Like several of the first NES titles—such as Super
Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda—Konami
took a different approach with the sequel to its hit action
game Castlevania.
Rather than following the "go through the stage and
fight the boss" mold, Castlevania II
added open ended maps, indoor and outdoor areas, daytime
and nighttime, several towns, and an elaborate inventory.
So the game is more of an action RPG with more exploration.
However, once you get inside a castle, gameplay is closer
to the first Castlevania.
The music in this game is excellent, some of the best
you'll find on the NES. The graphics are quite good as
well, sporting a more realistic look compared to Castlevania
and Castlevania III. It may not be as
challenging as others in the series—as you essentially
have unlimited lives—but the sense of having a open
ended world to explore more than makes up for it. It feels
even more open than Castlevania: Symphony of the
Night—which was completely set in Dracula's
castle.
In short, Castlevania II is one of my
favorite Castlevania games.
2008 ben langberg, all rights reserved.