Castlevania 2 ending fix

Original game : Castlevania II: Simon's Quest

Platform : NES

Author : noisecross

Release date : 17 June 2024

Category : Bug Fix

Patch version : 1.0

Modifications : O

Downloads : 150

ROM Information

The patch files are in format IPS. Use LunarIPS or Floating IPS to apply the patch.
There are two patches. One is meant to be used with the USA version of the game. The other one should be applied to the EUR version. The rom files which admit the patches are the next ones:

-
USA VERSION
Name: Castlevania II - Simon's Quest (U) [!].nes
Size: 262160 bytes (256 KiB)
CRC32: A9C2C503
CRC64: 870D94D7D336E02A
SHA256: f045d72683d3156555eccbb56090888f03a15e5b25e59db49dca7a87330472d3
SHA1: d6b96fd98ae480c694a103fe9a5d7d84eeafb6f7
BLAKE2sp: d7c5e2f388f480c460b8ff45693b734bcac7d7660ca25949cd0933bbb1051c2e

-
EUR VERSION
Name: Castlevania II - Simon's Quest (E) [!].nes
Size: 262160 bytes (256 KiB)
CRC32: BB441910
CRC64: F7095CC22AEAA521
SHA256: 6f30c272b3c81c5950cc7354748ed69d77c1532eeced9ea9dd90eba3dbb24d4a
SHA1: 609129abf15cab23f456eb51009b8e592528299f
BLAKE2sp: 8a796db944bd2a30b627f721785308073ce5118b8745f80352ed481313f27df4

Hack description

This game has the premise that the protagonist, Simon, is cursed and will die very soon if he does not bring Dracula back to life. Thus, the game has three endings, depending on how quickly you beat it. Specifically, there is an ending that occurs when it takes 15 days or more to beat the game, another that occurs when it takes less than 8 days, and another when it takes between 8 and 15 days.
However, it is widely known that endings are confusing because the text does not correspond to what is shown on the screen, and the degree of success does not seem to correspond to either the text or the cutscene itself.
This patch varies the endings and the texts they contain to make them consistent. The choice is completely personal because the author has not found any official source that confirms what Konami's expected result was.

***SPOILERS ALERT***

Game cleared in 15 days or more: BAD ENDING.
Neither Simon nor Dracula survived their last battle. The screen is black and white and Simon is not present. The text says "Although the confrontation between Simon and Dracula has concluded, Simon couldn't survive his fatal wounds."

Game cleared in 8 to 14 days: CANONICAL ENDING.
Simon survives but Dracula will be back in the future. The screen is a sunset and Simon is kneeling there. The text says "Simon Belmont has put an end to the eternal darkness in Transylvania." but after the text is displayed, the same screen shows the night after Simon has gone and Dracula's hand pushes through the dirt.

Game cleared in 7 days or less: BEST ENDING.
Simon is the real deal and put an end to Dracula forever and ever. The screen present a bright daylight and Simon is kneeling again. The text says "[...] the people are free of Dracula's curse forever." and after the text is displayed the game ends.

***END OF THE SPOILERS ALERT***

Contributions

Contributor	Type of contribution	Description
noisecross	Script Editing/Revision

Reviews

Well what do you know :)	JustSearchingForGoodHacks	2024-07-31	Version 1.0
Now that's a more accurate treatment of the endings in this game. Original Endings: 'Well, umm, in the normal ending Simon is kinda not cured entirely but Dracula is definitely dead, and in the Best ending. Simon is DA BEST but Dracula survived...'. This hack makes it more logical. We can: not cure Simon at all (Bad Ending), save everyone but sequels will happen (Canon Ending), and be the Best Vampire Hunter there is (BEST ending). Thank you for making these endings more logical.

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