(My first review)
Game: Solomon’s Key
Console: NES
Developer: Tecmo
Genre: Puzzler
Release: 1987 (NES), 1986 (Arcade)
VC Release: Nov. 19, 2006
Cost: 500 Wii Points
Control: Wii-mote, Classic, or GC controllers
Overview:
The game starts off well enough by placing you in a single room with a door, a key, and blocks and baddies separating them all. The objective of the game is to grab the key which unlocks the door and progress through the door before time runs out. Playing as Dana, a Link look-a-like magician, you can create and destroy blocks using a wand. This ability comes in handy when dealing with enemies.
As mentioned above, the wand (creating/destroying blocks) is helpful in warding off enemies by preventing them access to certain areas, making them fall to their doom (by removing a block they are standing on), or slowing them down. There is a wide variety of enemies with various abilities (i.e. some enemies can break through blocks so it adds to the challenge). Some enemies also respawn indefinitely from portals.
The blocks also help hide and reveal hidden bonus items that can be as simple as gems to give you points or bonuses that help you on your journey. Such treasures include vases that allow you to shoot 2 types of fireballs that destroy enemies, a scroll which increases the number of fireballs you can store, zodiac signs which give you access to hidden rooms, various timers that either increase or decrease the time remaining, and fairies which eventually earn you free guys.
Controls:
The main controls are left and right to move accordingly, down makes Dana crouch (so blocks can be created diagonally below you), up makes Dana jump (I’d prefer this be a button, but it works well when you get the hang of it), and two buttons to shoot fireballs and create/destroy blocks. Blocks can also be destroyed by jumping up below them and hitting them twice. Only the brown sandstone looking blocks can be destroyed.
Conclusion:
This game is a classic that gets little recognition. It is well known for being one of the most challenging NES games created. At 48 main rooms (I believe there are 12 hidden rooms as well), it is a large game that takes some time to beat. The puzzles start off easy enough, but ramp up in difficulty pretty fast. For its time, the graphics were well above par, and the music is very pleasant and catchy (a perfect fit to a great game!).
Score:
Sound: 9.5/10 (Great music that fits the game/mood)
Graphics: 9.0/10 (Above par graphics with a variety of enemies)
Gameplay: 8.5/10 (Would prefer a button to jump, but not a major issue)
Difficulty: 10/10 (Over 48 levels of varying difficulty, hours of gameplay)
Lasting Appeal: 10/10 (Multiple endings, tons of hidden items and secrets)
Overall: 9.5/10 (One of the best NES games made, a rare gem)
Tips: Having problems beating this game (or even getting past the first 10-20 stages), on the GDV (Game Over) screen, hit Up+A+B to continue at the stage you died. This makes beating this game much more possible.
