Solomon’s Key 2 (NES) Review

From the introductory cut-scene, where an evil wizard appears and creates flame on Coolmint Island, to the way the game looks in general, it's pretty clear that Solomon's Key 2 is not really the continuation of Solomon's Key. The latter had some occult undertones, with darker shades of colours, monsters that looked like monsters despite still being somewhat cutesy, and had an OST that leaned more towards the mysterious and/or menacing. This, on the other hand, is bright and colourful, whether you play a stage from the 'Volcano Land,' or the 'Castle Land,' the monsters stick their tongues out mischievously, the tunes that bop along the action are cheerful (or simply forgettable), and when Dana gets burned from a flame, he acts like a cartoonish character would.

Family friendly. That's what this screams, evident at how everything that happens here is supposed to be narrated by an old lady to her grandchildren, as if it's all a fairytale. It's not exactly a visual treat, though, as no matter the level there aren't any major differences. On the other hand, Dana's animation is surprisingly smooth, with far more frames than what was the norm with most 8-bit titles. Visuals set aside, however, it should be noted that Solomon's Key 2 is also different in gameplay terms to the original.

Sure, the protagonist is once again Dana, and he still uses his wand to destroy/create blocks, but his two adventures are actually vastly different. For starters, Solomon's Key was a blend of action and puzzle solving. You had to think, but you also had to act, and act quickly. This is much simpler, with the action part thrown out of the window. Unlimited time, and enemies that don't chase you around means it's all about forming a plan and thinking how to make those ice cubes fall on the flames and extinguish flames. Simple doesn't necessarily mean that this is a piece of cake, though.

It goes so easy on you in the beginning, that it's almost insulting, but each subsequent stage is harder than the one before it, with the final "chapters" having levels that require thoroughly pre-planning your moves, as levels increase in complexity, adding more obstacles and stuff that can harm Dana. To be perfectly honest, however, it can get tiring after a while, as no level is really that memorable. It's quantity over quality here - a game that's fun, but also one that's hard to return to after reaching the end. It's a nice puzzler that would fit right in with a handheld system, as it's more enjoyable in very short bursts. The level editor - because of course it has a level editor - can add a few more gameplay hours, but most will soon leave this to collect dust, and return once more to the much "meatier" Solomon's Key.