I remember as a kid beating this game without ever discovering the red crystal/tornado trick. If you have the holy water equipped, I discovered you actually can make the jump at the ledge seen at 2:11. Once you make the jump continue east and you'll discover first Laruba's and then Bodley mansion.
It has something to do with the throwing motion, I think. You have to move as far to the right of the ledge as possible without falling, then in mid-jump, toss the holy water. If you do it right you'll land with a toe on the top ledge. I remember failing probably 10-15 times before I initially got it right. Now I can always get it on the first or second try.
This was a childhood favorite, my top 5 games I would play over and over again. Similar to Kid Icarus, there are RPG elements just under the surface that pushed the game ahead of its time. It had some of the coolest looking artwork and the music was enchanting, you can spend hours listening to it and it doesn't get old. Though lacking boss fights and a lackluster buildup to the ending, I enjoyed most of what the game had to offer and still play it to this day. I do wish some of the items were a bit more fleshed out, the nail in particular seemed like it had some real potential but wasn't used as much as say the rib or eye, being an end-game item I wanted it to do a little more, maybe more whip damage or broke through walls that holy water couldn't break...something to that effect. The clues could have definitely been better, and I agree about the towns people, eventually they become just a useless but sometimes funny interaction that served no real purpose except to upgrade your stone. Some of the more cryptic hints didn't help to find a crucial hint that explains how to get past the lake part that you were stuck at, it's only 1 clue that explains it and it's extremely well hidden, finding it naturally is not easy and one of the things that I both love and hate about the game. Despite the flaws, this is a standout game for me and will always be my go-to for NES entertainment. This game and others like SMB2 and Megaman 2 will always be my favorites.
I'm so glad you love this one too. It's got so much in the way of upgrades and secrets that I was over the moon playing it. I need to come back to it again sometime and enjoy it again since it's been a while, but I really enjoyed what it offered in terms of challenge and fun factor.
Simon's Quest gives such a dark, lonely feeling that most Castlevanias don't quite have. Especially when night falls and all the friendly faces in each town are gone, replaced by monsters. Imagine how it must've felt when this game released to see something like that in a game. The premise is particularly grim with Simon suffering cursed wounds inflicted by Dracula, and even Dracula's castle itself is merely an empty, desolate ruin you must slowly traverse to meet your ultimate fate. The suspense must've been real for everyone who went into that part blind.
Yes, exactly. I love the ambience here as well, and I only wish I could've experienced that as a kid. I always hear people talking about how the castle at the end was empty because they ran out of time, but to me, it's even better being empty for all the reasons you mentioned here. It's a lot more foreboding to take a quiet walk to meet your fate.
I apologize if this has been pointed out already, but you CAN read the signs in front of each town. Ironically, they don't tell you the name of the town, but rather what lies in each direction FROM the town, so it's still confusing to know which town you're in XD
No need to apologize! Someone did mention it's possible to read them, but I was unlucky in my attempts. It must've been the one thing I didn't try. Who would've thought to whip a sign? And that was an interesting choice, to put everything except the town name in place. That's not the point of a sign :D
I think someone in the town usually tells you the name of the town, but it's been sooo many years since I went through and talked to everybody. when I play it now I just run through it as fast as I can
You’ve gotta press up on the LEFT side of the sign, at least in my experience! I love how we all have alternate techniques regarding the reading of signs 😂
Definitely my favourite soundtrack as well of the games I've played! And I was mostly good on figuring out where to go besides from the ferryman bit. I kept trying to give him garlic.
I completed it at 10 years old when it came out. How much of a genius does it really take? Why do people go straight to the top shelf with their words? Genius?
She didn’t beat it by herself. Not an insult. It’s all but impossible-there is a clue to kneeling by the lake with the blue crystal - bet 90% of those who played this game never found it (it required holy water to hit a block that was in odd place). Using the eye would reveal the clues that actually helped-but in one of the castles you could see a clue in a block that was not possible to reach. I read a hint in a guidebook that said there were hidden staircases & you had to walk up to find them - this would seem to be what that referred to, but didn’t work. Never got that clue. You could read signs of towns, but it didn’t help in the least.
I learned that after I finished the game for the first time! I actually replayed this again a few months ago and I loved it just as much as I did the first time.
This games atmosphere and exploration consumed my imagination as a kid. I spent many hours scouring this beautifully haunting world, wondering what the hell to do.
Ha, I probably fell through that same hole in the floor in the first castle a dozen times before I finally remembered it was there! And although the game by today's standards could pretty much be considered broken, it was common for games to rely on strategy guides back then. And it innovated on more areas than people admit. Great review!
I'm glad I'm not the only one! It's great how many games took the same kind of formula and ran with it. I think this side-scrolling action adventure game with or without RPG elements is probably my favourite kind of game, no question.
Great review. I had this game as a kid and I’ve always found it to be FAR better than its reputation. Also, I still prefer the music from CV 1 & 3, but this soundtrack is SOOOO GOOD. The mansion theme is my favorite track in the game, so I was pleased to hear it used so generously in your video. 😊
You know, people always complain about the nighttime being too long, but the music's so good! I can't get behind a lot of negative opinions about games until I've given them a shot myself, and this one has easily become one of my favourites. I love Faxanadu for NES so much as well, and this game's very similar. What's not to like, really?
This was the second video game (after Super Mario Brothers) that I ever beat. I played this game religiously when it came out. It took me forever to get through it. I will admit to not being able to figure out the tornado part. I had my parents buy me Nintendo Power issue 2 (still have it) with a big section on this game that revealed the tornado then I was able to beat it shortly after but I must have played this game for like 6 months straight before beating it. Then replayed it multiple times for months after to beat it faster. I played this so much that after that first year and a half I didn't touch it again until 30 years later (two years ago) on Halloween and remembered so much about this game from repeat playthroughs as a kid that I beat it without dying or getting lost on my first try and maxing out all my stats and getting every item in the game. I think I managed to beat it in 2 hours. This game is practically in my DNA at this point and that soundtrack I'll remember long after I've lived long enough to forget my own name.
I played this as a kid. I didn't understand much about what to do in the game then. But, something clicked in my head with it over the years. I think the game is great for what it is and I have been a fan of the Castlevania series for years. My favourite Castlevania from my childhood is actually Castlevania 3 Dracula's Curse. However, Castlevania 2 Simon's Quest holds up to me as well as a blast from the past alone. Great video Hungry Goriya it's good to know someone else apreciates this game. There are the few that do apreciate it and many that don't. But, it's my childhood memories that do it for me.
I'm always glad to meet another fan of the game. I think this one has risen up as my favourite of the series so far. I want to love Dracula's Curse, but it was such a struggle for me to make it through that it doesn't quite give me the warm and fuzzy feelings it gives so many others.
@@hungrygoriya I can definitely understand that, on account of how difficult Castlevania 3 Dracula's Curse can be. I in fact, I was not as good as it as a kid. But, when I downloaded Castlevania Anniversary Collection and started playing it again now as an almost 38 year old man. I started to re-live it a bit and had a bit more patience for it. Because, as a kid, lets face it.... No one had patience then lol. But I had gotten a little better over the years. I think if you are going to ever want to try and finish it at least once, the path where you get Sypha would probably be easiest at first because that character has great magical spells.
I really liked it as a kid even though I had no idea what I was doing. Hours of just wondering around killing monsters. Me and a buddy finally figured out what to do but couldn't beat it. I bought the castlevania collection for my ps4 a few months ago and beat it. Very satisfying
this game basically set the bar for stuff i think is cool for the rest of my life. spooky monsters, cursed lands, a hero who probably doesn't really win but goes for it anyway, kickin' music, weird weapons, rpg elements, upgrades, and on and on. i've even got a half-sleeve tattoo pulled from imagery from this game and what it inspired. it's also one of the only things my dad and i were able to truly bond over given his love of 70s schlock horror movies and comic books. time has gone on, but even into my 40s now i can still fire this up and get all the good vibes and good memories.
I'm so glad to hear this game brings you a sense of nostalgia and joy. I replayed this last month for the first time since I made this review, and I feel even more strongly about it now. It's a fantastic game and I can only hope more people give it the respect it deserves.
This is the first game I ever needed Nintendo Power for. Kneeling with the red crystal at the cliff is what got me. Stuck there for days before I called.
I played through this a few years ago without any foreknowledge of the game. It’s tough as nails but I really loved it! I love discovering just how many open world NES games there are.
Simon's Quest...one of my very favorite nes games & truth be told - I've never beat this game. I still own a copy for my nes and own the Castlevania collection on switch but I have never had any luck with this beloved title. Awesome review again, you're great!
If I may politely ask: What are you waiting for?! I hope you have an opportunity to play it through one of these days. It's worth it! And thank you again :)
It's nice to get a fresh perspective on Simon's Quest like this, I can't imagine how huge and immersive this game felt when it was new. Also, whomever on Konami's localization team back in the day that was doing the manuals was a straight-up wacky character with no regards for not only the original Japanese story of each game, but the story within the actual localized game itself
Thanks! I'm in the habit of seeing the silver lining in most things these days, but I totally agree with you. This world would've seemed huge and amazing at the time. After playing lots of top-down action adventure games lately though, I feel like it was definitely on the smaller side. And it's so funny how things are so far apart with the instructions and translation sometimes! I wish they had streamlined them, but to me, it adds a bit of charm to everything.
@@hungrygoriya It's really kind of charming to see when these weren't multi-million dollar franchises with established lore, so they just kind of made things up on the fly xD
Agreed! I love going back to the foundation games of a series and starting from there when I dive into something new. Most of the time, at least to me, simpler is better!
Thanks very much! I wish I had this growing up. I had Faxanadu and fell in love with the music and the ambience, and this game, even though it's a little darker, would've been perfect for a kid like me. I'm glad you had a positive experience as a kid!
Hey HG. I just found out about your channel on the Drunk Friend podcast and I’m really enjoying your back catalog of videos, and especially your review format. They have their own feel and they’re different than the million other reviews for the popular retro games out there on the platform. Anyway everything you do comes together really well and I enjoy your channel a lot. I’m looking forward to your videos going forward!
I'm thrilled you came by to see the channel and are enjoying yourself so far. Thank you very much for your kind words about the reviews too... I'm glad they're feeling fresh since so much has already been said about these games. I'm working on something about Legacy of the Wizard right now, so hopefully I'll have that out in the next little while. I hope you also enjoyed the podcast... it was a wonderful chat and I've been lucky enough to meet some great new people that have wandered in here and into my livestreams since hearing about me! I'm really grateful to have had the opportunity.
AND!...omg thank you for mentioning the great soundtrack! I love old video game music as well as the games themselves. I've recently been discovering so many musicians covering different retro gaming soundtracks. You can do anything in any style of music with these classic scores!
i just love Simon's sprite. That red tunic over black sleeves and pants and then white gloves and boots. I know it's not meant to, but it makes him look like a dang superhero. and his white face with vague eye pixels looks like some cool mask or something. Misinterpreting old pixel art is the best way to invent cool characters.
Oh my god. I’ve watched so many reviews of this game and was beginning to think I was insane for loving it. I figured almost all of this game out as a kid after being grounded to my room for a week. I’ve always felt it gets a bad wrap.
I know quite a few people that also enjoy it, so you're not alone! I was worried to play it for so long because of how many people openly hated on it, but I liked it a lot. It's probably my favourite Castlevania. And very cool about getting to play NES when grounded... sounds like a pretty nice week!
popped over to rewatch the video, to send a friend. 7:14. wow! Not being able to see that under the water would have really altered the puzzle solving process!
@hungrygoriya Yeah, i never thought about it because by the time that issue even existed, i already knew it was there. When i used to stream as part of a cancer fundraiser i hosted, i drunkenly played the game and noticed it... "Thought we could see that" but dropped it without thought. lol. As a kid, before i figured it out i straight up, jumped in! "But, i can SEE it!"
I only just discovered your channel a few hours ago. Simon's Quest is the first Castlevania game I invested a lot of time in. It's always been my favorite of the nes castlevanias. It had its issues but it was my first taste of rpg elements in video games.
Right on! That's like what happened to me and Faxanadu, even though the RPG elements there aren't quite the same. I know if I'd had this game as a kid I would've loved it. Lucky you!
I got this game (and Blaster Master) for Xmas when I was in 4th grade. For some goofy reason, I always wanted to play my games without looking at the manual; a choice that confounds me as an adult. It took me forever to figure out all the goofy puzzles (that dang tornado) but I really loved the steady power increases. I faked being sick when I was at the end of the game so that I could stay home and finish the game. I remember being freaked out at the end! It was a pretty horror-tastic ending
Haha that's funny... you're not the first person I've spoken with over the years that is anti-manual, and that viewpoint tickles me to no end! I'm glad you enjoyed your time with this one. I really did too!
I remember renting this game when I was little. It was the first Castlevania game I played. This game gets a lot of bad rap for being a shitty game by most UA-camrs. Though it was DEFINITELY a Nintendo Power game, I still love Simon’s Quest. I did see a homebrew game on another UA-camrs channel that added Castlevania one to the end game instead of the empty castle in Simons Quest which makes more sense.
I adore this one. I don't think it deserves the negativity it gets online, and I've seen a lot of people coming around on it in the past few years. For me, as a usual first-time player here, I loved it from the start like you!
It's been nice to see Simon's Quest getting some positive coverage over the last couple of years or so. I only played it for the first time relatively recently myself, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, in defiance of its modern reputation, it's just flawed rather than bad. I get the impression that a lot of people just repeat the common remarks about it being a bad game without actually playing it and forming their own opinion. Would I like it to be a bit less cryptic? Absolutely. But the gameplay itself is pretty good. I also think it deserves more credit than it gets for being essentially the trial run for the Symphony of the Night era of Castlevania games.
Yeah, tons of parroting seems to happen out there and I think many people don't want to give games with a bad reputation a chance. I knew I'd probably love this since I love Faxanadu so much and I wasn't wrong. I'm happy to hear you also had a good experience with it.
Back in 1989, I was able to rent Castlevania I & II over the same weekend. While I love the first game now, I spent almost all my time playing Simon's Quest. The graphics for the time were amazing (16-bit era had not quite started). Had no idea you were supposed to kneel at the cliff with the red crystal.
There are a lot of cryptic things in there for sure, but the music and the environment was just fantastic. Castlevania 1 was fun, but the difficulty of the latter half pushed me even further into Simon's Quest's arms. Don't get me started on how hard CV3 was either!
Thank you! This was among my favorites growing up. My friend had it and I borrowed it from him so often that I played his copy more than he did. I loved the seeming non-linearity of the game that allowed me to explore and discover secrets. The horror theme was one I always loved and (as a kid) felt the first & third in this series were too difficult. This was perfect for me! I didn't discover the multiple endings until years later but that just gave me all the incentive I needed to dust off my NES and immerse myself in the thrills of Simon's Quest again. Also, have to agree on the music, this is in my top 5 NES soundtracks
Yes! I wish I'd had this one growing up. Loving Faxanadu, this could've easily become another favourite of mine if I'd had that experience back then. It's definitely my favourite Castlevania game, period! CV3's way too hard for my tastes.
Very well done review! I share your sentiment about Simons Quest being a good game. My brother and I played it when we were younger (and finished it somehow) and had a lot of fun doing so. A ton of fond memories for me (and I assume others) in this game.
Thanks very much! I came into playing this one with the thoughts that a) it was going to suck, and b) everyone was going to hate it and hate watching it. There was so much love for Simon's Quest in chat and in the comments of this video, and it's made me happy to know that I share the same opinion as so many! So you and your brother somehow made it out of this one eh? Funny how we managed to get through these kinds of things as kids.
I beat this in grade school. It took awhile, and I got the bad ending, but there is a lot to love about this game. It’s nice to see it appreciated. The colors, backdrops, music and story; Simon is dying, that really struck me. But everyone focuses on the poor translations. That was every game back then. You just figured it out. I also beat Metroid and Zelda 2 which apparently is an accomplishment? No, if you get one game a year, you play the crap out of it. Anyways, you got a new sub.
I also got the bad ending because I was playing through casually for the first time and was in no particular rush to finish it, but this game does pull so much together to be something fantastic. You're right. I've played games with terrible translations... way more terrible than this, and still loved them. I had the same few games growing up so I did the same as you: played what I had and made the best of it. It was great! And now I can experience more of them. Thanks very much for subscribing, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the channel!
Great review! Your insights are very enlightening for me as a big fan of this game since its release. Protip: you totally can read the town signs, but they only tell you the names of nearby locations, not the town itself. The trick is to *stand left of the center* of the signpost when you press the attack button.
No kidding! I tried to get it to work in every way possible, or so I thought. Thank you for clearing that up! And I'm happy you enjoyed the review. It means a lot to me knowing that people that have loved the game their entire life might appreciate what I have to say.
@@hungrygoriya if you're interested in learning the location names, you might like to see an unlisted play-through of mine. I had to do quite a bit of research to figure it out for myself, and I made this video mostly as a way to help myself associate the names with the places by adding text overlays each time I enter a new area. In some cases I had to make judgement calls in terms of spelling or translation because various sources conflict, but I did my best to prioritize accuracy first, then consistency with the spirit of the game as I see it. The video also demonstrates the efficient path I developed to finish the game quickly without resorting to shortcut glitches. I skip some non-essential items in the process. ua-cam.com/video/zt7jF938Ft4/v-deo.html
As a kid I only played Castlevanias 1 & 3, I can't remember why I skipped this one. Then later I heard it was bad. It's nice to get a different perspective on it. I love your reviews and your calming voice.
It took me a long time to get brave and play this one, and it's easily one of my favourite NES games these days. I hope you'll give it a try someday and see for yourself! And thanks very much for your kindness. Getting to talk to people about games in video form and then in the comments afterwards is a really fulfilling thing for me.
Here's my Simon's Quest story. Before I was a teenager, I had two really close friends, and the three of us used to hang out together for hours on end, literally every single day, and that was the way of things since the earliest part of my childhood. We were very active kids - our default setting was playing outdoors, be it sports, riding our bikes, or just larking around, but when we were finally exhausted or if it was a rainy day, we'd retreat inside, where our primary source of entertainment was on-screen gaming. At first it was ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64, then NES, and later still SNES. I was the middle kid in terms of age, with one friend several months younger than me and the other a couple of years older. We were all super-close pals. Naturally, the eldest was leader by rights. His name was Dom. He was the first of us to get a Nintendo, and a lot of my early video gaming experiences were in his bedroom, more often watching him go through games such as Metroid, SMB2 and Zelda II than actually playing myself, although I certainly had a good share of playing time too. Eventually, I saved enough money to get my own NES. All three of us were pretty good at games in those days, but Dom was pretty damned close to mastering each of the games we had. He would grind at them until he got really good, the classic way. He hadn't owned Simon's Quest very long, and at that point he was still struggling to work it out. Despite this, around the time of my 11th birthday, Dom lent me his copy of the game. I don't remember the circumstances exactly, but for some reason I stayed indoors that whole weekend, captivated by the game. It was very rare for me not to spend time with my friends; this was one of those occasions. This was years before I'd even heard of the internet, let alone experienced it, and with no physical guides or help from any tips hotline, I was as alone within the game as I was in real life, in the small room in my house where the NES was set up. Just me, the sofa, and the CRT TV that was my sole focus, for hours and hours on end. Late on the second day of play, I defeated Dracula, and Simon's Quest had become only the second NES game I'd ever completed (after Goonies II). Inevitably, I must have had the worst of the possible endings due to how long it had taken me, but I didn't even realise there were different endings back then... it was only relatively recently, when I discovered the retro gaming scene online, that I came to know of such things! My experience of playing through Simon's Quest from beginning to end, virtually in one go, has stayed with me for all these years as one of my great video gaming memories. Those who back in the late 20th Century maligned video games as brain-melting trash were so wildly wrong. And without setting out to make a point, I accidentally proved that those who now say that this game is impossible without a guide or assistance are also incorrect. Did I know anything about the game before I settled down to play it myself? Well, I might have picked up a few strategies from watching my friend Dom attempt the game, I really can't remember, but he had no guides to refer to either, so even in that scenario, the game was beaten by a couple of pre-teen kids with no help. In those days, I had far more patience with games than I do now, and I just remember trying anything and everything when I got stuck in a game, and I suppose that's how I must have got through some of the quirkier parts of SQ. My story happened about 3 decades ago, and as of today, I have not played Simon's Quest in all that time since. I have the ability to play it, as it is on the Classic Mini NES that I have access to, but as of yet I've not gone back to it. Am I slightly worried about tainting my wonderful memories of the game? Maybe. But who knows, possibly one day...
This is such a lovely story. I'm so glad you had those childhood friends and that special experience with Simon's Quest. I'll tell you a small story of my own: I grew up with neighbours like that as well, where we were always together every day. Her parents always made them play outside, rain or shine, so I'd get stuck playing outside with them too. One day I convinced them to sneak in the house and play Sega Genesis with me since they had games I didn't, and the sneaking became a regular thing. They STILL bring that up whenever I see them. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything!
This is easily the most thoughtful and fair review of this game I have seen in the past decade or two. So many people rely on the memeyness of playing Simon's Quest these days to carry a video on it, but that is a genuine disservice to a game that's been unduly blasted throughout its lifespan. Absolutely fantastic and well done on this and your other reviews that I've seen so far. Looking forward to watching more!
Thank you very much! I'm very much someone that likes to form my own opinions on something before I get onto any bandwagon, and as a lover of games like Zelda II or Faxanadu, there's no way I couldn't appreciate this one, you know?
Love all of the panning that you used in this! And your transitions. Your editing gets better with each video. I think I may be rubbing off on you. :P This was a great review. I think it's even better than mine, which is completely different from yours. You make this game sound pretty good!
Oh why thank you :) I'm working on doing more with my still photos since they essentially sub in for any camera time other folks might use in their own videos. Now to do more with the video bits too, and I'll be able to take over the world! I'd definitely say after watching lots of your videos, it's hard not to want to draw inspiration from them! And yes, to me, it was a good game! I loved Faxanadu so much and anything that even remotely resembles that is an instant allure for me. This is no different! I watched your review this morning and I think it's also very valid. All of your points are fair ones.
I'm impressed that you refrained from looking at an online map for this game for your first time through here in 2019. I had this game as a kid and am pretty familiar with it but I still had to consult a map to jog my memory during a recent replay. Well done! Glad you enjoyed it. I feel like this game has aged well aside from the "charming" translation. A taste of what later Castlevanias would become.
You know, it's funny that I didn't need to draw a single thing for this game. Usually when I'm playing, especially while streaming, I can't seem to keep track of where I'm going. Something in this game just clicked with me. I had a look at the Nintendo Power only after the fact and was pretty surprised at just how small this world was.
Castlevania 2 was my favorite in the series, even after the third games release. I was absolutely blown away when I first played Simon's Quest back in 1988 (I think). At that point no one had really experienced a game quite like it. The exploration combined with Konami's slick play controls, and dark setting made it simply unbeatable in my eyes. Unfortunately, while I did love Castlevania II: Simon's Quest it was definitely not without its faults. Perhaps the biggest gripe I have is how incredibly cryptic the game is. That nonsense with the crystal and tornado really angered me back when I first owned it. I didn't find the solution to that...hidden feature until gaming mags printed it many months later. I also did not like how useless the NPC's were. Finally, I thought Konami really dropped the ball in the boss department. Most castles didn't even feature a boss and when they did it was very lackluster. Dracula can be beaten before he ever leaves the spot he spawns on. Still...the game was really something else in 1988.
I got a nes with 4 games about 2 weeks ago. I knew i wanted a castlevania game. I was going to get the first 1 but they didnt have it (i was in a retro game store) but they did have the 2nd one for 12$ so i got it. I liked it so when i starting looking up reviews only to find people hates this game i was confused. At least i found someone who liked it
I'm glad you enjoyed the game! I think there are a lot of people who haven't tried it themselves that have jumped on the hater bandwagon. Apart from a few cryptic parts, this game's great!
I had this, Faxanadu and The Battle of Olymous as a kid on the Nes. I could beat the latter two easily, but damn the former was one tough game to me. It was my first Castlevania and I got it through a swap for Wizards and Warriors 2 in school. I had no manual and I was too young to be able to figure out the riddles on my own. I only completed it a few years later when I finally found out what to do with the red orb
I must say, your editing is really tight. You're getting better with each video Goriya, so great job! As for Castlevania II, it's a solid game but I would have never beat the game as a pre-teen with a guide book I got from a friend. Too be honest, it's my least played game of the trilogy. Perhaps because of the length of the game. It's not a quick paced game like the original. Anyways, excellent work!
Thanks very much! I'm not sure how much experience with other games you had at that point in your life, but I know at least for me, I wouldn't have had the know-how to be able to feel my way through it at that age either. I know this game isn't for everyone, but I do think it has a lot of high points. Coming at it with an adult head was awesome, and I finished it and immediately wanted more. And thanks about the editing :) I've been working hard to get better at video-making, and it's nice that you noticed.
I beat this game when I was 11 or 12 years old. I remember getting stuck not knowing what to do with the red orb and kneeling by the river to unlock the last dungeon entrance. I had to use a Nintendo power guide to figure it out but I remember the feeling of accomplishment when I finally finished. It would probably be rough playing through it again though. Maybe someday...
Yeah, the kneeling with the crystal is definitely cryptic! I honestly didn't find most of the dungeons or the game itself too difficult, and with a bit of gentle nudging for some things, I managed to finish this all in one sitting having never played it before. I'm sure your old memories would kick in and help you out too, if you ever decide to get back to it again!
I feel like we both discovered a hidden gem. I recently talked about my first playthrough in Zelda 2! I feel like that game and this one share a bit of misdirected hate. I'm glad to see you gave it a chance and man did you nail this review!
Thank you! I saw your video pop up and added it to my "watch later" because I haven't had a moment to dive in, but I'm looking forward to it! And thank you... I agree! Zelda II and this game are definitely disliked far more than they should be. I can't wait to watch your video :)
All the bosses in Castlevania can be stun-locked and beaten with holy water and the III icon, with the exception of Dracula's first form and on the jumping animation on his second, cookie monster form. The only real challenge is to not accidentally pick up a random sub-weapon drop.
Oh yes, if I've managed to pick up and keep the holy water, I'm usually fine for most bosses now. When I first played though, I died way too often and kept having to make do with whatever other subweapons were lying around... it made the game a lot more difficult!
Awesome review! This game has been covered by so many people, but you still managed to say something new and interesting. I love your channel. Anyway, the soundtrack alone makes this game absolutely worth playing
Thanks very much! I'm really partial to these side-scrolling RPGs and Simon's Quest just did more of what I loved in other games. I actually bought this soundtrack on vinyl because I loved it so much.
Ehhhhh I wouldn't say fearlessly, but with some gentle prodding and encouragement, I was set up for success! I can see why this is one of your favourites though. It's so much fun!
@@TheReNesance I certainly did get that impression watching you play through it in October. I stayed aloof while you played so I didn't get spoiled on too much, but I always love seeing you play through things that you're passionate about. And without your encouragement here, playing through it myself would've been much less exciting and meaningful. Playing games that other people enjoy is a special kind of fuel for my fire!
I already said this before, this is my favorite NES games hands down. I've always loved this game since I was a kid and even used a parody of it for my YT intro. Fortunately I must have learned about the main roadblocks via word of mouth in school yard cause I never got stuck. Great review!
Thank you very much! I'm glad there's lots of love out there for this game because it certainly is a great one. I'm always big on giving games a fair shot, so here we are! I love Faxanadu to death and it has a lot of the same kind of translation issues and cryptic hint directions, so I'm not at all surprised that I fell in love with Simon's Quest so quickly. You know, I don't ever remember people talking about how to get through games when I was a kid. I have not one single memory of it, so I'm glad you had that kind of support!
@@hungrygoriya I still need to play (finish) Faxanadu, I've only dabbled in the past. I've been meaning to for years but my follow-through is lacking apparently hah. When I was a kid there were only a few other kids I knew that had the NES. A couple had access to Nintendo Power and there was a GamePro TV show too! Every chance I had to absorb gaming info be it friends, TV, or spotted a gaming magazine at a store (which I was never able to buy), I took full advantage of it. We had those Scholastic Bookfair things too and there was a couple times I was allowed to get a "Tips and Tricks" magazine. I don't remember specifics but someone definitely told me about the Simon's Quest bits. I recall when it was and where I was living, but not the who. Memories are funny like that.
@@TheGameGrinder I really hope you'll finish (start, haha) Faxanadu sometime. I really feel like it's incredibly underrated. I wish I had gotten more video game based things from the book fairs as a kid. In hindsight, I have regrets! And I totally hear ya on memories being strange things... some of my earliest gaming memories are just little shimmers in my mind at this point.
You are an absolute saint for giving this a positive review, the only thing I dislike in this game is the "duck for X seconds and reveal a path" BS, but you pretty much nailed why this game is awesome. As a kid I couldn't figure anything out but LoZ and LoZ2 are guilty of that as well and no one dunks on them.
Yeah, I don't think the amount of hate this game gets is even remotely fair. I knew about some of the kneeling but not all of it, but it's pretty obtuse. I don't think there's a single hint that alludes to that, at least not that I personally found.
As a kid when this game was still pretty new I had no problems figuring most of the odd parts out. A lot of times it was knowing about sitting or waiting at certain spots like in the first Castlevania for special items only in Simon's Quest you have to equip items through trial and error. Also, Nintendo Power magazine was a big help back then too! lol
Right! I forgot about that... I can think of a spot where you get a 1up or something by walking into a wall for a short time, right? And Nintendo Power must've been so awesome to have back then. I wonder how different my childhood experiences would've been if I'd had a subscription myself!
Kudos. You beat a game designed to be played with a guide with only a smattering of friendly nudges - and lived to write it up with a smile on your face. You're better than me, that's for sure.
Being a grown person really does help with the reasoning though. And I've played enough RPGs to have hunches and feelings about things I definitely wouldn't have as a kid. I do have to say I'm pretty happy I got through it though! I was scared of this one for a long time.
I really like this game just because it does resemble Zelda 2 and Battle of Olympus (and other Knomai games like Goonies 2 and Majou Desentsu II) and I just wish the action was more difficult, I swear I thought the hanged skeletoins would drop to attack me when I neared the globe in the first mansion. I soon realised that the NPCs gave mostly nonsense information, but somehow it had some charm for me, most conversations we have in real life do not lead us anywhere or increase our knowledge of teh world and the game seems to incorporate this well, most of the useful information are found in the books that can be found by using holy water on blocks, that was when I got stuck mostly. Gotta also say that the last stretch is amzing and a change of air comparing to the minions ridden last stages of most games, it kind of makes you think about the game you have been playing before the final showdown.
I agree wholeheartedly! I was surprised at its lack of really tough combat too! And I love your analogy about how all conversations don't necessarily bring us forward in life. That's a great way to look at this! And I loved the quiet pause of the last mansion leading up to Dracula too. What a great end to a fantastic game!
Loved this game as a kid, my uncle got it for me when it came out, and i have no idea how i managed to beat it without any kid of guide or outside influence. Needless to say i did NOT do it fast enough to not die. Shame it doesnt get recognition for being the first ACTUAL "Metroidvania" lol. I loved figuring out if you jumped just right, you could "climb" the spiked walls and get to places normally out of reach!
Oh nice! Well you clearly had your head in the game and were not shy to try everything and anything to get through it. I actually don't love the word Metroidvania very much. Before 2018, I hadn't ever played a single Castlevania or Metroid game and it felt meaningless to me personally, but this game did that interconnected world/gated exploration thing first. Symphony of the Night is great in its own right, but Simon's Quest was definitely the first Castlevania series game to put that into motion. Oh and for your spike wall jumping, was it a glitch skip of some kind? That's funny! I'll never forget when I thought that one of the spike walls was a ladder and tried to climb it, and instantly died haha
My favorite NES Castlevania game! I recommend playing the Simon’s Quest Redacted if you ever get a chance. They changed a few things around, like the comments of villagers and clues making sense. BTW; even in the non redacted version, you can read the town signs to figure out where you are.
I've heard about Redacted before and it's definitely intriguing! I wanted to play the original first at least, but maybe next time I fire it up, I'll consider playing that version instead. And yeah, I learned about the sign reading from someone here after I posted the video. I played Rondo of Blood recently, and in their small homage to this game I tried what I'd been told from Simon's Quest, but no dice. It would've been a nice easter egg!
Really top notch video, and it's so nice to hear someone appreciate the game from a brand new perspective. The fact that you walked into this one fresh and unbiased and left with an enjoyable opinion makes me happy, as this is in my top 3 games of all time. I also like how every single person who has reviewed this game (myself included) always has something new to bring to the table.
If you're looking for unspoiled and unbiased opinions on games, I'm full of them since I missed 95% of games released for almost all systems :) I was so, so pleasantly surprised with Castlevania II and I've found myself feeling the same about so many other games as well. I have patience of steel so maybe the things that usually bug other people don't bug me as much, but this game was especially fun and thought-provoking. It definitely falls in line with the love I have for Faxanadu, which puts it awfully high in my books.
Okay, That's a pretty cool review. I actually enjoyed the video. Castlevania 2 can be confusing at first, but i never got confused in any of the riddles and i would have to admit, i did lose life due to visiting area's that need more leveling up. lol XD
I think I might've gone left leaving the first town, got obliterated immediately, and didn't go back there for a verrrry long time :) The levels are definitely important! And thanks! I'm happy you enjoyed the video.
@@hungrygoriya Anytime, plus i always love!! games can be tiring from solving puzzles, but it is worth it for that adventure alone. XD you should try and play the Guardian of Legend. That's one amazing game to enjoy. :3
@@hungrygoriya your welcome! :) there are so many great games out ther to play, that i have never been able to get a hold of a copy of Terranigma which happens to be Soul Blazer 3 and i have already beaten SB1&2 but never part 3, which is definitely hard to find now a days. furthermore i actually do enjoy finding games that have never been heard of, maybe someday i will find it!! XD Hope you too find amazing adventures me friend :3
I was 9 when we got the nes, I remember racing out to buy this a few years later and loved it! I was one of the guys that loved Zelda 2...and you were right, very similar in style. I think it had a lot to do with who I was with and life being a lot slower. Was thinking what to play this weekend, time to save the world again, guess...
Funny that this game gets so much heat. Being the very first Nintendo game I’ve ever played when I was 6 yrs old a couple years after NES came out. First game ive ever beat w/o the existence of the internet or knowledge of strategy guides. I loved the transition of day/night, all the items, secrets, I thought the cryptic text was so cool and the music is insanely awesome!
I think it's a phenomenal game that too many people don't give enough credit. Glad you got to play it as a kid! I think I would've loved it if I'd gotten to try it out back then.
I'm nearly certain the translators wanted you to summon an "old duck" in graveyard-- an eccentric old woman. Maybe they did not know that for "duck" to be understood in this context, it must be preceded by "old". Or they did not have enough room for "old" in the text box.
Super Castlevania IV was awesome... I just played it a few months ago and I want to play it again already! I'd love to get my hands on a copy of Belmont's Revenge one of these days as well. Hopefully I can find one!
Thank you very much! I hope you'll give it a whirl sometime! It's definitely worth a playthrough. I think you can cheese the final boss pretty hard, but I tried my own way and got destroyed the first time. There are many ways to take him down though, and none of them seem to be too hard!
No matter where people's opinions fall on this game, everyone can agree that Simon's Quest is the soundtrack for Castlevania. Almost everything forward was built on it.
I know there are some reviews that file this under trash (like AVGN and Sequelitus) but it’s nice to hear some praise! NES games often changed up play styles with their sequels. I think Capcom wanted to try a different approach, but since it was so different then their previous it got mixed reception. I think it’s why they didn’t revisit this idea until SotN which is definitely more refined! This is why I think this belongs in list of the most iconic. It’s one that still has players talking about it too this day 👍
The "curse of the sequels" is normally a blessing in my opinion. I'm glad that Simon's Quest was great and that its foundations got polished up down the line and brought us so many other great games. I wish Zelda II had gotten the same treatment.
@@hungrygoriya agreed! I wish Nintendo tried that style again. Unfortunately the only other company that tried that style with Zelda really botched it! **sigh** 😞
Check out Ark House's sequel/remake of this game called Castlevania: The Seal Of The Curse. It's a PC only game. I did a review video looking at the game's dialogue. It's a bit klunky (my video) but I tried to parallel the dialogue with Bram Stoker's novel Dracula and general Romanian superstition.
Love the fresh take and the way you work through all the strengths/weaknesses. Be really cool if someone would seek your input to design a game. Also, that intro is mighty excellent.
Thank you! I think for me, there's always some degree of seeing the silver lining in a lot of games because I'm coming at them later in life. No game is perfect, but to me, Simon's Quest had tons and tons of high points that I just couldn't ignore despite its reputation. If someone ever approached me to design a game, it'd pretty much be more Faxanadu/Simon's Quest, or something of that nature. I love that kind of adventure with towns and puzzles and a great soundtrack! And thanks about the intro. I'm glad trying something different paid off!
@@hungrygoriya Perhaps it's just a matter of time? All you need is 3 parts really; One part programming, one part graphics, one part cohesive & agreeable design, one part music & effects, one part community management / promotion and one point coffee and snack herding.
I played this game when I was 8. I did well up until the red crystal kneeling for the tornado. I asked a friend at school and legit thought he was lying to me when he said a tornado would come pick me up....lol. I feel this game gets alot of undue hate. It is cryptic but has excellent atmosphere and music. It's still one of my favorite castlevania games. Not to mention it gave us bloody tears
It gets waaaaay too much hate. At this point, I've played the other NES games, Super Castlevania IV, Rondo and Bloodlines as well as Symphony of the Night, and I think this one is my favourite! It has so much going for it, reminds me a lot of other old favourites like Faxanadu, and the music and atmosphere like you mentioned make it top notch. The RPG elements really win the day for me, and so many other games in the series are not nearly as approachable as this one is in terms of difficulty and gameplay (minus a few tricky parts, like the crystals)!
I beat this game as a kid. To brag. I really just tried everything endlessly 'cause I love this game so much. I figures out the tornado thing that the Nerd said nobody would ever figure out but that's 'cause there was a clue to do something similar go get to palace 2. I didn't even know how to read. I got family to read me the clues, which mostly didn't make sense. I hop I haven't already left this comment before. I'm kinda stupid like that. Not really. I rock, my brain has just had all memory punched out of it. I think I watched all your videos. Have i? Anyways Nerd was wrong. This game rocks.
This game's awesome, agreed! Congratulations on getting through it as a kid. I didn't find a lot of the hints all that confusing as an adult, but there's a little bit of ambiguity here and there.
I double KO'd on the reaper with the cross once and it was so sad. And don't feel bad... I was stuck on Dracula foreverrrrr. Getting through it was awesome when I finally pulled it off though!
@@hungrygoriya How dare you! In all the years we've been friends I've never lied to you. I was even going to tell you where to find the secret Plasma Whip in Dracula's spaceship, but I changed my mind 😠
@@hungrygoriya this was the first "rpg" i ever played, even before I played zelda. My mom and I beat this without any tips or walkthrough as this was years before the internet was a thing.
@@jsebastian9547 Those must be some amazing memories to have with her. My mom used to help me with Bill and Ted a lot... and we played lots of SMB2 and SMB3 together. I wish I'd gotten to play more long-winded games with her.
That's funny. My mom was all about the long winded games (she's the one who got me into these over the top rpgs)..but I distinctly remember one night - like a school night- she comes in my room at like two o'clock in the morning freaking out asking me how to beat birdo is smb2.... Like, kneeling in front of a cliff with a red crystal...easy. caching an egg and throwing it back at a bird.... what the hell, ya know ?
I tried this and some of the others in the collection that came out a few years ago. They were just too hard for me. Maybe I should try them again, but man they were tough
This one's one of the easier games in terms of the combat at least. It took me a long time to be able to beat the first game. I hope you can get through them sometime!
There were a few things I didn't get on my own, like the platform below the lake that I couldn't see, the tornado at the cliff since that was previously spoiled, and what exactly to do to take the boat somewhere else, but the rest of it was pretty straightforward. The hints aren't as bad or convoluted as people make them out to be.
I loooove Simon's Quest. I can see how it would be aggravating to people playing it without a guide given the lies, and kneeling at certain spots. Never woulda figured that out on my own if I'd played this as a kid. But the atmosphere, graphics, and music are great. The overworld is fun to explore, some of the dialogue is a hoot. I do get a little lost after crossing the river. I don't like the level capping by area, that's a bizarre decision.
Oh my... hard to believe you did not have youthful experience with this. Castlevania 1-3 ... I spent countless hours watching the older kids play these when I was too young, and when they deemed me old enough or when I had the NES to myself.. these games were fantastic.. part 3 is my favorite of the series
I really wish I had, but I didn't really have a lot of friends that were into gaming when I was younger. A few people I hung out with had an SNES and another person had a couple of different NES games than I did, but nobody had Castlevania! I really loved 1 and 2 and pretty much every 8- and 16-bit CV game other than 3 but that's only because I suffered and struggled with it. I just couldn't seem to get the hang of it and the difficulty, and I prefer a little more approachability to a platformer. It's a beautiful game with some great tunes, but the difficulty keeps me away. I'd like to play the Japanese version someday.
You do make valid points, and I did like this game very much when I first played it (it was my first Castlevania game). However, it also subsequently gave me nightmares, so when AVGN's famous wave of 'dis game sux' hate for it came along, a part of me just wanted to go along with it. It doesn't deserve it and now, as an adult, I know that dreams don't come from anywhere and can't hurt me... heh
This was a fun video. I have very mixed feelings about this game. I played it as a kid when it first came out. Even the playground rumor mill didn't know how to make progress due to the well-noted cryptic hints/lies from NPCs and otherwise obtuse game design decisions. Still, I have fond memories of playing this with my friends and trying to figure it out. Soon the Nintendo Power guide came out and solved all the mysteries. Despite the amazing soundtrack, I revisit this one less often than the other classic CV games. Cheers!
I loved this game when it came along, and never had any of the complaints that so many have expressed. More of the games on Nintendo were starting to incorporate RPG elements and that was really fun for me along with the fact that this still played otherwise just like Castlevania, so I just liked it even better. I liked the cryptic secrets that we had to find out by interviewing schoolmates, lol. I liked musing over puzzling or nonsensical npc babble. The game & its atmosphere & challenge was just awesome. However in the long run, the first CV is still my favorite since I still enjoy replaying it. CV II for me, once I finished it I no longer wanted to play. Zelda II I replayed many times (although not as many as the original). I'm not sure what it is about CV II. Actually, it's the same with CV III for me as well, hmm...
I played The Legend of Zelda as one of my first NES games, so approaching something like this game didn't feel daunting. I was used to looking around hard for ways to move forward, and coming to this one as an adult also helped with some of the thinking for the hints. I totally missed out on the schoolyard interviews since I didn't really know anyone else in my class that played video games back then. It was mostly just me. I wonder what it is about CV2 that makes you avoid replaying it. That's really interesting!
You are a hero on a mysterious adventure to defeat the embodiment of all things evil, is it bubble bobble are we playing bubble bobble? I like how positive you make your videos and how you try to find good things to say about games, and even if you don't like it you tell us why and don't just beat up the game.
It could've been any game, right? Even Bubble Bobble! Honestly, there's good in all games, and some are harder to see than others... I think every game deserves a fair shot, and this one was pretty great :) I don't think I could beat up a game if I tried!
Great review. I think the reason C2SQ isn't liked as much is mainly because a lot of people played this ask kids, and got stuck. Though *some* of the dislike may have been influenced by a video featuring a certain ... single-minded introverted individual who's incensed about playing games of an electronic nature. :D That being said, my one major issue with the game is the forced grinding. I like the graphical update, LOVE the music, and the progression system is something that would be revisited and refined in Symphony of the Night.
I haven't played SotN but I guess this game really does set the groundwork for it! That's a neat connection I hadn't made! Even more reason to jump into that one if I can ever find a copy that's not one billion dollars.
HG this was a wonderful synopsis of the game! I think this is probably the most well-written review you have done to date! :) I think having that little help to push you beyond the game's issues (poor translation/missing useful clues) is almost essential. Having just finished it myself there were a few parts where I don't think I would have ever been able to get beyond had I not had some pro-tips. I think if I had been stubborn in that respect it would have totally changed my opinion of the game. Curious to know if you mapped out the world when you played the game? It's not a big world but I oftentimes felt myself getting a tad lost. I think it would be interesting to play the game again down the line with the translation patch to see how they changed things
Thanks so much! I worked long and hard on this one! I did no mapping of the world here. I found it to be quite small compared to some other games I've played and didn't get lost too much. Things were pretty distinctly coloured, but it would've been hard to map. You're right. I think I like the charm of the original translation too much to play it patched, but I look forward to your stream of it if you ever do decide to go that route.
I remember as a kid beating this game without ever discovering the red crystal/tornado trick. If you have the holy water equipped, I discovered you actually can make the jump at the ledge seen at 2:11. Once you make the jump continue east and you'll discover first Laruba's and then Bodley mansion.
Oh nice! I had no idea that you could do that! I wonder what it is about the holy water that gets you up and over that gap.
It has something to do with the throwing motion, I think. You have to move as far to the right of the ledge as possible without falling, then in mid-jump, toss the holy water. If you do it right you'll land with a toe on the top ledge. I remember failing probably 10-15 times before I initially got it right. Now I can always get it on the first or second try.
@@bretthosmer6770 I'll have to keep that in mind for the next time I get back to it! Thanks for the information :)
@@hungrygoriya No problrm. :)
Really? I didn't know you could do that. Neato.
This was a childhood favorite, my top 5 games I would play over and over again. Similar to Kid Icarus, there are RPG elements just under the surface that pushed the game ahead of its time. It had some of the coolest looking artwork and the music was enchanting, you can spend hours listening to it and it doesn't get old. Though lacking boss fights and a lackluster buildup to the ending, I enjoyed most of what the game had to offer and still play it to this day. I do wish some of the items were a bit more fleshed out, the nail in particular seemed like it had some real potential but wasn't used as much as say the rib or eye, being an end-game item I wanted it to do a little more, maybe more whip damage or broke through walls that holy water couldn't break...something to that effect.
The clues could have definitely been better, and I agree about the towns people, eventually they become just a useless but sometimes funny interaction that served no real purpose except to upgrade your stone. Some of the more cryptic hints didn't help to find a crucial hint that explains how to get past the lake part that you were stuck at, it's only 1 clue that explains it and it's extremely well hidden, finding it naturally is not easy and one of the things that I both love and hate about the game.
Despite the flaws, this is a standout game for me and will always be my go-to for NES entertainment. This game and others like SMB2 and Megaman 2 will always be my favorites.
I'm so glad you love this one too. It's got so much in the way of upgrades and secrets that I was over the moon playing it. I need to come back to it again sometime and enjoy it again since it's been a while, but I really enjoyed what it offered in terms of challenge and fun factor.
Simon's Quest gives such a dark, lonely feeling that most Castlevanias don't quite have. Especially when night falls and all the friendly faces in each town are gone, replaced by monsters. Imagine how it must've felt when this game released to see something like that in a game. The premise is particularly grim with Simon suffering cursed wounds inflicted by Dracula, and even Dracula's castle itself is merely an empty, desolate ruin you must slowly traverse to meet your ultimate fate. The suspense must've been real for everyone who went into that part blind.
Yes, exactly. I love the ambience here as well, and I only wish I could've experienced that as a kid. I always hear people talking about how the castle at the end was empty because they ran out of time, but to me, it's even better being empty for all the reasons you mentioned here. It's a lot more foreboding to take a quiet walk to meet your fate.
I apologize if this has been pointed out already, but you CAN read the signs in front of each town. Ironically, they don't tell you the name of the town, but rather what lies in each direction FROM the town, so it's still confusing to know which town you're in XD
No need to apologize! Someone did mention it's possible to read them, but I was unlucky in my attempts. It must've been the one thing I didn't try. Who would've thought to whip a sign?
And that was an interesting choice, to put everything except the town name in place. That's not the point of a sign :D
I think someone in the town usually tells you the name of the town, but it's been sooo many years since I went through and talked to everybody. when I play it now I just run through it as fast as I can
You’ve gotta press up on the LEFT side of the sign, at least in my experience! I love how we all have alternate techniques regarding the reading of signs 😂
@@hypnos9336 Only in some. I know there's at least two for sure that aren't named anywhere in the game!
The outdoor daytime music in this game can also be found in the arcade game "Haunted Castle". Stage 3 more specifically.
I'll have to check out that version. Arcade music doesn't usually disappoint!
This is my favorite music from any Castlevania game too! And you're a genius for figuring this game out by yourself! 😉
Definitely my favourite soundtrack as well of the games I've played! And I was mostly good on figuring out where to go besides from the ferryman bit. I kept trying to give him garlic.
I completed it at 10 years old when it came out. How much of a genius does it really take? Why do people go straight to the top shelf with their words? Genius?
She didn’t beat it by herself. Not an insult. It’s all but impossible-there is a clue to kneeling by the lake with the blue crystal - bet 90% of those who played this game never found it (it required holy water to hit a block that was in odd place). Using the eye would reveal the clues that actually helped-but in one of the castles you could see a clue in a block that was not possible to reach. I read a hint in a guidebook that said there were hidden staircases & you had to walk up to find them - this would seem to be what that referred to, but didn’t work. Never got that clue. You could read signs of towns, but it didn’t help in the least.
The easiest way to read the signs is to hit the "B" button while Simon is in front of them
I learned that after I finished the game for the first time! I actually replayed this again a few months ago and I loved it just as much as I did the first time.
This games atmosphere and exploration consumed my imagination as a kid. I spent many hours scouring this beautifully haunting world, wondering what the hell to do.
It's an awesome adventure. I wish I'd had a chance to play it when I was younger!
Ha, I probably fell through that same hole in the floor in the first castle a dozen times before I finally remembered it was there!
And although the game by today's standards could pretty much be considered broken, it was common for games to rely on strategy guides back then. And it innovated on more areas than people admit. Great review!
I'm glad I'm not the only one! It's great how many games took the same kind of formula and ran with it. I think this side-scrolling action adventure game with or without RPG elements is probably my favourite kind of game, no question.
Great review. I had this game as a kid and I’ve always found it to be FAR better than its reputation. Also, I still prefer the music from CV 1 & 3, but this soundtrack is SOOOO GOOD. The mansion theme is my favorite track in the game, so I was pleased to hear it used so generously in your video. 😊
You know, people always complain about the nighttime being too long, but the music's so good! I can't get behind a lot of negative opinions about games until I've given them a shot myself, and this one has easily become one of my favourites. I love Faxanadu for NES so much as well, and this game's very similar. What's not to like, really?
If the night was shorter than the day it wouldn't make sense lol
This was the second video game (after Super Mario Brothers) that I ever beat. I played this game religiously when it came out. It took me forever to get through it. I will admit to not being able to figure out the tornado part. I had my parents buy me Nintendo Power issue 2 (still have it) with a big section on this game that revealed the tornado then I was able to beat it shortly after but I must have played this game for like 6 months straight before beating it. Then replayed it multiple times for months after to beat it faster. I played this so much that after that first year and a half I didn't touch it again until 30 years later (two years ago) on Halloween and remembered so much about this game from repeat playthroughs as a kid that I beat it without dying or getting lost on my first try and maxing out all my stats and getting every item in the game. I think I managed to beat it in 2 hours. This game is practically in my DNA at this point and that soundtrack I'll remember long after I've lived long enough to forget my own name.
I played this as a kid. I didn't understand much about what to do in the game then. But, something clicked in my head with it over the years. I think the game is great for what it is and I have been a fan of the Castlevania series for years. My favourite Castlevania from my childhood is actually Castlevania 3 Dracula's Curse. However, Castlevania 2 Simon's Quest holds up to me as well as a blast from the past alone. Great video Hungry Goriya it's good to know someone else apreciates this game. There are the few that do apreciate it and many that don't. But, it's my childhood memories that do it for me.
I'm always glad to meet another fan of the game. I think this one has risen up as my favourite of the series so far. I want to love Dracula's Curse, but it was such a struggle for me to make it through that it doesn't quite give me the warm and fuzzy feelings it gives so many others.
@@hungrygoriya I can definitely understand that, on account of how difficult Castlevania 3 Dracula's Curse can be. I in fact, I was not as good as it as a kid. But, when I downloaded Castlevania Anniversary Collection and started playing it again now as an almost 38 year old man. I started to re-live it a bit and had a bit more patience for it. Because, as a kid, lets face it.... No one had patience then lol. But I had gotten a little better over the years. I think if you are going to ever want to try and finish it at least once, the path where you get Sypha would probably be easiest at first because that character has great magical spells.
@@AllTerrainNewfieJRY Sypha saved me on the reaper fight, etc. She was essential to my playthrough!
I’m with you, the game is really good. Gotta disagree with the Nerd on this one. Great review!
Me too! I'm glad I finally tried this one out. Thanks very much!
Wow I thought I was the only one who liked the game.
I really liked it as a kid even though I had no idea what I was doing. Hours of just wondering around killing monsters. Me and a buddy finally figured out what to do but couldn't beat it.
I bought the castlevania collection for my ps4 a few months ago and beat it. Very satisfying
One of my favourite NES games!
this game basically set the bar for stuff i think is cool for the rest of my life. spooky monsters, cursed lands, a hero who probably doesn't really win but goes for it anyway, kickin' music, weird weapons, rpg elements, upgrades, and on and on. i've even got a half-sleeve tattoo pulled from imagery from this game and what it inspired. it's also one of the only things my dad and i were able to truly bond over given his love of 70s schlock horror movies and comic books. time has gone on, but even into my 40s now i can still fire this up and get all the good vibes and good memories.
I'm so glad to hear this game brings you a sense of nostalgia and joy. I replayed this last month for the first time since I made this review, and I feel even more strongly about it now. It's a fantastic game and I can only hope more people give it the respect it deserves.
This is the first game I ever needed Nintendo Power for. Kneeling with the red crystal at the cliff is what got me. Stuck there for days before I called.
Thankfully I had that spoiled for me going into the game! I figured out most of everything else on my own with the exception of a few little things.
Being an employee of NOA at the time this was out, I had full access to Nintendo Power and the game play counselors. I liked the game also.
I bet, especially with all those hot tips!
I played through this a few years ago without any foreknowledge of the game. It’s tough as nails but I really loved it! I love discovering just how many open world NES games there are.
There are quite a few with RPG elements if you have a hard enough look!
Simon's Quest...one of my very favorite nes games & truth be told - I've never beat this game. I still own a copy for my nes and own the Castlevania collection on switch but I have never had any luck with this beloved title. Awesome review again, you're great!
If I may politely ask: What are you waiting for?! I hope you have an opportunity to play it through one of these days. It's worth it! And thank you again :)
It's nice to get a fresh perspective on Simon's Quest like this, I can't imagine how huge and immersive this game felt when it was new.
Also, whomever on Konami's localization team back in the day that was doing the manuals was a straight-up wacky character with no regards for not only the original Japanese story of each game, but the story within the actual localized game itself
Thanks! I'm in the habit of seeing the silver lining in most things these days, but I totally agree with you. This world would've seemed huge and amazing at the time. After playing lots of top-down action adventure games lately though, I feel like it was definitely on the smaller side.
And it's so funny how things are so far apart with the instructions and translation sometimes! I wish they had streamlined them, but to me, it adds a bit of charm to everything.
@@hungrygoriya It's really kind of charming to see when these weren't multi-million dollar franchises with established lore, so they just kind of made things up on the fly xD
Agreed! I love going back to the foundation games of a series and starting from there when I dive into something new. Most of the time, at least to me, simpler is better!
I beat this game as a kid when we exchanged info to get past those cryptic parts. I think you did a great review and a fair one too
Thanks very much! I wish I had this growing up. I had Faxanadu and fell in love with the music and the ambience, and this game, even though it's a little darker, would've been perfect for a kid like me. I'm glad you had a positive experience as a kid!
I only played this a handful of times growing up, but the music stuck with me all these years.
Oh it's so good! I actually bought this soundtrack on vinyl because I enjoyed it so much.
The only trouble I had with this game, enough to actually call the Nintendo help line, was regarding the cliff tornado.
That seems to be the consensus in terms of the most cryptic part. That was one of the only things I had spoiled for me coming into the game, luckily.
Hey HG. I just found out about your channel on the Drunk Friend podcast and I’m really enjoying your back catalog of videos, and especially your review format. They have their own feel and they’re different than the million other reviews for the popular retro games out there on the platform. Anyway everything you do comes together really well and I enjoy your channel a lot. I’m looking forward to your videos going forward!
I'm thrilled you came by to see the channel and are enjoying yourself so far. Thank you very much for your kind words about the reviews too... I'm glad they're feeling fresh since so much has already been said about these games. I'm working on something about Legacy of the Wizard right now, so hopefully I'll have that out in the next little while.
I hope you also enjoyed the podcast... it was a wonderful chat and I've been lucky enough to meet some great new people that have wandered in here and into my livestreams since hearing about me! I'm really grateful to have had the opportunity.
AND!...omg thank you for mentioning the great soundtrack! I love old video game music as well as the games themselves. I've recently been discovering so many musicians covering different retro gaming soundtracks. You can do anything in any style of music with these classic scores!
i just love Simon's sprite. That red tunic over black sleeves and pants and then white gloves and boots. I know it's not meant to, but it makes him look like a dang superhero. and his white face with vague eye pixels looks like some cool mask or something. Misinterpreting old pixel art is the best way to invent cool characters.
Definitely an interesting interpretation of the sprite!
Oh my god. I’ve watched so many reviews of this game and was beginning to think I was insane for loving it. I figured almost all of this game out as a kid after being grounded to my room for a week. I’ve always felt it gets a bad wrap.
I know quite a few people that also enjoy it, so you're not alone! I was worried to play it for so long because of how many people openly hated on it, but I liked it a lot. It's probably my favourite Castlevania.
And very cool about getting to play NES when grounded... sounds like a pretty nice week!
popped over to rewatch the video, to send a friend. 7:14. wow! Not being able to see that under the water would have really altered the puzzle solving process!
It was definitely trouble! I'm glad people pointed it out for me!
@hungrygoriya Yeah, i never thought about it because by the time that issue even existed, i already knew it was there.
When i used to stream as part of a cancer fundraiser i hosted, i drunkenly played the game and noticed it... "Thought we could see that" but dropped it without thought. lol. As a kid, before i figured it out i straight up, jumped in! "But, i can SEE it!"
I only just discovered your channel a few hours ago. Simon's Quest is the first Castlevania game I invested a lot of time in. It's always been my favorite of the nes castlevanias. It had its issues but it was my first taste of rpg elements in video games.
Right on! That's like what happened to me and Faxanadu, even though the RPG elements there aren't quite the same. I know if I'd had this game as a kid I would've loved it. Lucky you!
I got this game (and Blaster Master) for Xmas when I was in 4th grade. For some goofy reason, I always wanted to play my games without looking at the manual; a choice that confounds me as an adult. It took me forever to figure out all the goofy puzzles (that dang tornado) but I really loved the steady power increases. I faked being sick when I was at the end of the game so that I could stay home and finish the game. I remember being freaked out at the end! It was a pretty horror-tastic ending
Haha that's funny... you're not the first person I've spoken with over the years that is anti-manual, and that viewpoint tickles me to no end! I'm glad you enjoyed your time with this one. I really did too!
I remember renting this game when I was little. It was the first Castlevania game I played. This game gets a lot of bad rap for being a shitty game by most UA-camrs. Though it was DEFINITELY a Nintendo Power game, I still love Simon’s Quest. I did see a homebrew game on another UA-camrs channel that added Castlevania one to the end game instead of the empty castle in Simons Quest which makes more sense.
I adore this one. I don't think it deserves the negativity it gets online, and I've seen a lot of people coming around on it in the past few years. For me, as a usual first-time player here, I loved it from the start like you!
It's been nice to see Simon's Quest getting some positive coverage over the last couple of years or so. I only played it for the first time relatively recently myself, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, in defiance of its modern reputation, it's just flawed rather than bad.
I get the impression that a lot of people just repeat the common remarks about it being a bad game without actually playing it and forming their own opinion. Would I like it to be a bit less cryptic? Absolutely. But the gameplay itself is pretty good.
I also think it deserves more credit than it gets for being essentially the trial run for the Symphony of the Night era of Castlevania games.
Yeah, tons of parroting seems to happen out there and I think many people don't want to give games with a bad reputation a chance. I knew I'd probably love this since I love Faxanadu so much and I wasn't wrong. I'm happy to hear you also had a good experience with it.
Back in 1989, I was able to rent Castlevania I & II over the same weekend. While I love the first game now, I spent almost all my time playing Simon's Quest. The graphics for the time were amazing (16-bit era had not quite started). Had no idea you were supposed to kneel at the cliff with the red crystal.
There are a lot of cryptic things in there for sure, but the music and the environment was just fantastic. Castlevania 1 was fun, but the difficulty of the latter half pushed me even further into Simon's Quest's arms. Don't get me started on how hard CV3 was either!
Thank you! This was among my favorites growing up. My friend had it and I borrowed it from him so often that I played his copy more than he did. I loved the seeming non-linearity of the game that allowed me to explore and discover secrets. The horror theme was one I always loved and (as a kid) felt the first & third in this series were too difficult. This was perfect for me! I didn't discover the multiple endings until years later but that just gave me all the incentive I needed to dust off my NES and immerse myself in the thrills of Simon's Quest again.
Also, have to agree on the music, this is in my top 5 NES soundtracks
Yes! I wish I'd had this one growing up. Loving Faxanadu, this could've easily become another favourite of mine if I'd had that experience back then. It's definitely my favourite Castlevania game, period! CV3's way too hard for my tastes.
This is by far my favorite NES soundtrack.
There's not a single tune in this game's soundtrack that I don't enjoy.
Hey! Awesome review! This is my favorite one in the series, my dad and I played this and it has a special place in my heart because of that. : )
That's awesome! What wonderful memories to have... I have similar ones of SMB2 and SMB3 with my mom growing up.
Great job, Hungry! Another great vid.
Very well done review! I share your sentiment about Simons Quest being a good game. My brother and I played it when we were younger (and finished it somehow) and had a lot of fun doing so. A ton of fond memories for me (and I assume others) in this game.
Thanks very much! I came into playing this one with the thoughts that a) it was going to suck, and b) everyone was going to hate it and hate watching it. There was so much love for Simon's Quest in chat and in the comments of this video, and it's made me happy to know that I share the same opinion as so many! So you and your brother somehow made it out of this one eh? Funny how we managed to get through these kinds of things as kids.
I beat this in grade school. It took awhile, and I got the bad ending, but there is a lot to love about this game. It’s nice to see it appreciated. The colors, backdrops, music and story; Simon is dying, that really struck me.
But everyone focuses on the poor translations.
That was every game back then. You just figured it out. I also beat Metroid and Zelda 2 which apparently is an accomplishment? No, if you get one game a year, you play the crap out of it. Anyways, you got a new sub.
I also got the bad ending because I was playing through casually for the first time and was in no particular rush to finish it, but this game does pull so much together to be something fantastic. You're right.
I've played games with terrible translations... way more terrible than this, and still loved them. I had the same few games growing up so I did the same as you: played what I had and made the best of it. It was great! And now I can experience more of them. Thanks very much for subscribing, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the channel!
I've yet to get the good ending.
Another great video! Also that clip at 0:10 completely caught me off guard, you had me rolling!
Poor Samus..
She'd have to wait a few years to be able wall-jump out of that pit. :3
I knew you'd appreciate it :)
She never did make it out. I had to wait 10 minutes to die down there.
@@SaadAzim Yeah, she just had to accept the fact that she had to sit there and wait for the lava to melt her face.
Great review! Your insights are very enlightening for me as a big fan of this game since its release.
Protip: you totally can read the town signs, but they only tell you the names of nearby locations, not the town itself. The trick is to *stand left of the center* of the signpost when you press the attack button.
No kidding! I tried to get it to work in every way possible, or so I thought. Thank you for clearing that up!
And I'm happy you enjoyed the review. It means a lot to me knowing that people that have loved the game their entire life might appreciate what I have to say.
@@hungrygoriya if you're interested in learning the location names, you might like to see an unlisted play-through of mine. I had to do quite a bit of research to figure it out for myself, and I made this video mostly as a way to help myself associate the names with the places by adding text overlays each time I enter a new area. In some cases I had to make judgement calls in terms of spelling or translation because various sources conflict, but I did my best to prioritize accuracy first, then consistency with the spirit of the game as I see it. The video also demonstrates the efficient path I developed to finish the game quickly without resorting to shortcut glitches. I skip some non-essential items in the process. ua-cam.com/video/zt7jF938Ft4/v-deo.html
Thanks for this!
As a kid I only played Castlevanias 1 & 3, I can't remember why I skipped this one. Then later I heard it was bad. It's nice to get a different perspective on it. I love your reviews and your calming voice.
It took me a long time to get brave and play this one, and it's easily one of my favourite NES games these days. I hope you'll give it a try someday and see for yourself!
And thanks very much for your kindness. Getting to talk to people about games in video form and then in the comments afterwards is a really fulfilling thing for me.
Here's my Simon's Quest story.
Before I was a teenager, I had two really close friends, and the three of us used to hang out together for hours on end, literally every single day, and that was the way of things since the earliest part of my childhood. We were very active kids - our default setting was playing outdoors, be it sports, riding our bikes, or just larking around, but when we were finally exhausted or if it was a rainy day, we'd retreat inside, where our primary source of entertainment was on-screen gaming. At first it was ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64, then NES, and later still SNES.
I was the middle kid in terms of age, with one friend several months younger than me and the other a couple of years older. We were all super-close pals. Naturally, the eldest was leader by rights. His name was Dom. He was the first of us to get a Nintendo, and a lot of my early video gaming experiences were in his bedroom, more often watching him go through games such as Metroid, SMB2 and Zelda II than actually playing myself, although I certainly had a good share of playing time too.
Eventually, I saved enough money to get my own NES. All three of us were pretty good at games in those days, but Dom was pretty damned close to mastering each of the games we had. He would grind at them until he got really good, the classic way. He hadn't owned Simon's Quest very long, and at that point he was still struggling to work it out. Despite this, around the time of my 11th birthday, Dom lent me his copy of the game.
I don't remember the circumstances exactly, but for some reason I stayed indoors that whole weekend, captivated by the game. It was very rare for me not to spend time with my friends; this was one of those occasions. This was years before I'd even heard of the internet, let alone experienced it, and with no physical guides or help from any tips hotline, I was as alone within the game as I was in real life, in the small room in my house where the NES was set up. Just me, the sofa, and the CRT TV that was my sole focus, for hours and hours on end.
Late on the second day of play, I defeated Dracula, and Simon's Quest had become only the second NES game I'd ever completed (after Goonies II). Inevitably, I must have had the worst of the possible endings due to how long it had taken me, but I didn't even realise there were different endings back then... it was only relatively recently, when I discovered the retro gaming scene online, that I came to know of such things!
My experience of playing through Simon's Quest from beginning to end, virtually in one go, has stayed with me for all these years as one of my great video gaming memories. Those who back in the late 20th Century maligned video games as brain-melting trash were so wildly wrong.
And without setting out to make a point, I accidentally proved that those who now say that this game is impossible without a guide or assistance are also incorrect. Did I know anything about the game before I settled down to play it myself? Well, I might have picked up a few strategies from watching my friend Dom attempt the game, I really can't remember, but he had no guides to refer to either, so even in that scenario, the game was beaten by a couple of pre-teen kids with no help. In those days, I had far more patience with games than I do now, and I just remember trying anything and everything when I got stuck in a game, and I suppose that's how I must have got through some of the quirkier parts of SQ.
My story happened about 3 decades ago, and as of today, I have not played Simon's Quest in all that time since. I have the ability to play it, as it is on the Classic Mini NES that I have access to, but as of yet I've not gone back to it. Am I slightly worried about tainting my wonderful memories of the game? Maybe. But who knows, possibly one day...
This is such a lovely story. I'm so glad you had those childhood friends and that special experience with Simon's Quest. I'll tell you a small story of my own: I grew up with neighbours like that as well, where we were always together every day. Her parents always made them play outside, rain or shine, so I'd get stuck playing outside with them too. One day I convinced them to sneak in the house and play Sega Genesis with me since they had games I didn't, and the sneaking became a regular thing. They STILL bring that up whenever I see them. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything!
This is easily the most thoughtful and fair review of this game I have seen in the past decade or two. So many people rely on the memeyness of playing Simon's Quest these days to carry a video on it, but that is a genuine disservice to a game that's been unduly blasted throughout its lifespan. Absolutely fantastic and well done on this and your other reviews that I've seen so far. Looking forward to watching more!
Thank you very much! I'm very much someone that likes to form my own opinions on something before I get onto any bandwagon, and as a lover of games like Zelda II or Faxanadu, there's no way I couldn't appreciate this one, you know?
Love all of the panning that you used in this! And your transitions. Your editing gets better with each video. I think I may be rubbing off on you. :P
This was a great review. I think it's even better than mine, which is completely different from yours. You make this game sound pretty good!
Oh why thank you :) I'm working on doing more with my still photos since they essentially sub in for any camera time other folks might use in their own videos. Now to do more with the video bits too, and I'll be able to take over the world! I'd definitely say after watching lots of your videos, it's hard not to want to draw inspiration from them!
And yes, to me, it was a good game! I loved Faxanadu so much and anything that even remotely resembles that is an instant allure for me. This is no different! I watched your review this morning and I think it's also very valid. All of your points are fair ones.
Hungry Goriya I had such a hard time with faxanadu, even with the manual. I should give it another try
I'm impressed that you refrained from looking at an online map for this game for your first time through here in 2019. I had this game as a kid and am pretty familiar with it but I still had to consult a map to jog my memory during a recent replay. Well done! Glad you enjoyed it. I feel like this game has aged well aside from the "charming" translation. A taste of what later Castlevanias would become.
You know, it's funny that I didn't need to draw a single thing for this game. Usually when I'm playing, especially while streaming, I can't seem to keep track of where I'm going. Something in this game just clicked with me. I had a look at the Nintendo Power only after the fact and was pretty surprised at just how small this world was.
Castlevania 2 was my favorite in the series, even after the third games release. I was absolutely blown away when I first played Simon's Quest back in 1988 (I think). At that point no one had really experienced a game quite like it. The exploration combined with Konami's slick play controls, and dark setting made it simply unbeatable in my eyes.
Unfortunately, while I did love Castlevania II: Simon's Quest it was definitely not without its faults. Perhaps the biggest gripe I have is how incredibly cryptic the game is. That nonsense with the crystal and tornado really angered me back when I first owned it. I didn't find the solution to that...hidden feature until gaming mags printed it many months later. I also did not like how useless the NPC's were. Finally, I thought Konami really dropped the ball in the boss department. Most castles didn't even feature a boss and when they did it was very lackluster. Dracula can be beaten before he ever leaves the spot he spawns on. Still...the game was really something else in 1988.
I love you for reviewing this game. Wish you’d do a video on Dungeon Magic!
I'd have to play it first, but maybe some day!
I got a nes with 4 games about 2 weeks ago. I knew i wanted a castlevania game. I was going to get the first 1 but they didnt have it (i was in a retro game store) but they did have the 2nd one for 12$ so i got it. I liked it so when i starting looking up reviews only to find people hates this game i was confused. At least i found someone who liked it
I'm glad you enjoyed the game! I think there are a lot of people who haven't tried it themselves that have jumped on the hater bandwagon. Apart from a few cryptic parts, this game's great!
I had this, Faxanadu and The Battle of Olymous as a kid on the Nes. I could beat the latter two easily, but damn the former was one tough game to me. It was my first Castlevania and I got it through a swap for Wizards and Warriors 2 in school. I had no manual and I was too young to be able to figure out the riddles on my own. I only completed it a few years later when I finally found out what to do with the red orb
I wonder how the first person figured out how to use the red crystal. I would love to have been a fly on the wall!
This has some of the best music ever heard in a NES game.
Agreed. I could listen to it all day.
Some of the same songs can be heard in the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game.
konami/ultra, sunsoft, capcom and tecmo games all had amazing music, and of course anything that tim follin made
I must say, your editing is really tight. You're getting better with each video Goriya, so great job! As for Castlevania II, it's a solid game but I would have never beat the game as a pre-teen with a guide book I got from a friend. Too be honest, it's my least played game of the trilogy. Perhaps because of the length of the game. It's not a quick paced game like the original. Anyways, excellent work!
Thanks very much! I'm not sure how much experience with other games you had at that point in your life, but I know at least for me, I wouldn't have had the know-how to be able to feel my way through it at that age either. I know this game isn't for everyone, but I do think it has a lot of high points. Coming at it with an adult head was awesome, and I finished it and immediately wanted more.
And thanks about the editing :) I've been working hard to get better at video-making, and it's nice that you noticed.
I beat this game when I was 11 or 12 years old. I remember getting stuck not knowing what to do with the red orb and kneeling by the river to unlock the last dungeon entrance. I had to use a Nintendo power guide to figure it out but I remember the feeling of accomplishment when I finally finished. It would probably be rough playing through it again though. Maybe someday...
Yeah, the kneeling with the crystal is definitely cryptic! I honestly didn't find most of the dungeons or the game itself too difficult, and with a bit of gentle nudging for some things, I managed to finish this all in one sitting having never played it before. I'm sure your old memories would kick in and help you out too, if you ever decide to get back to it again!
I feel like we both discovered a hidden gem. I recently talked about my first playthrough in Zelda 2! I feel like that game and this one share a bit of misdirected hate. I'm glad to see you gave it a chance and man did you nail this review!
Thank you! I saw your video pop up and added it to my "watch later" because I haven't had a moment to dive in, but I'm looking forward to it! And thank you... I agree! Zelda II and this game are definitely disliked far more than they should be. I can't wait to watch your video :)
Is this the only review on all of UA-cam that doesn't completely slag on this game? How refreshing
I'm glad you enjoyed it! I love games like this.
I'm a big fan of Simon's Quest, and am very happy to see a fair review :)
It's a great game! I hope more people will give it a fair shot.
@@hungrygoriya Definitely. I've been telling people to give it a try for years. I even made a trailer for it.
All the bosses in Castlevania can be stun-locked and beaten with holy water and the III icon, with the exception of Dracula's first form and on the jumping animation on his second, cookie monster form. The only real challenge is to not accidentally pick up a random sub-weapon drop.
Oh yes, if I've managed to pick up and keep the holy water, I'm usually fine for most bosses now. When I first played though, I died way too often and kept having to make do with whatever other subweapons were lying around... it made the game a lot more difficult!
Awesome review! This game has been covered by so many people, but you still managed to say something new and interesting. I love your channel. Anyway, the soundtrack alone makes this game absolutely worth playing
Thanks very much! I'm really partial to these side-scrolling RPGs and Simon's Quest just did more of what I loved in other games. I actually bought this soundtrack on vinyl because I loved it so much.
Great review! I love this game. It’s my favorite Castlevania game on the NES.
Me too... no contest!
Quite a pleasure to hear you talk about a favorite of mine.. enjoyed this thoroughly and I'm so glad you dove into this game fearlessly!
Ehhhhh I wouldn't say fearlessly, but with some gentle prodding and encouragement, I was set up for success! I can see why this is one of your favourites though. It's so much fun!
@@hungrygoriya It really is.. it's another game that brings me to a very special nostalgic place
@@TheReNesance I certainly did get that impression watching you play through it in October. I stayed aloof while you played so I didn't get spoiled on too much, but I always love seeing you play through things that you're passionate about. And without your encouragement here, playing through it myself would've been much less exciting and meaningful. Playing games that other people enjoy is a special kind of fuel for my fire!
@@hungrygoriya Which is why I had such a hoot playing Monkey Island! It is a very exciting and special thing to be able to do :)
I already said this before, this is my favorite NES games hands down. I've always loved this game since I was a kid and even used a parody of it for my YT intro. Fortunately I must have learned about the main roadblocks via word of mouth in school yard cause I never got stuck. Great review!
Thank you very much! I'm glad there's lots of love out there for this game because it certainly is a great one. I'm always big on giving games a fair shot, so here we are! I love Faxanadu to death and it has a lot of the same kind of translation issues and cryptic hint directions, so I'm not at all surprised that I fell in love with Simon's Quest so quickly.
You know, I don't ever remember people talking about how to get through games when I was a kid. I have not one single memory of it, so I'm glad you had that kind of support!
@@hungrygoriya I still need to play (finish) Faxanadu, I've only dabbled in the past. I've been meaning to for years but my follow-through is lacking apparently hah.
When I was a kid there were only a few other kids I knew that had the NES. A couple had access to Nintendo Power and there was a GamePro TV show too! Every chance I had to absorb gaming info be it friends, TV, or spotted a gaming magazine at a store (which I was never able to buy), I took full advantage of it. We had those Scholastic Bookfair things too and there was a couple times I was allowed to get a "Tips and Tricks" magazine.
I don't remember specifics but someone definitely told me about the Simon's Quest bits. I recall when it was and where I was living, but not the who. Memories are funny like that.
@@TheGameGrinder I really hope you'll finish (start, haha) Faxanadu sometime. I really feel like it's incredibly underrated.
I wish I had gotten more video game based things from the book fairs as a kid. In hindsight, I have regrets! And I totally hear ya on memories being strange things... some of my earliest gaming memories are just little shimmers in my mind at this point.
You are an absolute saint for giving this a positive review, the only thing I dislike in this game is the "duck for X seconds and reveal a path" BS, but you pretty much nailed why this game is awesome. As a kid I couldn't figure anything out but LoZ and LoZ2 are guilty of that as well and no one dunks on them.
Yeah, I don't think the amount of hate this game gets is even remotely fair. I knew about some of the kneeling but not all of it, but it's pretty obtuse. I don't think there's a single hint that alludes to that, at least not that I personally found.
As a kid when this game was still pretty new I had no problems figuring most of the odd parts out. A lot of times it was knowing about sitting or waiting at certain spots like in the first Castlevania for special items only in Simon's Quest you have to equip items through trial and error. Also, Nintendo Power magazine was a big help back then too! lol
Right! I forgot about that... I can think of a spot where you get a 1up or something by walking into a wall for a short time, right? And Nintendo Power must've been so awesome to have back then. I wonder how different my childhood experiences would've been if I'd had a subscription myself!
@@hungrygoriya playing it night and day helped a little too, lol.
Kudos. You beat a game designed to be played with a guide with only a smattering of friendly nudges - and lived to write it up with a smile on your face. You're better than me, that's for sure.
Being a grown person really does help with the reasoning though. And I've played enough RPGs to have hunches and feelings about things I definitely wouldn't have as a kid. I do have to say I'm pretty happy I got through it though! I was scared of this one for a long time.
I really like this game just because it does resemble Zelda 2 and Battle of Olympus (and other Knomai games like Goonies 2 and Majou Desentsu II) and I just wish the action was more difficult, I swear I thought the hanged skeletoins would drop to attack me when I neared the globe in the first mansion. I soon realised that the NPCs gave mostly nonsense information, but somehow it had some charm for me, most conversations we have in real life do not lead us anywhere or increase our knowledge of teh world and the game seems to incorporate this well, most of the useful information are found in the books that can be found by using holy water on blocks, that was when I got stuck mostly. Gotta also say that the last stretch is amzing and a change of air comparing to the minions ridden last stages of most games, it kind of makes you think about the game you have been playing before the final showdown.
I agree wholeheartedly! I was surprised at its lack of really tough combat too! And I love your analogy about how all conversations don't necessarily bring us forward in life. That's a great way to look at this!
And I loved the quiet pause of the last mansion leading up to Dracula too. What a great end to a fantastic game!
Loved this game as a kid, my uncle got it for me when it came out, and i have no idea how i managed to beat it without any kid of guide or outside influence. Needless to say i did NOT do it fast enough to not die. Shame it doesnt get recognition for being the first ACTUAL "Metroidvania" lol. I loved figuring out if you jumped just right, you could "climb" the spiked walls and get to places normally out of reach!
Oh nice! Well you clearly had your head in the game and were not shy to try everything and anything to get through it.
I actually don't love the word Metroidvania very much. Before 2018, I hadn't ever played a single Castlevania or Metroid game and it felt meaningless to me personally, but this game did that interconnected world/gated exploration thing first. Symphony of the Night is great in its own right, but Simon's Quest was definitely the first Castlevania series game to put that into motion.
Oh and for your spike wall jumping, was it a glitch skip of some kind? That's funny! I'll never forget when I thought that one of the spike walls was a ladder and tried to climb it, and instantly died haha
This game along with 8 eyes has such a great atmosphere
8 Eyes has been sitting on my shelf for a while now. I should probably get around to playing that soon.
@@hungrygoriya you Absoultly should 💙
My favorite NES Castlevania game! I recommend playing the Simon’s Quest Redacted if you ever get a chance. They changed a few things around, like the comments of villagers and clues
making sense. BTW; even in the non redacted version, you can read the town signs to figure out where you are.
I've heard about Redacted before and it's definitely intriguing! I wanted to play the original first at least, but maybe next time I fire it up, I'll consider playing that version instead.
And yeah, I learned about the sign reading from someone here after I posted the video. I played Rondo of Blood recently, and in their small homage to this game I tried what I'd been told from Simon's Quest, but no dice. It would've been a nice easter egg!
Such a great channel. Thanks!
Really top notch video, and it's so nice to hear someone appreciate the game from a brand new perspective. The fact that you walked into this one fresh and unbiased and left with an enjoyable opinion makes me happy, as this is in my top 3 games of all time. I also like how every single person who has reviewed this game (myself included) always has something new to bring to the table.
If you're looking for unspoiled and unbiased opinions on games, I'm full of them since I missed 95% of games released for almost all systems :) I was so, so pleasantly surprised with Castlevania II and I've found myself feeling the same about so many other games as well. I have patience of steel so maybe the things that usually bug other people don't bug me as much, but this game was especially fun and thought-provoking. It definitely falls in line with the love I have for Faxanadu, which puts it awfully high in my books.
Okay, That's a pretty cool review. I actually enjoyed the video.
Castlevania 2 can be confusing at first, but i never got confused
in any of the riddles and i would have to admit, i did lose life due
to visiting area's that need more leveling up. lol XD
I think I might've gone left leaving the first town, got obliterated immediately, and didn't go back there for a verrrry long time :) The levels are definitely important!
And thanks! I'm happy you enjoyed the video.
@@hungrygoriya Anytime, plus i always love!!
games can be tiring from solving puzzles, but it is worth
it for that adventure alone. XD
you should try and play the Guardian of Legend. That's one
amazing game to enjoy. :3
@@arcaderkid8449 It's definitely one I hope to play sooner than later! Thanks for the suggestion!
@@hungrygoriya your welcome! :)
there are so many great games out ther to play, that i have
never been able to get a hold of a copy of Terranigma which
happens to be Soul Blazer 3 and i have already beaten SB1&2
but never part 3, which is definitely hard to find now a days.
furthermore i actually do enjoy finding games that have never
been heard of, maybe someday i will find it!! XD
Hope you too find amazing adventures me friend :3
I was 9 when we got the nes, I remember racing out to buy this a few years later and loved it! I was one of the guys that loved Zelda 2...and you were right, very similar in style. I think it had a lot to do with who I was with and life being a lot slower. Was thinking what to play this weekend, time to save the world again, guess...
Yesssss! I'm glad you're going to play it again. All the best of luck :) Drink in that soundtrack!
Funny that this game gets so much heat. Being the very first Nintendo game I’ve ever played when I was 6 yrs old a couple years after NES came out. First game ive ever beat w/o the existence of the internet or knowledge of strategy guides. I loved the transition of day/night, all the items, secrets, I thought the cryptic text was so cool and the music is insanely awesome!
I think it's a phenomenal game that too many people don't give enough credit. Glad you got to play it as a kid! I think I would've loved it if I'd gotten to try it out back then.
I'm nearly certain the translators wanted you to summon an "old duck" in graveyard-- an eccentric old woman. Maybe they did not know that for "duck" to be understood in this context, it must be preceded by "old". Or they did not have enough room for "old" in the text box.
Interesting! Slang that didn't translate well wouldn't surprise me!
Despite what they say, I adore this game.
My top 3 is:
1 - Super Castlevania 4;
2 - Castlevania 2 Belmont's Revenge;
3 - Castlevania 2 Simon's Quest.
Super Castlevania IV was awesome... I just played it a few months ago and I want to play it again already! I'd love to get my hands on a copy of Belmont's Revenge one of these days as well. Hopefully I can find one!
Nice review, I have never played this one, just saw ppl playing it and saw the easy final boss.
Thank you very much! I hope you'll give it a whirl sometime! It's definitely worth a playthrough.
I think you can cheese the final boss pretty hard, but I tried my own way and got destroyed the first time. There are many ways to take him down though, and none of them seem to be too hard!
No matter where people's opinions fall on this game, everyone can agree that Simon's Quest is the soundtrack for Castlevania. Almost everything forward was built on it.
Such a good soundtrack! Agreed! This version of Bloody Tears is hard to beat in my opinion. It's nice and snappy here!
I know there are some reviews that file this under trash (like AVGN and Sequelitus) but it’s nice to hear some praise! NES games often changed up play styles with their sequels. I think Capcom wanted to try a different approach, but since it was so different then their previous it got mixed reception. I think it’s why they didn’t revisit this idea until SotN which is definitely more refined! This is why I think this belongs in list of the most iconic. It’s one that still has players talking about it too this day 👍
The "curse of the sequels" is normally a blessing in my opinion. I'm glad that Simon's Quest was great and that its foundations got polished up down the line and brought us so many other great games. I wish Zelda II had gotten the same treatment.
@@hungrygoriya agreed! I wish Nintendo tried that style again. Unfortunately the only other company that tried that style with Zelda really botched it! **sigh** 😞
Check out Ark House's sequel/remake of this game called Castlevania: The Seal Of The Curse. It's a PC only game.
I did a review video looking at the game's dialogue. It's a bit klunky (my video) but I tried to parallel the dialogue with Bram Stoker's novel Dracula and general Romanian superstition.
Love the fresh take and the way you work through all the strengths/weaknesses. Be really cool if someone would seek your input to design a game.
Also, that intro is mighty excellent.
Thank you! I think for me, there's always some degree of seeing the silver lining in a lot of games because I'm coming at them later in life. No game is perfect, but to me, Simon's Quest had tons and tons of high points that I just couldn't ignore despite its reputation.
If someone ever approached me to design a game, it'd pretty much be more Faxanadu/Simon's Quest, or something of that nature. I love that kind of adventure with towns and puzzles and a great soundtrack!
And thanks about the intro. I'm glad trying something different paid off!
@@hungrygoriya Perhaps it's just a matter of time?
All you need is 3 parts really; One part programming, one part graphics, one part cohesive & agreeable design, one part music & effects, one part community management / promotion and one point coffee and snack herding.
@@ClawestBoss Totally attainable! :)
6:18 Finally someone got it the first time!
I played this game when I was 8. I did well up until the red crystal kneeling for the tornado. I asked a friend at school and legit thought he was lying to me when he said a tornado would come pick me up....lol. I feel this game gets alot of undue hate. It is cryptic but has excellent atmosphere and music. It's still one of my favorite castlevania games. Not to mention it gave us bloody tears
It gets waaaaay too much hate. At this point, I've played the other NES games, Super Castlevania IV, Rondo and Bloodlines as well as Symphony of the Night, and I think this one is my favourite! It has so much going for it, reminds me a lot of other old favourites like Faxanadu, and the music and atmosphere like you mentioned make it top notch. The RPG elements really win the day for me, and so many other games in the series are not nearly as approachable as this one is in terms of difficulty and gameplay (minus a few tricky parts, like the crystals)!
I beat this game as a kid. To brag. I really just tried everything endlessly 'cause I love this game so much. I figures out the tornado thing that the Nerd said nobody would ever figure out but that's 'cause there was a clue to do something similar go get to palace 2. I didn't even know how to read. I got family to read me the clues, which mostly didn't make sense. I hop I haven't already left this comment before. I'm kinda stupid like that. Not really. I rock, my brain has just had all memory punched out of it. I think I watched all your videos. Have i?
Anyways Nerd was wrong. This game rocks.
This game's awesome, agreed! Congratulations on getting through it as a kid. I didn't find a lot of the hints all that confusing as an adult, but there's a little bit of ambiguity here and there.
Damn that reaper was hard as hell 😂 took me like 50 tries. Then Dracula too me like another 50 tries.
I double KO'd on the reaper with the cross once and it was so sad. And don't feel bad... I was stuck on Dracula foreverrrrr. Getting through it was awesome when I finally pulled it off though!
@stinky pinky I was talking about the reaper and Dracula in the first Castlevania since that's the only one I mentioned in the video.
Protip: Adding laurels to your soup enhances it's aroma.
I've just added this to my list of lies. Thank you!
@@hungrygoriya How dare you! In all the years we've been friends I've never lied to you. I was even going to tell you where to find the secret Plasma Whip in Dracula's spaceship, but I changed my mind 😠
@@hungrygoriya Just joking, please don't be mad 🙃
Finally. Someone who gives this game the props it deserves.
It's a good game! I'm happy there are others out there that feel the same.
@@hungrygoriya this was the first "rpg" i ever played, even before I played zelda. My mom and I beat this without any tips or walkthrough as this was years before the internet was a thing.
@@jsebastian9547 Those must be some amazing memories to have with her. My mom used to help me with Bill and Ted a lot... and we played lots of SMB2 and SMB3 together. I wish I'd gotten to play more long-winded games with her.
That's funny. My mom was all about the long winded games (she's the one who got me into these over the top rpgs)..but I distinctly remember one night - like a school night- she comes in my room at like two o'clock in the morning freaking out asking me how to beat birdo is smb2....
Like, kneeling in front of a cliff with a red crystal...easy. caching an egg and throwing it back at a bird.... what the hell, ya know ?
I tried this and some of the others in the collection that came out a few years ago. They were just too hard for me. Maybe I should try them again, but man they were tough
This one's one of the easier games in terms of the combat at least. It took me a long time to be able to beat the first game. I hope you can get through them sometime!
Your channel is super underrated
Too kind! Thank you :)
There is no way this game was beaten without looking up a guide. The secrets are so convoluted that it would be impossible to figure out on your own.
There were a few things I didn't get on my own, like the platform below the lake that I couldn't see, the tornado at the cliff since that was previously spoiled, and what exactly to do to take the boat somewhere else, but the rest of it was pretty straightforward. The hints aren't as bad or convoluted as people make them out to be.
I loooove Simon's Quest. I can see how it would be aggravating to people playing it without a guide given the lies, and kneeling at certain spots. Never woulda figured that out on my own if I'd played this as a kid. But the atmosphere, graphics, and music are great. The overworld is fun to explore, some of the dialogue is a hoot. I do get a little lost after crossing the river. I don't like the level capping by area, that's a bizarre decision.
Yeah, I'd forgotten about the level capping part. I'm sure I've played something else like that but it's not coming to mind at the moment.
Oh my... hard to believe you did not have youthful experience with this. Castlevania 1-3 ... I spent countless hours watching the older kids play these when I was too young, and when they deemed me old enough or when I had the NES to myself.. these games were fantastic.. part 3 is my favorite of the series
I really wish I had, but I didn't really have a lot of friends that were into gaming when I was younger. A few people I hung out with had an SNES and another person had a couple of different NES games than I did, but nobody had Castlevania! I really loved 1 and 2 and pretty much every 8- and 16-bit CV game other than 3 but that's only because I suffered and struggled with it. I just couldn't seem to get the hang of it and the difficulty, and I prefer a little more approachability to a platformer. It's a beautiful game with some great tunes, but the difficulty keeps me away. I'd like to play the Japanese version someday.
You do make valid points, and I did like this game very much when I first played it (it was my first Castlevania game). However, it also subsequently gave me nightmares, so when AVGN's famous wave of 'dis game sux' hate for it came along, a part of me just wanted to go along with it. It doesn't deserve it and now, as an adult, I know that dreams don't come from anywhere and can't hurt me... heh
I'm glad you've come around on it. It's definitely an awesome adventure with lots to offer.
@@hungrygoriya I was going thru my youtube comments and realized I abandoned a game of Simon's Quest a couple days ago :thinking_face: huh
This was a fun video. I have very mixed feelings about this game. I played it as a kid when it first came out. Even the playground rumor mill didn't know how to make progress due to the well-noted cryptic hints/lies from NPCs and otherwise obtuse game design decisions. Still, I have fond memories of playing this with my friends and trying to figure it out. Soon the Nintendo Power guide came out and solved all the mysteries. Despite the amazing soundtrack, I revisit this one less often than the other classic CV games. Cheers!
I can understand why this one wouldn't be the one you'd revisit most often. The one I play the most is the first game. It's just the right length!
And I found the easiest way to defeat Dracula is to equip the laurels and nail him at least 7 times with the gold knife
Good to know! I use the laurels when I fight him too.
According to some fan theories, The Golden Knife has not only the power of sunlight but "Heavenly Power" from the man upstairs.
I loved this game when it came along, and never had any of the complaints that so many have expressed. More of the games on Nintendo were starting to incorporate RPG elements and that was really fun for me along with the fact that this still played otherwise just like Castlevania, so I just liked it even better. I liked the cryptic secrets that we had to find out by interviewing schoolmates, lol. I liked musing over puzzling or nonsensical npc babble. The game & its atmosphere & challenge was just awesome. However in the long run, the first CV is still my favorite since I still enjoy replaying it. CV II for me, once I finished it I no longer wanted to play.
Zelda II I replayed many times (although not as many as the original). I'm not sure what it is about CV II. Actually, it's the same with CV III for me as well, hmm...
I played The Legend of Zelda as one of my first NES games, so approaching something like this game didn't feel daunting. I was used to looking around hard for ways to move forward, and coming to this one as an adult also helped with some of the thinking for the hints. I totally missed out on the schoolyard interviews since I didn't really know anyone else in my class that played video games back then. It was mostly just me.
I wonder what it is about CV2 that makes you avoid replaying it. That's really interesting!
You are a hero on a mysterious adventure to defeat the embodiment of all things evil, is it bubble bobble are we playing bubble bobble? I like how positive you make your videos and how you try to find good things to say about games, and even if you don't like it you tell us why and don't just beat up the game.
It could've been any game, right? Even Bubble Bobble! Honestly, there's good in all games, and some are harder to see than others... I think every game deserves a fair shot, and this one was pretty great :) I don't think I could beat up a game if I tried!
Great review. I think the reason C2SQ isn't liked as much is mainly because a lot of people played this ask kids, and got stuck. Though *some* of the dislike may have been influenced by a video featuring a certain ... single-minded introverted individual who's incensed about playing games of an electronic nature. :D
That being said, my one major issue with the game is the forced grinding. I like the graphical update, LOVE the music, and the progression system is something that would be revisited and refined in Symphony of the Night.
I haven't played SotN but I guess this game really does set the groundwork for it! That's a neat connection I hadn't made! Even more reason to jump into that one if I can ever find a copy that's not one billion dollars.
I have fond memories of this game, but still I think your assessment is a bit more charitable than warranted :) Nevertheless, I loved the video.
I honestly loved it :D I do have a soft spot for Faxanadu though, which is similar in a lot of ways.
Did you honestly say that 'I never felt lost'; IN SIMONS QUEST?!?! EVERYBODY WAS LOST!
I didn't really feel lost! The world isn't that huge and only has a few branching paths.
I love playing this game :) Although I always thought that maybe this game was not properly completed due to the lack of end bosses!
HG this was a wonderful synopsis of the game! I think this is probably the most well-written review you have done to date! :)
I think having that little help to push you beyond the game's issues (poor translation/missing useful clues) is almost essential. Having just finished it myself there were a few parts where I don't think I would have ever been able to get beyond had I not had some pro-tips. I think if I had been stubborn in that respect it would have totally changed my opinion of the game. Curious to know if you mapped out the world when you played the game? It's not a big world but I oftentimes felt myself getting a tad lost.
I think it would be interesting to play the game again down the line with the translation patch to see how they changed things
Thanks so much! I worked long and hard on this one!
I did no mapping of the world here. I found it to be quite small compared to some other games I've played and didn't get lost too much. Things were pretty distinctly coloured, but it would've been hard to map. You're right. I think I like the charm of the original translation too much to play it patched, but I look forward to your stream of it if you ever do decide to go that route.