Dracula II: Noroi no Fuuin (NES) Translated Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A fully subtitled, beginning to end playthrough of Konami's 1987 Famicom Disk System game, Dracula II: Noroi no Fuuin (ドラキュラII 呪いの封印), known as Castlevania II: Simon's Quest in the US and PAL territories.
The original Castlevania II was one of my favorite NES games growing up as a kid, and one of the biggest frustrations I felt in playing was how it subjected you to senseless "hint" text thanks to a horribly botched translation effort. The game was still a lot of fun, and the graphics and sound were amazing at the time.
This is the original version released only in Japan on floppy disk. The music is arranged differently (to make use of the extra sound channels available on the Disk System's hardware), and though I much prefer the US version's renditions of the songs, this is pretty interesting to listen to.
This video has English subtitles superimposed over all of the original Japanese text in the hope of making the dialogue a bit more intelligible.
Hope you enjoy the adventures of Mr. "Simmon" Belmont!
_____________________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
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[@ReecePlaysDrums_]

im so happy to see that someone agrees with me. ive never actually met someone else who likes this game because it doesnt explain where you have to go, but metroid doesnt either and they love that. this game is great all round, music and play

[@NintendoComplete]

Seriously. Zelda didn't either, and that was a big part of the fun. I really have a hard time understanding most of the criticisms. Well, except for the awful translation :) I mean, it's classic Konami, that's part of its charm!

[@NintendoComplete]

***** I was the same way with it, as kids we always were playing this. The subtitles were superimposed over the already recorded video.

[@alexanderstilianov]

The real problem with this game isn't really the cryptic ways to progress or the misinformation from the NPCs but the necessity to farm for hearts in order to make any progress, level up and obtain whip upgrades to make life more bearable and the fact that when you get a Game Over you lose all of your hearts. Throw in the multiple endings depending on how many in-game days it took you to remove your curse (kill Dracula) for extra pressure and you really don't wanna waste time farming those hearts. In Metroid it's fine if you take forever to complete your mission, Samus just stays in her suit and looks badass and goes about her life but in Castlevania II you are told that Simon died in the end so it was all for nothing (since Dracula just can't stay in the grave forever). It's confusing that Konami mixed up the different endings though.

[@tuxysmagicaljukebox5431]

Nobody was saying anything bad about the game until the AVGN reviewed it (his very first episode from all the way back in 2004, a year before KZbin came into view)

[@leelduttis4086]

@@NintendoComplete I don’t really understand the complaints with the game either. Potentially more confusing than the criticism of how cryptic it is is the complaint with grinding. As far as grinding in video games goes, this game was pretty damn generous. It’s much worse in Zelda, for sure

[@ryan489]

I remember playing this as a kid on the NES being totally lost with no idea what to do or what I needed. All I knew is that finding the big mansions was a good thing along with getting the items in them. I wouldn't say it was a bad game. poorly translated yes but I sill had fun with it. I've got a new appreciation for it now that I'm much older and have an idea what I'm supposed to be doing. I only knew the basics as a kid "find Dracula's parts and kill him" not that I ever made it that far. I had no idea there was a 7 day time limit for the best ending either.

[@grumblekin]

Oh man, I played this as a kid but didn't have access to the Japanese version. Now when I read the katakana text....it makes more sense! Thank you, sir!

[@NintendoComplete]

Np! :)

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

According to a Japanese player's guide for Dracula II, there were four endings. The fourth ending was actually identical to the third, but with the additional scene featuring Dracula's hand emerging from his grave. Bad Ending (15 days or longer) - Gray Sky Normal Ending (5 to 15 days) - Blue Sky Best Ending (3 to 5 days) - Red Sky less Dracula's Hand Excellent Ending (3 days or sooner) - Red Sky with Dracula's Hand

[@WeissVogel]

I was able to do all four endings but the gray ending just once. And that was using the passwords i found in the VGCE October 1990 issue (Elvira issue). I think i recall having the Red ending that the hand doesnt rise.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

@@WeissVogel Also, the ending text for the bad (gray sky) and normal (blue sky) endings were switched around. This text should go with the bad ending (Simon not present): "Although the confrontation between Simon Belmont and Dracula has concluded, Simon couldn't survive his fatal wounds. Transylvania's only hope is a young man who will triumph over evil and rid the city of Dracula's evil curse." And this text should go with the normal ending: "The battle has consummated. Now peace and serenity have been restored to Transylvania and the people are free of Dracula's curse forever. And you, Simon Belmont, will always be remembered for your bravery and courage."

[@bassistguy]

Funny how the holy water doesn't have as "glass breaking" sound in the FDS version.

[@duckmeat2011]

So this is the Famicom version of Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest, thanks for showing it. I always wanted to see it. There are stuff that is the same and some differences.

[@44bigfreeze]

I find it funny that the fan translation is better than the official translation

[@NintendoComplete]

Ragnar Ahlman Haha thanks! :)

[@HardDiskDog]

*The Seal of the Curse

[@avalonjustin]

I'm thumbing this video right away because of all the trouble the uploader went through with on-screen translations. Love you!

[@NintendoComplete]

:D glad you enjoyed it!

[@yasinfazliskender5730]

When I was a child ,Iplayed this game😢 I got emotional.Nintendo thanks for every games👏

[@zamasterhando3399]

Konami made this game

[@CSanykdotCom]

It's great to see the differences in the translation, but I also appreciate the small differences in the BGM.

[@idk8318]

English: "You now prossess Dracula's rib." Japanese but English translated: "You are now in possession of Dracula's rib."

[@Butterstix2014]

Thanks for not blocking the Japanese text so people can read it if they choose!

[@ThePreciseClimber]

3:40 Well, that was fast! :P Bloody English translation... :D

[@zamasterhando3399]

I killed Death in like 10 seconds by spamming the holy flame. This game is so easy.

[@KyuJuEX099]

I like the dripping blood effect from the title logo.

[@michaelframe5877]

Dwelling of doom is the best music

[@zamasterhando3399]

This is really cool. I've been trying to play the Japanese version, although a lot of the npcs just lie to you anyway don't they

[@PvtSIeepy]

So this game had a map screen? How do you see it in the game?

[@Peter_1986]

I haven't really played this game that much more than a few minutes of the beginning (although I _have_ finished the first "Castlevania" multiple times), but it really doesn't seem nearly as bad as AVGN seems to think it is. It clearly has a great foundation, and I am sure that it is enjoyable.

[@TrainmasterCurt]

James Rolfe is NOT someone to base ratings on, he is just as bad as the film critics.

[@irregularhunterj8014]

shame this wasn't added to its anniversary collection on the recent update

[@project_boredom2940]

Irregular Hunter J Why wasn’t it?

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

For starters, the Famicom Disk System component was never released in the US, though that didn't stop the JDM Super Mario Bros. 2 (what we call Lost Levels) from appearing on the US Virtual Console in October 2007.

[@rachelmaurer888]

Great classic and cool to see the original japanese version on the Famicom Disc system. ❤😀

[@RWL2012]

Disk, not disc. Floppies.

[@jescis0]

Yeah records(78s, 45s and 33⅓s) are discs(a short form of discus) but Disks for Floppy and Hard Disks… short form of diskette 😉😉

[@StarshipZeroLinaVT1]

No wonder the Japanese version isn't in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection cause the game is a Famicom disk game.

[@buckeygoldstar6210]

Ok, so I was too lazy to read Through all the comments but - Do you have a link to a translation patch of sorts? I would love it if you did. Thanks for sharing the video. Castlevania II is actually my favorite 'cause I can play it with minimal frustration

[@mikethecurious2489]

Love me some Castlevania

[@project_boredom2940]

Why did this version not get released with update on the Castlevania Anniversary Collection?

[@somacruz7759]

It did in an update.

[@carlosaugustodinizgarcia3526]

Maybe because of legal issues with Famicom Disk System Emulation. The original japanese version of Akumajo Dracula (Castlevania I) was not put as an extra in the collection too- just the late Catridge port from the 90's.

[@mikaelsvensson4833]

This is a fun game

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Music is better in the NES version, weird that the NES-Censors kept the crosses in the N.A version, love the use of holy water, kinda gives the game a Catholic feel, and the Holy Trinity invocation at the chapel.

[@ReecePlaysDrums_]

+NintendoComplete i didnt enven think of zelda, but yeah it is part of the charm. zelda also didnt have great translation, but thats another game i absolutely love. I also like the nigh sections. more challenge.

[@habibjafar9048]

where do i find a translation patch?

[@alexanderstilianov]

The title "Simon's Quest" sounds about as generic as "The Adventure of Link" and "Return of Samus". Nintendo were bad at naming their sequels. There was no reason for Konami to change the title in the English localisation. I understand censoring "Devil's Castle Dracula", it did come out during the dark ages of censorship but what's wrong with "Dracula II: The Seal of the Curse"? It makes more sense since there's no castle around anymore to call it Castlevania, it was destroyed in the first game. They probably wrote themselves into a corner since they ommited Dracula's name from the first game so non-Japanese audiences wouldn't know this was a sequel. Ironically the third game localised as Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. It's a prequel. "Akumajou Densetsu" ("Devil's Castle: Legend") sounds metal as fuck.

[@somacruz7759]

There's a fan remake of Simon's Quest called Seal of the Curse.

[@symphomaniac]

They could have called it Dracula's Curse and called CV3 "Castlevania Legend or something"

[@alexanderstilianov]

@@symphomaniac They went and wasted a title as cool as "Legends" on the third Game Boy Castlevania.

[@bigduke5902]

You're way, WAY overthinking this. The people who had to market this stuff to the elementary school kids they were made for needed the titles to me as simple as possible. "Quest" implies a more involving game. "Adventure" implies something more action oriented. "Return" because Metroid didn't get a sequel for a lot longer than other games did. That's how I thought of it then. Games had to be pretty clear about what they were when they were made exclusively for children in a market that, not too long ago, considered them a fad. In fact, "Dracula's Curse" being the subtitle of the third game actually confused me because it was Simon's Quest was all about a curse of Dracula's Simon had to overcome. I kind of liked it when games were titled based upon a combination of their theme and how they actually played. "The Callisto Protocol" could be anything, up to and including a SyFy original movie. Games weren't the overblown narrative experiences they are now.

[@sebastianhernandezvazquez4922]

What is the difference between this version and the overseas cartridge version?

[@jescis0]

For one thing, load times(floppy disks weren't the fastest as like an Xbox or anything recent) and a save feature as opposed to a password system… 😉😉

[@suiken3149]

The first metroidvania entry in the series

[@GothicXlightning]

CV 2 Simon's Quest will always be among my personal most beloved titles of gaming history it really is tragically underrated as hell i just uploading a series in-depth playthrough form it since just got the collection edition for PS4 trying to show all secrets, endings and also attempting a full No damage run very sure is possible here is link kzbin.info/aero/PLrEQcSN8mOzEiDaza61OVkTwhAm69z5xs good video btw, i really value your work on this epic game

[@GothicXlightning]

3:40 i still like more WHAT A HORRIBLE NIGHT TO HAVE A CURSE haha

[@jasontodd8071]

Much better than the original version!!!!!

[@RWL2012]

This is the original version.

[@JunkolaDeluxe]

Is this played on an emulator or real fds system?

[@NintendoComplete]

It was emulated. I don't have a disk system.

[@Fender178]

To those who are saying the Japanese version of the CV2 music is better than the Western release is 100% wrong because the FDS version lacks percussion instruments and on top of that the music was way too tinny vs the Western release. Now if you are talking about the Japanese version of CV3 now I 100% agree with you because the music in the Japanese version of CV3 is excellent.

[@Charly9631e]

There is no right or wrong in opinion.

[@nesking3115]

“With in these walls “actually sounds better in the Nes version.

[@manzithegamer2563]

And then Super Castlevania IV is set one year after this game of a masterpiece.

[@jescis0]

Interestingly enough, the title of "Super Castlevania IV" in Japan was Akumajō Dracula, the same title as the OG Famicom Disk System version had…

[@TheBanishedWind]

@@jescis0 Because Super Castlevania 4 is just a reimagining of the original game, like Chronicles after it. All three games tell the same story of Simon going alone to fight Dracula.

[@jescis0]

@@TheBanishedWind so going by what the original commentor said how can it be set AFTER the events of "Dracula II Noroi No Fūunn" or better known as "Castlevania II Simon's Quest"?? That just doesn't add up in logic as I can tell…

[@TheBanishedWind]

@@jescis0 It isn't. It's set seven years before Simon's Quest, as with Chronicles and the OG game.

[@jescis0]

@@TheBanishedWind so you agree with me that the original commentor was in error in what they said then??

[@mypkamax]

Was the fact that all the text was in katakana the reason the clues are so cryptic in the official translation?

[@NintendoComplete]

Not really. I think they just did that because they didn't want to spend the memory on fonts for several sets of characters. Everything is spelled phonetically, but the meaning is still clear in Japanese, even using just katakana. Elementary school aged kids would be able to read this without any trouble, too.

[@mypkamax]

@@NintendoComplete And about the nonsensical babble from the overseas version? They didn't even change the text speed to accommodate the english symbols.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@mypkamax I don't think the people that translated it actually knew English. They probably had a dictionary and did it word by word.

[@emotionz3]

Amazing how much worse the music and audio in general is with an extra channel at their disposal.

[@ReecePlaysDrums_]

castlevania 2 is my favourite castlevania game. the western releases had way better music!

[@NintendoComplete]

I agree 100% with you on both points. I think it's easily one of the best games on the NES

[@SamuraiTacos1]

yep fami com disk system extra channel of sound compared to the nes four channels of sound

[@NintendoComplete]

SamuraiTacos Yeah, better sound hardware, yet it sounds nowhere near as awesome as the base NES for the US version. Apparently they upgraded the sound for the US version because the cartridge gave them more space to use for samples and more complex arrangements.

[@Tenchigumi]

Makes you wonder if that's the reason they made the Famicom version of Castlevania III sound so much better than the Western releases. Redemption!

[@pirate_cove_man]

Is it weird that I prefer the cartridge version's music? Like, frankly, I don't care if this music is higher quality, it's way too soft for this game's tone compared to the sharp slaps of the cartridge version

[@NintendoComplete]

I prefer the cartridge one too.

[@pirate_cove_man]

@@NintendoComplete the FDS' music capabilities just didn't really fit with the games

[@FidFighter]

Japanese version hands down best ost arrangement

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Different sound engine in the FDS

[@lionocyborg6030]

Can we get a hack for the FDS version that replaces the text with the translations here? It will also need the faster scrolling of the enhanced patch for the cartridge version and/or gameplay tweaks. I ask because I want the translation but the cartridge version is shit, and that's also considering the worse load times of the floppy version.

[@NintendoComplete]

What's worse about the cart version? Imo the soundtrack alone makes it worth playing the cart version over the disk one

[@lionocyborg6030]

@@NintendoComplete The sound and music on the cartridge sucks, the official english translation is terrible, they censored the blood on the title screen, the english text on cart is really chunky compared some of the english and all the katakana on FDS, and there's no saving. You need to use a password system instead (a very long one at that) and _I. HATE. FUCKING. PASSWORD SYSTEMS. IN. VIDEOGAMES._ They were a shit idea for 2D games on Famicom, Super Famicom, Mega Drive etc. back then and they're a shit idea now on consoles like the Game Boy Advance, especially when we have the hardware for proper backing storage and even then, some of the best Famicom cartridge games like Mother and even the inferior version of Zelda 1 had battery back up so you could still use a real savegame feature.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@lionocyborg6030 The sound sucks? :( I love it. The cartridge was much larger than the disk, so they upgraded it pretty heavily with the samples when they moved it to cart. I like the disk music, but I think the cart sounds ways better. And passwords weren't a huge deal back then. At least, not to me as a kid. And nowadays you can just save state around them. I do have a big problem with the load times on the disk though... they slow the game's pace down horribly. Oh well, I guess like always, different strokes for different folks.

[@lionocyborg6030]

@@NintendoComplete I agree with that. You can enjoy the cartridge if you like, but it isn't my cup of tea. I just want the Retranslation mod for the cartridge to have a version for the Floppy Disk one as well as I prefer that version but want the translation, and trying to patch it with the current version of the hack anyway just bricks the rom. Same when I tried to apply the Tomato translation for Mother 1 to a copy of the original Mother 1 Classic Rom and not a rom based on the Earthbound 0 version.

[@lionocyborg6030]

@shadowshinobi06 No it really doesn't and you are stupid for thinking that. There's a reason the FDS had an improved sound system to begin with, so the FC music would not sound like crap.

[@ThePreciseClimber]

Perhaps you know what THIS sign (kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJC0gZadgNuEgrcm3s) in Rondo of Blood says?

[@NintendoComplete]

It says "orujiba no machi" - town of Aljiba.

[@sergedeleon9592]

The best is famicom disc version because original story never been distorted

[@RWL2012]

Disk, not disc. Floppies

[@sergedeleon9592]

I see

[@octoman511]

whats with the english texts? where japanese kids required to learn english as well in school?

[@franke4336]

The soundtrack is better than the out-of-Japan editions

[@RWL2012]

The Famicom can input cartridge expansion audio whereas the NES can't.

[@johneygd]

This version is better then what we got, but despite the better music, it really get's old and this game still grinds on my nerves after a while, because you have to walk back & forth to collect enought hearth's to buy new items, but if you getting game over, you have to recollect all hearth's again,likely,you stay were you left off,but still, you have to walk from point B to point A and then to point C etc,,, and so on,it get's boring, also hearing the same few tunes over and over again really getting old quickly,,, Now back then i tout i liked it,also because i simply didn't know that it became part of the castlevania series untill i played the 1st one later on, But comparing it with the first and 3th one, it get's very repetitive,phew. That doesn't mean it's the worst game no, it definitely pushed the famicom disk system to it's ultimate limit.

[@mariostar13]

8:08 - It's daytime. Why 01? It's supposed to be 13:07! Also, I couldn't read the white text because it's Katakana.

[@NintendoComplete]

The yellow text is the translation of the katakana next to it. As for the time, I think this game takes place in the 16th or 17th century? I don't think a global time system was established until the late 19th/early 20th century... ;) I think that's time lapsed, anyway, and not a clock for measuring the local time.

[@JohnnyOTGS]

@@NintendoComplete The game takes place in 1698 (7 years after the first game).

[@Doomzdayxx]

Wow, the NES music is SO much better lol

[@mrnelman3451]

You're wrong

[@carlosaugustodinizgarcia3526]

Only the Bloody tears track is better in the NES version.

[@patrickhawthorneLS]

I wqs expecting the music to be better ... its actually worse,i dont think the disk system was really very useful or good

[@Davethe3rd]

Kono GEEMU ga "Shitload of Fuck" da.

[@NintendoComplete]

Chigau yo

[@Peter_1986]

AVGN exaggerates his opinions about games for comedic effect. He does _not_ hate this game, he actually feels a lot of nostalgia for it and has quite fond memories of it.

[@aiden79797]

This time Japan got the inferior version, instead western.

[@rocketcon]

In which way exactly was it "inferior'? The Japanese music is much better, the English translation was awful, and the day to night loading was made much longer in the NES game.

[@Peter_1986]

@@vladimir9248 "W A I T"

[@carlosaugustodinizgarcia3526]

Disagree.The japanese version had better soundtrack (ironic,the only exception was the Bloody tears track),soundeffects and you could save your progression. But it is not translated to english and there were lot a loading times between screens. A shame Konami lost the source code after the infamous Kobe earthquake.Imagine a remastered port with new english translation,normal saving (no save state cheat) and option to use both soundtracks.