Poll of the Day > GameTok with Lok: One of my favourite puzzle games is CastleQuest

(+) Yeah! (+)

CastleQuest is an NES version of the Japanese NES game CastleExcellent

However, this is actually an error in Japan. CastleQuest is actually based on puzzles and mechanics taken from two other games. The original CastleExcellent on the MSX, as well as The Castle and the Princess on the FM-7.

Indeed, CastleQuest is like an HD remake combining elements of both games PLUS the added feature of being able to use a knife.

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In all 3 games the goal is to traverse up to 100 rooms (more rigid in the earlier games) by solving puzzles and collecting Keys of Colour to open Doors of Colour. There are also score related treasures that do nothing.

In the original The Castle and the Princess there are only 3 Red Keys and 3 Red Doors in the whole game, with the main objective being to use them all. CastleExcellent differed by sealing individual puzzle blocks with a specific key, such as Green for the pre-sewer puzzles.

CastleQuest has a more open design. If you know exactly the keys you need you can speedrun the game in about 18 minutes, solving only one and a half of the major puzzles. However, the open design promotes a lot of exploration and trial and error... with a strong chance of making the game unwinnable.
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Where the fairies were more important in the first two games, each bearing a single red key for the rare red door; in CastleQuest they do the same, but there are also red keys in the field and a few more red doors. This changes the risk/reward planning as they are the most important key of colour.
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I remember being SO disappointed when I got castlequest.

I thought it was this other game - I can't recall what the actual game was - but it was turn based strategy; kind of like chess with units. I saw it in a nintendo power magazine, and just always remembered it as Castlequest.

I liked castlequest but it's really hard. Was able to win it way back in the day though it took a lot of wasted keys to get there.
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I can hear the music in my head when I think of the game

It isn't one of my favorites, but I rented it as a kid and have an odd nostalgia for it. It is pretty fun if not a bit unforgiving

As an aside: Why was the Double Dragon "sequel" called Double Dragon 4 when we already had a SNES Double Dragon 4 AND 5
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Enemy design was slightly different between these games:

In the originals (The Castle and the Princess, and CastleExcellent) you didn't have a knife to fight them, they were all killed by crushing (either with a block or elevator). They all mostly followed the same rules with few exceptions. The cat enemy didn't jump, it only followed off ledges if you were close enough. Also enemies could not board elevators or blocks of equal elevation except for the Witch enemy (and the cat if chasing). Also, the fireball enemy in the originals were much MUCH faster, so much so that navigation of the rooms they're in is impossible if you go for it willy-nilly... you had to plan your movements so they'd get snagged on the terrain.

In CastleQuest most enemies can be stabbed with the knife, so here's some changes they made. The knight enemy can shoot arrows, the bishop enemy cannot be stabbed, the cat enemy also jumps when you jump, the witch enemy can summon new enemies. Also, all enemies could board elevators and blocks of equal elevations as they please. The fireball enemy still chases, but it is significantly slower than in the originals... puzzles involving the fireballs are less about clever room navigation, but rather about finding the way to kill the fireball.

http://heronesekingdom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Chev-Rowlet.png
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kukukupo posted...

I thought it was this other game - I can't recall what the actual game was - but it was turn based strategy; kind of like chess with units.

@kukukupo
Sounds like Archon. Here's the game board:
https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/screens/c/7/4/gfs_51631_2_1.jpg
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Blaqthourne posted...

kukukupo posted...

I thought it was this other game - I can't recall what the actual game was - but it was turn based strategy; kind of like chess with units.

@kukukupo
Sounds like Archon. Here's the game board:
https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/screens/c/7/4/gfs_51631_2_1.jpg

I'm familiar with Archon. That isn't it.

This was turn-based, not action.

kukukupo posted...

Blaqthourne posted...

kukukupo posted...

I thought it was this other game - I can't recall what the actual game was - but it was turn based strategy; kind of like chess with units.

@kukukupo
Sounds like Archon. Here's the game board:
https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/screens/c/7/4/gfs_51631_2_1.jpg

I'm familiar with Archon. That isn't it.

This was turn-based, not action.

It actually WAS Castle Quest:
https://www.romhacking.net/translations/1500/

Supposed to be released in the us as Triumph! - but never made it.