Current Events > Can we admit that Castlevania 2 was really kind of brilliant?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Namely in how the NPCs would often give false or misleading information, if not outright weirdness.

It's always been strange to me how some rando NPCs always happen to know exactly where you should go and exactly what you should do.

It also ties in with the well-worn trope of "all myths and legends, no matter how absurd, always turn out to be true" that's equally ridiculous from a realistic standpoint.

The problem with this, from a gameplay standpoint, is that it leaves you to fuck around for a very long time wondering why something isn't working and thinking it is a bug. Its too clever by a half.

It's only "brilliant" if you recognize the hints were obtuse due to shitty translation and English text not being able to convey enough information compared to kanji in the space provided.

I still think the game is kinda bullshit (and I do like it anyway quite a bit) the fact that it is a open world game on the NES is still impressive in that way.

Brilliant ideas in this game, but terrible execution.

The lying would have been a good idea if the correct advice was translated better.

The mansions would have been fun if there weren't so many false floors and walls, and if running out of lives brought you back to the entrance of the mansion. And if each mansion had an actual boss fight on par with CV1 or CV3s bosses.

The game is very close to being excellent, but instead it's a disaster that only a crazy person could beat without following a strategy guide.

I like the villagers dialogue. Some of it is pretty funny too. Never was sure about the one who said " Don't look into the death star or you'll die."

I'm having a AVGN nostalgia trip right now lol

Great OST

I played through 2 a few years ago with a guide and it was still fun for what it was. Can't imagine doing it without one though. The game does have this kind of atmosphere to it that I like.

CE_gonna_CE posted...

Great OST

Bloody Tears is my current ring tone.

https://youtu.be/H58lhgcc-nk

HylianFox posted...

Namely in how the NPCs would often give false or misleading information, if not outright weirdness.

How in the world is this brilliant

This is worse than moon logic in adventure games

From what I learned the misleading information from townspeople was often due to bad translation though some of it was funny. Like the graveyard duck or banging your head against the wall to advance. This game was totally a Nintendo Power or Counselors' hot line (I never did call one of those or even really drive up long distance calls) and strategy guide game back then. Sometimes playing a game with a guide for your first play through was just necessary it seemed. I liked gaining hearts and getting all the best weapons and being like I don't know where to go, whip more ghosts in town and get more hearts and I'll just borrow a how to win at nintendo book eventually from the library.

It was made at a time when guides and 1-800 numbers were a relatively new thing for video games. You weren't supposed to beat it without outside assistance. And that's not fun to play. Not for me.

I don't want to stop and ask myself, "Am I cheating? Am I giving up too soon? Or is this a part where I'm supposed to ask for help?"

Silence of Daylight is my personal favorite tune.

I always thought it was a good game. I was surprised at the hate it got, it never made sense to me.

I can understand it. It's unintuititive at parts. But the world, towns, tunes, atmosphere, and items make up for that. It looks great, and Simon doesn't control so stiffly either.

Flaws aside, I still loved playing Simons Quest as a kid. Second favorite game growing up right behind the original Legend of Zelda.

If you want something like it that isnt cryptic, Infernax is really good.

ZeroX2010 posted...

Flaws aside, I still loved playing Simons Quest as a kid. Second favorite game growing up right behind the original Legend of Zelda.

If you want something like it that isnt cryptic, Infernax is really good.

It looks fun

It was my least favorite Castlevania until I recently suffered through The Adventure and Kid Dracula

Novel concept but bad execution