Konami's Famicom Disk System sequel. Simon Belmont searching for Dracula's body parts — an RPG detour in the series.
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest was developed and published by Konami for Famicom Disk System in August 1987 — the sequel to Castlevania, departing from the original's linear level design to include open-world town exploration, NPCs, and a day-night cycle that changed enemy behaviors. Simon collected Dracula's body parts scattered across the world to break a curse. The game introduced RPG elements to the Castlevania series — experience points, leveling, and equipment — which would later return in later Castlevania titles. Simon's Quest sold approximately 1.5 million copies across all formats.
About this game
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, released on the Famicom Disk System in August 1987, broke sharply from the original Castlevania's linear stage structure. Simon Belmont now explores an open interconnected world, talks with villagers, buys equipment, and collects Dracula's body parts to break a curse. The game introduced a day/night cycle — at dusk, enemies grow stronger and certain pathways are blocked — an innovative mechanic for 1987 home console gaming.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Castlevania II is cited alongside Metroid as a foundational game in what would later be called the 'Metroidvania' genre — non-linear open maps, RPG-light stat progression, and interconnected environments that reward exploration. The composer Kenichi Matsubara's 'Bloody Tears,' the daytime overworld theme, became one of the most frequently reused tracks in the entire franchise, appearing in numerous sequels and compilations across 35+ years.
Tricks & Tales
The original Famicom Disk System version and the North American NES cartridge version differ in several ways: the FDS version has different password systems, some text variations, and a slightly different ending. The North American version's translation included several cryptically worded clues from villagers — 'What a horrible night to have a curse,' and the famous 'Carmilla's secret is in the Graveyard Duck' — that confused players for years and became part of gaming legend.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Original Japan release was on Famicom Disk System. The North American NES release was on cartridge in 1988. The FDS format itself is Japan-exclusive hardware.
Maintenance Tips
The drive belt is the most critical maintenance item. The original rubber belt (approximately 31mm diameter) stretches and eventually fails after decades of storage, preventing the drive from reading disks. Replacement belts are widely available from retro hardware suppliers and require no special tools -- a documented procedure exists in multiple collector guides. After belt replacement, the drive may need alignment, which is a more involved process. The RAM adapter board contains electrolytic capacitors that should be recapped if the unit is used regularly -- leaking capacitors can damage the PCB and corrupt disk reads. Clean the battery compartment with vinegar and a cotton swab if corrosion is present. FDS disks should be stored in their cases away from magnetic sources.
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Castlevania II: Simon's Quest copies regularly.
What hardware do I need to play a Famicom Disk System game?
An FDS game requires three components: a Famicom console, the RAM Adapter (which plugs into the cartridge slot), and the Disk Drive unit (connected to the RAM Adapter). The drive requires its own power supply (six C-cell batteries or an AC adapter). Without both the RAM Adapter and disk drive, FDS disks cannot be played. The Famicom Disk System was sold exclusively in Japan and was never released elsewhere.
Are Famicom Disk System disks and drives still reliable after 35+ years?
Disk reliability varies — the magnetic media can degrade over time. More commonly, the rubber drive belt inside the FDS disk unit degrades with age, causing read errors even on undamaged disks. Belt replacement is the most common and important FDS maintenance repair. If you plan to use FDS games, have the drive belt inspected before use. A working drive with a fresh belt can read original disks reliably.
How does saving work on Famicom Disk System games?
FDS games save directly back to the floppy disk itself — there is no internal battery backup. Data is written to the disk after the save command is given, so the disk can be overwritten. To protect original game data, cover the write-enable notch with tape to make the disk read-only. Many collectors keep one play copy and one archival copy for important titles. Never power off the Famicom during a disk write operation.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
A short checklist for buying a used Famicom Disk System disk wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Inspect the disk and its shell
Disk System media is fragile — the magnetic disk can wear, and saves are written back onto the disk itself.
Ask whether it was tested and reads reliably; look for cracks or a warped shell in photos.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is Japanese Famicom Disk System media and requires a Famicom with a working Disk System drive.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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Mind the drive belt on the console side
Disk System drives commonly need a replacement belt to read reliably — this is a console matter, not the disk.
If reading is unreliable, the console's belt is the usual culprit, not the game.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
See what it's selling for on eBay →Unexpected Discoveries
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