also Simon quest is the first Metroidvania game (not symphony of the night) 😎🎮🎧
@@Gambit2149 it’s way better than most public opinion. You’re a man of impeccable taste 😉
This game gets dumped on in reviews which I dont understand. Im with you. I loved this formula compared to the others. Adds dementions to it beyond hack and slash.
It’s a lot of fun to traverse the overworld, look for items, and like any metroidvania - optimizing your route is such a fun puzzle. Boss fights were very weak, enough to warrant some criticism, but not enough to downgrade the game to bad. It’s good. Borderline great.
AVGN shuld watch this
@@cyberseed5003 I agree! Would you send him a text please?
How does everyone think the game is unfinished at the end and miss the point. The last town is empty because it is dead! The last castle is empty to build mood. You can’t tell me people didn’t feel tension knowing what was coming and the length is just right. Sure Drac is easy at the end if you use special weapons or laurels, but try whip only
@@nesmandan1037 I do like the anticipation factor. But my general rule is that if I have to augment a perfectly logical way to play the game to improve the experience, then the game has a shortcoming. It’s totally reasonable to use sub weapons to kill Dracula, and unfortunately doing so makes the fight very easy.
Love the game. Love most aspects. The bosses were the only let down for me.
@ I think Konami got some feedback the original was too hard, particularly the Grim Reaper and the hallway, but even for beginners that endurance test of the mummy stage was a nightmare. CV2 went the other way adding mood and nerfing. There are also also some clear paths to take; don’t go left out of the first town. In the end I think they accomplished a good Transylvania feel, the castle and immediate area (town) is dead - nobody goes there, right outside are the most horrid creatures who don’t even dare to trespass and at the same time keep whatever villagers are left inside and prevent anyone going in. The overall countryside is a dangerous place and even at night you need to hide inside from the monsters who invade the town.
To me this was perfect for the kids who got this between 8-10 and may have only experienced Atari difficulty before that. As an adult, having access to Internet, it falls short, but I was 15 at the time and it was the right balance.
Oh, final thought, the access to the lake and tornado for the cliff was tons of trial and error for those who were familiar with Apple II games - was hard, but time consuming and frustrating trying to figure it out.
@ well said. And you’re right the context is key. Great points about the castle and town next to it being lifeless. Never really picked up on that but that’s a subtle element that adds
As a kid, i liked this better than the 1st one because i thought the first one was annoyingly hard.
First was more difficult for sure, but set the tone for the series. This was difficult in a different way but eased up big time on bosses. I also like this one better than the original…by a slim margin.
I own the nes and fds versions of this game
FDS? Not familiar. Man I liked this game a lot. Didn’t mind the departure from the original style
@@retronate Famicom disk system that was the original version of the game
@ ahhh ok. I’d always just heard it referred to as Famicom
@@retronate the disk system is a expansion for the famicom.zelda, castlevania, metroid, kid icurus, all started on this system
@@icpizzaboy ahhhh ok. Interesting!
The only problem i had with this game was it was really cryptic
@@prpunk187 it had enough to get you through it but it did take a lot of exploring around. Most of the clues were not particularly helpful but that made the real ones that much more significant.
@retronate the translations were terrible the one basically no one understood
"TO REPLENISH EARTH, KNEEL BY THE LAKE WITH THE BLUE CRYSTAL."
@retronate my bad it was this one
"WAIT FOR A SOUL WITH A RED CRYSTAL ON DEBORAH CLIFF."
@ ugh…the cliff was the toughest. That one completely stumped a friend of mine and he still rants about it to this day
Well they didn't name it MansionVania
@@aaronmann9302 one wonders if it would’ve been as popular published under its original title…Dracula what is it good for
Whip it. Whip it good
@@miasma82 was Devo a consultant on the Castlevania series??? 🤔
If this isnt a true Castlevania game, then Symphony of the Night isnt either.
I love it. Would’ve liked a better final battle but it was a ton of fun
@retronate I'd love a QOL remaster with same graphics, music, game play but with good clues and some updated features ❤
@ would be nice
I loved and hated it as a kid. Translations were terrible! The game became much better with the internet 😅
@@justfly538 or a crisp Nintendo power…
I have a sneaking suspicion you also feel that Castlevania 2 was a mediocre game. It had Boring and cryptic world design and gameplay that focused on grinding monotonous, mostly unchallenging enemies.
@@HilariousButTrue on the contrary. I didn’t feel like it was grinding at all if it’s tackled the way I show in the video. I loved learning the map and decoding the clues from townspeople. With some memorable boss battles this would’ve been a great one. Still I enjoy it a lot
@@retronate Oh ok, well I guess I was wrong. You probably would not have been playing it if you didn't like it after all and to each their own.
I just found that, for myself, going back and forth to farm hearts for 50% of the game was not ideal progression and that a lot of the game world was designed to sell nintendo power magazines since there would be no way to know what to do otherwise without spamming items mindlessly across the game map.