Simon Belmont
The vampire hunter controlled by the player. Simon seeks Dracula's remains to remove the curse afflicting him.
Documented for this version
Which controls does this version use?
Actions
Arrow LeftArrow Right | Move left or right |
|---|---|
Arrow Down | Crouch or descend stairs when applicable |
Arrow Up | Enter doors, talk to townspeople, or climb stairs when applicable |
A | Jump |
B | Attack with the equipped whip or use a selected item |
Select | Cycle through usable sub-items |
Start | Pause the game |
Combos and sequences
Arrow UpB | Use the equipped sub-weapon Applies to the NES control scheme. |
|---|
Control notes
Controls can behave differently while Simon is on stairs.
Select changes the currently selected sub-item; B uses it when applicable.
How it plays
How does Castlevania II: Simon's Quest play?
Simon travels through an overworld containing forests, waterways, mansions, cemeteries, and towns. He fights enemies with a whip, collects hearts and experience, buys equipment, and searches for Dracula's body parts and other key items.
Towns provide merchants, priests, and clues, while mansions function as dungeon areas with branching paths, hidden rooms, bosses, and collectible relics. Day and night alter enemy behavior and town access. Progress depends on finding the correct relics and using them to reach new areas; the game has multiple endings based partly on completion and time.
Plan your run
What is the best way to play Castlevania II: Simon's Quest?
Explore each town carefully and record its clues, since the translated hints can be vague or misleading.
- Upgrade the whip and armor when affordable, but keep hearts available for essential purchases.
- Stock up on garlic and holy water when possible; they are useful for revealing or affecting certain locations and enemies.
- Use laurels for temporary invulnerability and rib items to block projectiles when the situation calls for them.
- In mansions, test suspicious walls and floors, and use relics rather than assuming every apparent dead end is permanent.
Meet the cast
Who are the key characters?
Count Dracula
The defeated vampire lord whose scattered remains are central to Simon's quest.
Death
A recurring Castlevania antagonist who appears as a boss in one of the mansions.
Before you begin
What should you know before playing?
- 1
Keep a written map of the overworld and mansion entrances.
- 2
Avoid spending all hearts before checking whether a merchant or priest is nearby.
- 3
The day-night cycle can change which enemies or townspeople are present.
Community discussion
What are players saying? 0