052 · SOLOMON’S KEY

January 25, 2019 · 45 min

For more NEStalgia as well as show notes from this episode visit www.NEStalgiacast.com

Show notes

Tecmo again!
Michitaka Tsuruta was the developer. His first NES game, but he’s also known for Bomb Jack (NOT mighty bomb). Apparently very popular in Italy based on one interview.
Soon after Solomon's Key went on sale, a primary school teacher came and asked us questions so they could finish the game. He wanted to show the ending of the game to his class for fun on the last day of school. But there was a level that posed them lots of problem, and hence they wanted us to give them the solution. I was happy we could show him.
At this time, Lode Runner was a huge success. In this game, the principle action was to make blocks disappear. And I thought to myself that the opposite action could be interesting. This was the original idea for Solomon's Key.
64 Levels (15 are secret and one is the final level)
48 levels, 4 per Zodiac sign
The final level is called Solomon’s room.
Should levels be unwinnable?
Is Dana too powerful or too weak?
Stand out puzzles?
Did you find any Secret Levels? You have to find the zodiac sign in that stage
What did you think of GDV? Would you rather that be present in more score based games?
How do you feel about using guides with puzzle games? Is this a puzzle game or an action game? https://www.gonintendo.com/stories/235592-solomon-s-key-dev-discusses-developing-the-game-porting-to-nes
A sequel was released in 1993 for NES called Fire ’n Ice