Solomon's Key (1986)

Developer: Tecmo
Publisher: Tecmo Koei Games, Tecmo
Platforms: Family Computer Disk System, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Family Computer, Wii U, Nintendo Entertainment System
Genres: Platform, Puzzle, Arcade

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

More games like this

How it feels

Brutally difficult NES puzzle-platformer where a sorcerer fights endless enemies across lethal trap-filled stages.

punishingpuzzle-heavyarcadedarkretrointense

About

The NES port of Solomon's Key, a puzzle game developed by Tecmo in 1986 for arcade on custom hardware based on the Z80 chipset. The game is generally recognized as one of the most difficult games to appear on the NES. The player, controlling a sorcerer known only as Dana must overcome unlimited enemy spawning, challenging level designs, a countdown timer, instant death from any physical contact with enemies, and limited ways to dispatch enemies.

Screenshots

More games like this

More by Tecmo

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.