I really enjoyed this game as a 12 year old kid. It had a certain charm to it and since it had no battery or password system, I left my NES on for a month to solve it. It is ridiculously difficult though and only the best can complete it. Definitely worth the $5 to check it out though.

Why were so many old games built to be nearly impossible to beat? I never saw the fun in playing through a battle 100 times before beating it. A couple times, okay, but some games are just sadistic...

I loved this game as a child! I'm glad to see it released!

I'm confused by the review. This is a very solid game for it's generation. IMHO, it's far better then the review suggests. It also isn't nearly as hard as suggested.

For $5/$6 it isn't bad at all. Certainly one of the best VC games considering most of the garbage that has come out.

There are secrets, challenging game play, items to save and buy, and riddles/tips that must be solved to figure out what to do next.

Odd yes, but I recommend it if you can see past the dated graphics.

Hmmm... I really liked this game. There is an abundance of secrets to be found. The only prolbem I have is the well stage. After the boss, its like impossible to get out it seems.

The reason so many of these older games are so hard is to mask the fact that the limited amount of space makes it so they can't have a huge amount of levels. It stretches out play time.

This game was amazingly awesome - I already downloaded it. It's so hard, but that's what makes it so great.

And it's even better since I don't have to leave my NES on anymore!

if you put a bit more time into it, you will begin to solve many of the puzzles in this secret castle. it has it's very good parts but it is annoyingly difficult in BOTH action AND adventure elements. only the hardcores can get through this.

Yeah, this is a nice little game if you're willing to invest some time into it. You have only one life, and no continues, so you're required to play through the early stages of the game plenty of times. Once you reach the third floor, however, you'll have easy access to both a cheap life refill shop and an infinite source of money, which makes it possible to make a hasty retreat and restock energy when you start to run out, and as the bosses all are variants on one another, once you get the strategy down (and with all the times you'll have to kill the early ones, you'll pick it up) they fall easily enough. The manual (operator's guide) lists all items in the game in the general order you get them, which helps tremendously in hinting towards which items could come in handy at the time (hint: once you reach a floor, get as many items you can before taking on any bosses. They help), and once you learn the layout of rooms, you can zoom through in no time, picking up what is needed, before starting to explore unknown areas.
The game does kill you pretty often, and some of the puzzles are a bit obscure (the wizard's hints help. Listen to them), but the game is, honestly, not that hard to beat. It's easier than Zelda 2, and than game required repeating the same areas over and over to a certain extent as well (god damn you Death Mountain).

What! You didn't like this? From the day I got a Wii and HOPED and begged on message board for this to be released. I am so happy it has been. I loved this a child. Saddly now I can't even got pass the frist two doors. However I downloaded it yesterday and for the first time in YEARS I staied up almost all night playing a video game like when I was a kid! I LOVE THIS GAME!!

lol glad you liked it Darin, the rose tinted specs must help a bit to see the fun in this otherwise irksome game

I seem to remember that this game actually mentioned in the instructions that having an NES advantage helps. I believe the developers actually designed this game for use with rapid-fire controllers in mind.

I did play this, and I do recall getting past the well, and I believe I was very close to the end boss ... but I don't think I ever beat it. It is definitely for hardcore gamers, and the challenge is there... I may revisit this one ...

Like others here, I disagree with this review. Terrible graphics and annoying music? No way! I must confess to having hated this game as a child; it is pretty hard and quite confusing, but having relived it on virtual console I've gained a new appreciation for it. I say give it a try, pals!

how can i get the manual to figure out how to continue or not lose any lives there use to be a way

Terrible graphics? yeah, pretty much. Terrible controls? Not quite terrible quality, but close, I'll give that. But this game, one you let yourself get passed those flaws can be quite fun and engaging. I loved it as a child and even beat it. Playing it today does make the game feel extremely dated, but it's not that bad. Not five star quality, more like three and a half but since there is no halves in the rating scale, I'm going for three.

Yeah, when I remember this game, I remember it with the Slow feature of the NES Advantage eternally on. I got a USB adapter to play my old Advantage on PC (still works!), wonder if there's a way to get it to work with the virtual console...

I liked this game too. It was so hard but each time me and my friend played it we got a little bit further. Very addictive.

there was something satisfying though about shooting a buble at a block and revealing a secret.

I just bought it today, and played it for the first time. I love it so far, haha, even though I can't really figure it out. It just has a classic feel to it. And how can you go wrong with a game about the fight between good and evil... awesome.

Does the continue trick still work on the VC service?

After seeing AVGN's video about this i think I'm going to download it now

LOL AVGN!!! This game looks hard, finding secrets is annoying!

The controls are good and the game is fun, but the "having to shoot stuff in EVERY SINGLE DIRECTION YOU CAN FIND" is crazy.

I gave this one 4 stars, even though I never played it until the early 90's on a buddies NES, and even then , I never 'got' it, and disliked it.
So why 4 stars? it has charm, and that special something that keeps me wanting to play it again, to give it another go. Any game that can keep me wanting to pick up the controller is deserving of at least another star. Was going to give it 3 (Just cause I never got it, it was after all a good game) but based on the above though process, I say 4 stars, in fact now I wanna play it again

I think this has one of the best cover arts of its era. So mysterous looking even though the game really isn't that creepy. Plus, I liked how all the old Hudson games were labled like "Over 3/4 Million Sold in Japan."

Nobody would like this game.

Besides It feels like Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, because in that game you have to throw holy water to find secrets and hidden drops. And in Milon's Secret Castle its the same way, but in bubbles.

I am getting it today after seeing Arion play it on Retro Game Challenge (youtube it). It looks fun and should be a 6-7. Reviewers seem to have trouble understanding the value of a game to all who may play it. The score should not be solely based on their biased opinion. I will never play Grand Theft Auto but does that mean the game is a 3 out of 10...heck no!

i hate this game...but if you like adventure games i suggest castlevania 1 or 3,ledend of zelda and final fantasy