I was not much of a handheld gamer growing up. Money was tight and the choice between buying more games for the console I owned and a handheld was an easy one. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t have serious FOMO. Gargoyle’s Quest was one of the Gameboy titles I was insanely jealous of. Creating a game based around one of the most hated enemies in the Ghosts n’ Goblins series was a bold choice but a wise one as the game was excellent. Its sequel would hit the NES in its twilight years and is just as good, if a bit derivative. Don’t let that stop you from playing this hidden gem though.
Although it bears a strong resemblance to its predecessor Gargoyle’s Quest 2 is a prequel. Firebrand is a young demon in training in the village of Etruria. While he is away completing his trial a black light engulfs the demon world, causing havoc. As the last remaining warrior it is up to Firebrand to discover the mystery of the black light and save the demon world in the process.
In terms of structure Gargoyle’s Quest 2 is near identical to the Gameboy game. The game has the structure of an RPG, with an overworld, towns, and NPCs to speak to. Dungeons, caves and such are done via side scrolling action levels. While they are present most of its RPG trappings are slight. Vials (currency) are only used to buy extra lives. Your stats such as wing strength, max health and leaping ability are increased at set points. It is just enough to give the game “depth” while not intruding on the action aspect. One aspect that was thankfully cut was the random battles. I get what they were going for but the encounter rate was high and they killed the pace. There are still demons on the overworld that lead to short encounters but that is it.
Even though I called the RPG elements slight they do affect the game in a big way. The world is a decent size and isn’t entirely linear. While you do have the freedom to tackle certain objectives in any order most areas are gated by your limited abilities. Most often you’ll need to wait until you can jump higher and glide further to visit certain areas. While I would have liked more uses for vials or even towns I realize this isn’t that kind of game.
Even though it has its RPG elements Gargoyle’s Quest 2 is still primarily an action game. Firebrand starts out limited in his abilities, with a weak jump and only able to glide a few meters. With each boss or new area visited your powers expand. Your base abilities are increased and you earn new powers. The magic buster can break blocks while the magic tornado doubles as a platform and weapon. New powers are doled out up until the game’s conclusion and the level design evolves to match.
The level design is the area that has shown the biggest improvement over the Gameboy game. One of the biggest issues with that game was the small viewing distance. Now that it isn’t an issue the platforming arrangements are more elaborate. I like that Gargoyle’s Quest has its own “feel” separate from Ghouls N’ Ghosts with its heavy emphasis on platforming. Each new ability gives you options to tackle some of the more elaborately designed segments like the House of Mirrors. Even when you have the full suite of powers the game still challenges you in clever ways. And it does so without resorting to the kinds of cheap tactics its sister series resorts to. In fact while it has its moments Gargoyle’s Quest 2 is median in its difficulty.
The increased complexity in game design is most evident in the game’s boss battles. Obviously they don’t compare to modern games. But considering you could stand in one spot and cheese your way through the original it is an improvement. Some like the Twin Guardians and Dagon aggressively follow your movements. You can use that to manipulate their behavior. Others like Doppelganger employ a simple trick you can learn about in town. The last two present a nice challenge, even if slowdown puts a slight damper on these encounters. It’s a lot like Mega Man which shouldn’t be surprising considering the developer.
In Closing
Gargoyle’s Quest 2 is a great game that was sadly overlooked in the NES’ final years. It is one of many hidden gems that let the system bow out gracefully. If tight platforming, high production values, and great gameplay are what you seek than find this gem.
I love this series. I just streamed my very first-ever playthrough of Demon’s Crest last night, totally blind with no guide or outside help at all. What a game. I was blown away by it.
I was sad that they got rid of random battles in GQII. They were definitely too frequent in the original, but instead of trashing them entirely, I just wish they’d lowered their frequency a bit. Other than that, I agree that GQII is an improvement over the original in virtually every way. I overall prefer the music in the original than GQII as well, but the music in Demon’s Crest is worlds above either previous entry.