Castlevania II: Simon's Quest

After the straightforward action of the first installment came Simon Belmont's second adventure, which dared to take an entirely different path. Castlevania II: Simon's Quest abandoned the linear room-to-room progression and instead thrust the player into an open world where you have to decide for yourself where to head next. It was a bold move that made this one of the most hotly debated entries in the entire series.

Simon's Quest brought new elements into the familiar world of vampires, elements that were fairly unusual for their time. You wander an interconnected landscape, collect items and relics, talk to villagers, and gradually piece together the path to the final goal. The game also distinguishes between day and night, and with the arrival of darkness the enemies grow stronger and the villages turn into dangerous places. This transformation lent the world both atmosphere and a sense of danger.

Compared to the first installment, then, it marks a significant shift toward exploration and gradual character development, toward the very elements we now associate with the metroidvania genre. In the eight-bit era it was an ambitious experiment that tried to expand the boundaries of what an action platformer could offer. It did not always come off without controversy, for the game is also known for its difficulty and at times cryptic progression.

It is precisely this difficulty and the need to figure a great deal out for yourself that make this a title that divides players. Some see in it a frustrating labyrinth, while others find a fascinating adventure full of secrets and atmosphere. Either way, Simon's Quest does not try to be an easy sequel, but a standalone vision that goes beyond the tried-and-true formula.

Today Castlevania II is regarded as an important milestone in the evolution of the series and of the whole genre. It showed the direction Castlevania would later take in its exploration-based installments, and it became the subject of endless fan debates. For anyone who wants to know the history of this legendary franchise, it is an unavoidable and fascinating stop.

Why play: For its bold experiment with an open world and a day-and-night cycle that foreshadowed the later metroidvania direction of the Castlevania series.