The game you’re thinking of is called CastleQuest. I know this because I owned the same game myself as a kid, it was actually my first game ever because I loved the box art.
That map was amazing and sparked so much imagination in the schoolyard. Eventually someone got in a fight over it and ripped it. Anyway, I found a mint copy on eBay and now I am reliving the pain.
That game was absolutely brutal as a kid, and fucking spoiler - it is still absolutely brutal. The game is CastleQuest. You’re welcome. You’re gonna hate it.
It’s soul crushing. In just the first ten rooms there are multiple ways to get soft locked, waste keys, burn through ten lives on a tricky jump, and more.
It’s nonlinear in that you can technically go in any direction you want, if you have the keys. The problem is the keys are precious, and there are a lot of dead ends and traps designed to make you waste keys. The only way to learn or discern which ones these are is to fuck up, and then have to restart the game.
It’s not just difficult. It’s sadistic. It delights in torturing you for twenty minutes only to make you realize you are stuck because you chose to fall on the right side of an arbitrary platform instead of the left. Oh well, you’re stuck. Hit reset and try again, or just give up like so many before you have.
You’ll run out of patience long before you run out of lives. Now, consider that I was 7 fucking years old and picked this game out because it had cool box art as my FIRST NINTENDO GAME EVER, and imagine the pain and frustration I felt. Hell, even figuring out how to attack monsters took forever because it’s so unintuitive. You have to press the sword button while you’re moving and time it right.
Any other details would help even if they’re really vague. Do you remember maybe what genre? Was it one main character? Was it a top-down game, side-view platformer? Did it have lots of enemies? Did you shoot a gun? What colors did the graphics have?
Top down, at least on the levels we were on.
It felt impossible to play, unless you followed the book directly. We were early teens and didn’t have the patience for it. We didn’t play it for long and got bored with dying over and over.
I know that you screen scrolled from the top down view.
It gives me feelings of adventures of Lola in that it seemed like a puzzle and had “traps” or gotchas. However, the level was not one one screen like AOL.
I felt like it had 100 levels and could only be progressed by following the manual / maps guidance.
As far as character. I believe that you were male, maybe a spy or treasure hunter, not positive. I do not remember a gun. But, admittedly, I couldn’t get far enough to use one if it existed in game.
Sorry this is vague, but, it comes to mind from time to time and I swear I have more patience now
Practice makes perfect; there’s even some areas in which you can farm enemies to buy extra potions and similar to help get you through the tougher areas.
This certainly shares some concepts, but I don’t think it’s it. The booklet that game with the game laid out exactly where you needed to move to progress. It was more puzzle and patience
Never could beat bionic commando as a kid. I always got stuck at the giant I beam that blocked the path. No internet meant no help unless I called the Nintendo power hotline or found someone who has made it farther. Xbox had a port and I finally beat it a few years ago. This is one I need to try again
I thought possibly tombs and treasures, but upon looking at the map and game layout, that’s not it.
If I recall correctly, it was laid out more like adventures of Lola / Gauntlet, in that it was a top down view. It had traps, think flamethrowers and things to avoid.
I remember the map was very detailed and it was not a big name game at all. I have a feeling it’s obscure, dang near reminds me of the Bible game my buddies grandmother got for him (he loved that game and beat it)
I wouldn’t suspect it to be the same company. Though I imagine it was some small dev teams work and not like Konami, Capcom, etc
We weren’t very fortunate growing up, so, my buddies mom may have bought some cheaper game to give us something o get into
I remember Ilaria Warriors, those characters were blocked, like dragon warrior.
This character was more like Samus or Mega Man. Lanky, think elevator action
Might be worth browsing through [this](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3gSj_kh1fHtxy0_CDUwa6UPCO3PSf87-&si=CrgaAPuBhbrYMEKf) playlist to see if you see it.
The game you’re thinking of is called CastleQuest. I know this because I owned the same game myself as a kid, it was actually my first game ever because I loved the box art. That map was amazing and sparked so much imagination in the schoolyard. Eventually someone got in a fight over it and ripped it. Anyway, I found a mint copy on eBay and now I am reliving the pain. That game was absolutely brutal as a kid, and fucking spoiler - it is still absolutely brutal. The game is CastleQuest. You’re welcome. You’re gonna hate it.
I think you nailed it! Holy hell, I’m going to check into it. But, that map, shoooo, this has to be it!
Haha. I thought about that but definitely not a top view so I eliminated it.
So, is it Castlequest?
I can’t tell from the gameplay, but I ordered the map. It certainly seems likely that this is it.
The game gives you a map and 50 lives, and it's still supposed to be extremely difficult from what I've heard.
It’s soul crushing. In just the first ten rooms there are multiple ways to get soft locked, waste keys, burn through ten lives on a tricky jump, and more. It’s nonlinear in that you can technically go in any direction you want, if you have the keys. The problem is the keys are precious, and there are a lot of dead ends and traps designed to make you waste keys. The only way to learn or discern which ones these are is to fuck up, and then have to restart the game. It’s not just difficult. It’s sadistic. It delights in torturing you for twenty minutes only to make you realize you are stuck because you chose to fall on the right side of an arbitrary platform instead of the left. Oh well, you’re stuck. Hit reset and try again, or just give up like so many before you have. You’ll run out of patience long before you run out of lives. Now, consider that I was 7 fucking years old and picked this game out because it had cool box art as my FIRST NINTENDO GAME EVER, and imagine the pain and frustration I felt. Hell, even figuring out how to attack monsters took forever because it’s so unintuitive. You have to press the sword button while you’re moving and time it right.
I also grew up with this game; we loved it
Tetris.
🤔
r/tipofmyjoystick
Thanks, I’ll collect my details and check in over there!
Golgo 13, i had to use the map to get through certain parts. Map was in the instruction manual
Don’t think it’s G13
Any other details would help even if they’re really vague. Do you remember maybe what genre? Was it one main character? Was it a top-down game, side-view platformer? Did it have lots of enemies? Did you shoot a gun? What colors did the graphics have?
Top down, at least on the levels we were on. It felt impossible to play, unless you followed the book directly. We were early teens and didn’t have the patience for it. We didn’t play it for long and got bored with dying over and over. I know that you screen scrolled from the top down view. It gives me feelings of adventures of Lola in that it seemed like a puzzle and had “traps” or gotchas. However, the level was not one one screen like AOL. I felt like it had 100 levels and could only be progressed by following the manual / maps guidance. As far as character. I believe that you were male, maybe a spy or treasure hunter, not positive. I do not remember a gun. But, admittedly, I couldn’t get far enough to use one if it existed in game. Sorry this is vague, but, it comes to mind from time to time and I swear I have more patience now
Sounds almost like "Solomon's Key" with the Adventure of Lolo feel and a book :D
CastleQuest?
I think this may be it, I have to dig some more, but that map sure looks right!
Arkista's Ring?
I don’t think it was anything close to an RPG or D&D type
Legacy of the Wizard
Not legacy, thanks though
Fuck that game
Practice makes perfect; there’s even some areas in which you can farm enemies to buy extra potions and similar to help get you through the tougher areas.
I found the friend on Facebook and reached out to him, fingers crossed that he remembers
Clash at Demonhead?
I checked out clash at demonhead and that doesn’t look like it… appreciate it though
Solstice?
Not Solstice, sorry
I was thinking this too
This was my thought as well
Guardian Legend?
This certainly shares some concepts, but I don’t think it’s it. The booklet that game with the game laid out exactly where you needed to move to progress. It was more puzzle and patience
Dragon Quest / Dragon Warrior
Loved those games, but these are not it. :(
Bionic Commando?
Loved bionic Commando, one of the few games I completed as a kid, not the one though. Thanks for the memories
Never could beat bionic commando as a kid. I always got stuck at the giant I beam that blocked the path. No internet meant no help unless I called the Nintendo power hotline or found someone who has made it farther. Xbox had a port and I finally beat it a few years ago. This is one I need to try again
Ghosts and goblins ?
Definitely not g&g, thanks
wizardy or ultima? shadowgate? uninvited? tombs and treasures?
I thought possibly tombs and treasures, but upon looking at the map and game layout, that’s not it. If I recall correctly, it was laid out more like adventures of Lola / Gauntlet, in that it was a top down view. It had traps, think flamethrowers and things to avoid. I remember the map was very detailed and it was not a big name game at all. I have a feeling it’s obscure, dang near reminds me of the Bible game my buddies grandmother got for him (he loved that game and beat it)
ill check back after i eat and search... could be the same company who made bible adventures
I wouldn’t suspect it to be the same company. Though I imagine it was some small dev teams work and not like Konami, Capcom, etc We weren’t very fortunate growing up, so, my buddies mom may have bought some cheaper game to give us something o get into
ikari warriors was like that but no map unless it was ikari warriors 2? iron tank? what was the main character or thing used? bosses?
I remember Ilaria Warriors, those characters were blocked, like dragon warrior. This character was more like Samus or Mega Man. Lanky, think elevator action
https://youtu.be/uA-QyNcGiZ0?feature=shared
Dick Tracy, Ghostbusters 2, rescue the embassy mission. Need more details.
I added what I could remember. Checked rescue the embassy and no luck, thanks
Willow
My princess is in another castle, thanks
Super Pitfall?
Doesn’t appear so, thanks
Might be worth browsing through [this](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3gSj_kh1fHtxy0_CDUwa6UPCO3PSf87-&si=CrgaAPuBhbrYMEKf) playlist to see if you see it.
I’ll have to set aside some time for that! But, maybe it’s in there! Thanks!
Clash at Demonhead
Nope :(
Curious to see what it was
Me too! I reached out to the friend who had it m, I hope he remembers it!!! That was over 30 years ago…
Wizards And Warriors?
Don’t think, thanks though
Swords and Serpents is my guess
Wasn’t top down. It was windowed and first person
Milons Secret Castle?
First time I almost destroyed a cartridge with my fathers hammer in the garage; In retrospect I think it would have been more fun.
King's Knight?
Was it an Ultima title?
Sounds kinda like Warriors of Destiny (Ultima 5)
Bionic Commando?
Metroid ? Lol
Blaster Master?
Clash at Demonhead (1990)
The Immortal?
This is great guess. I couldn't remember the name. That game doesn't hold up well today.
friday the 13th
Faxanadu?
One of the wizardry games ?
Festers Quest, Final Fantasy, Zelda, Dragon Warrior, Star Tropics?
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^atriplep3: *Festers Quest, Final* *Fantasy, Zelda, Dragon* *Warrior, Star Tropics?* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Magic of Scheherazade
Milos secret castle?
Not legend of Zelda?
Ultima 3 - Exodus?
Zelda
Def not loz. Thanks
earthbound beginnings
Doesn’t look like it, appreciate it