Castlevania 2 - Simon's Quest

Castlevania 2 - Simon's Quest is a classic action-adventure game for the NES, continuing Simon Belmont's story after his defeat of Dracula. However, Simon has been afflicted with a deadly curse and must collect Dracula's body parts to resurrect him, then defeat him once more to break the curse.

The biggest departure from the first installment is the integration of more role-playing game (RPG) elements. Players control Simon as he navigates a larger, more open world, featuring towns, mansions, forests, and swamps. Simon can gain experience by defeating monsters to level up, which increases his strength and defensive capabilities. In-game currency is used to purchase various sub-weapons, defensive equipment like armor, and other useful items from merchants in towns.

The day-night cycle is a unique and crucial mechanic. During the day, towns are safer, monsters are weaker, and villagers are friendly. But when night falls, monsters become stronger and more dangerous, and villagers might turn into zombies or offer cryptic hints. This cycle directly impacts gameplay and player strategy.

The primary objective is to locate five of Dracula's body parts: the Rib, Heart, Eyeball, Nail, and Ring. Each part is hidden in hard-to-reach locations or guarded by bosses. Players need to explore, solve puzzles (sometimes quite obscure), and interact with NPCs to find clues. Simon still wields his legendary "Vampire Killer" whip along with familiar sub-weapons like holy water, daggers, and axes. The game is renowned for its high difficulty and sometimes confusing hints from NPCs, requiring players to be patient and thoroughly explore.