PLATFORM ADVENTURE
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest/Castlevania 2 (FDS, 1987/NES, 1988)
​Subgenre: ARPG-ish (no stats shown but you gain some health+endurance with each level - you can level up once in-between each castle so six times in total, shops - can buy weapon upgrades)/Zelda-like Platform Adventure
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Other: Dungeons of sorts in the mansions though these are pretty straightforward in structure​
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Mostly linear structure (has three different endings though and which one you get is based on time taken in in-game days: below 8=best ending, 8-15=second worst ending, 16+=worst ending), Can do at least one of the mansions out of order
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Password save
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Heal in churches (no healing items)
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No in-game maps and the world map in the manual is pretty vague
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Some ability gating via the oak stake (more like a key as you can only use one at a time and only on orbs)​, the garlic (weapon+summons NPCs that give you items in a few spots), and holy water as a weapon+to detect false floors
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Influenced by: The Legend of Zelda 1-2, Maze of Galious, Goonies II, Vampire Killer (MSX), possibly Metroid, Xanadu, Getsu Fuuma Den, Wonder Boy in Monster Land
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Influenced: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, possibly Faxanadu, Wonder Boy III, Ys III, Bionic Commando