Castlevania II: Simon's Quest Receives Major Unofficial SNES Port with Retranslation and Enhanced Features

Classic NES game Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest is being reborn for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) thanks to the dedicated efforts of ROM hacker and developer Rumbleminze.

Originally released by Konami in 1988 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest gained a cult following as the sequel to the groundbreaking Castlevania franchise.

However, the game’s initial release was widely noted for its cryptic English translation and lack of player guidance. This unofficial SNES port, spotted by VideoGameEsoterica, seeks to address those long-standing criticisms by building on the acclaimed Castlevania II Retranslation hack, originally created by Bisqwit.

Rather than porting the NES cartridge version, developer Rumbleminze is focusing on incorporating Bisqwit’s improvements, which range from a fully retranslated script to quality-of-life updates such as an expanded cinematic prologue, comprehensive in-game map functionality, and a convenient SRAM save system.

These enhancements aim to make the game more accessible and enjoyable for both longtime fans and newcomers. Rumbleminze, who previously completed a well-received SNES port of the original Castlevania in July, first revealed this latest project approximately two months ago via social media.

In recent updates, Rumbleminze confirmed that the beta version of the port is now fully playable, with the developer successfully completing the initial playthrough without any major issues.

Key features like the updated opening cinematic and integrated map have already been implemented, marking significant progress toward the final release. Looking ahead, Rumbleminze has outlined additional planned features to further enhance the SNES experience.

Players can look forward to MSU-1 audio support, which would allow for high-quality, CD-grade music, as well as customizable color palettes for the protagonist Simon.

These upgrades push the boundaries of what vintage hardware can achieve, ensuring that Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest for SNES will be more than just a simple port. As development continues, the fan community and retro gaming enthusiasts alike are eagerly awaiting the finalized release.

Further updates will be shared as more details become available about this impressive revival of one of Konami’s most memorable action platformers.

For now, fans can follow project footage and updates through Rumbleminze’s social channels, keeping the anticipation for this enhanced Castlevania classic alive on modern and legacy Nintendo hardware.

Konami Nintendo SNES Super Nintendo Castlevania Xbox Series X|S developer Xbox X|S Rumbleminze Castlevania II: Simon's Quest NES Bisqwit VideoGameEsoterica