Solomon's Key is a puzzle game developed by Tecmo in 1986 for an arcade release on custom hardware based on the Z80 chipset. It was ported to multiple systems including the Nintendo Entertainment System and Commodore 64. The PC Engine version was known as Zipang and the Game Boy version as Solomon's Club. A prequel, Solomon's Key 2, was released in 1992 for the NES.
GameplayThe player, controlling a sorcerer known only as Dana must overcome unlimited enemy spawning, challenging level designs, a countdown timer, instant death from any physical contact with enemies, and limited ways to dispatch enemies.
Dana is sent to retrieve Solomon's Key to restore the world to light from demons that were accidentally released. The object of the game is to advance through the 50 rooms of "Constellation Space" by acquiring a key to the door that leads to the next room before a timer runs out. The game incorporates elements of the platform shooter genre. Dana can run, jump, create or destroy orange blocks adjacent to him as well as create fireballs to destroy demons. The orange blocks can also be destroyed by hitting them with the character's head twice. Along the way Dana can acquire items to upgrade his firepower and extra lives, as well as items that award bonus points and unlock hidden rooms. With certain items, Dana must make, then break blocks (sometimes in a certain manner) to make these appear.
In the NES version, a "GDV" (Game Deviation Value) score also appears at the game over screen. The score uses a weighted composite of several factors (like levels completed, items found, time and points) which gives the player a good idea of how well the last game was played. The higher the GDV, the better the game.
Solomon's Key has many hidden items and secret levels that are hard to find which enhances the reward for playing. The ending slightly changes depending on which secret levels, if any, the player finds and completes.
Source: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon%27s_Key)
I keep just barely finding mentions of a Solomon's Key 3 for the Atari ST. Might be some bootleg junk. Anyone heard of it?
Took me years to figure out Fire & Ice on the NES was Solomon's Key 2.
Looks like Solomon's Key 3 is an Amstrad CPC title. Doesn't look like a actual sequel.. More like a homebrew knock off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRMGL4gsCmQ
Quote from: poundlander on May 18, 2022, 16:55:28 PMLooks like Solomon's Key 3 is an Amstrad CPC title. Doesn't look like a actual sequel.. More like a homebrew knock off.
I'm not surprised. That's a way to get games on retro systems.
Used to play a good bit of Solomon's Key on the NES. The port is quite good.
My first Solomon's Key game was on the NES so other ports feel strange to me.
Except for Solomon's Club on the gameboy. For some reason that feels like a proper sequel to me.
Makes sense since the NES version was your version. :) ...and I just fixed the type on the title! LOL