Overview:The sequel to the original Castlevania takes the series in a different direction, and perhaps could be considered the prototype for Symphony of the Night, the most popular Castlevania game to date.
Story: Simon Belmont may have defeated the evil Count Dracula, but before he did so, Dracula placed a curse on Simon that will eventually kill him. To break the curse, Simon must gather Dracula’s various body parts that have been hidden in mansions scattered throughout the countryside. Then, he must take the remains to Drac’s castle to rid himself of the curse.
Graphics: More or less the same as before.
Sound: Again, the music was just as good as the first game.
Gameplay: Considerably different from Castlevania 1. It’s still a side-scrolling platformer, but rather than being laid out in stages, you are left free to explore at will, similar to Metroid. There are towns to explore, and plenty of items to discover. Also notable is the fact that day and night alternate at certain time intervals. Enemies are stronger at night, but they leave behind more hearts, which are used as currency (?!) as well as the medium to use certain items. Simon also gains EXP like in most RPGs, and gains levels as a result.
Challenge: I thought this was much easier than the first game, although it still has its hard spots. One thing that makes the game easier is the fact that there are only three bosses in the whole game, and two of those three are optional. One thing to mention, though, is the fact that there are three possible endings and you must complete the game as quickly as possible to see the good one.
Final Rating: 8.5/10 A little better than the last one, mostly because you aren’t tearing your hair out as much.
