Milon's Secret Castle (USA)

In Milon's Secret Castle, players take on the role of Milon, a young boy with the ability to shoot bubbles, tasked with exploring the vast Ghadius Castle to rescue Princess Elsie. The game's core gameplay focuses on adventure and finding hidden items, blended with platforming action.

Milon begins his journey with basic abilities: jumping and shooting bubbles. Bubbles serve as Milon's primary weapon, used to defeat enemies or reveal hidden blocks and secret items. Enemies in the game, when defeated, sometimes drop musical notes, which act as currency. Players can use these notes to purchase useful items from shops hidden throughout the castle. These shops are often concealed by special blocks, requiring players to shoot bubbles at the correct locations to reveal them.

The castle is divided into numerous distinct areas and rooms, each holding its own secrets. A defining characteristic of Milon's Secret Castle is its heavy reliance on finding hidden items. Many crucial items for progression, such as armor, spring boots (for higher jumps), wings (for slower falls), or candles (to reveal the location of other hidden items), are not immediately visible and require players to explore thoroughly, shooting bubbles into every nook and cranny. Failing to find a necessary item can lead to players getting stuck.

Each major area within the castle typically culminates in a boss battle. To defeat these bosses, Milon often needs specific items or upgrades. The game's difficulty is known to be quite high, partly due to the obscure nature of the items and the lack of a clear map from the outset. Players must either map the castle themselves or memorize pathways. The ultimate goal is to defeat Ghadius and rescue the princess.