Solomon’s Key 2 actually got released on Amiga, did you know that? Well, it sort of did anyway as this is a unofficial NES conversion that was done in 2015.
Solomon’s Key has always been a game I felt worked best on the C64 — yes, that’s right. Out of the versions I’ve played (C64, Arcade, Amiga, and Atari ST), the C64 one still stands out for me. The music, the feel, and the difficulty curve are the main reasons. And while the controls can be quirky as hell, it remains a fine and memorable game.
The Amiga version arrived a few years ago as a reverse‑engineered conversion of the Atari ST release. It’s actually a solid effort, and I genuinely appreciate Asman’s hard work in bringing it to the Amiga. Even if the ST original had its flaws, the port itself is well executed and absolutely worth checking out.
Now, over to Solomon’s Key 2. Much to my surprise, this one popped up out of nowhere just a few weeks ago. I had seen a mention of it on Facebook, but completely failed to realise it was a new Amiga release — a remake of the 1993 NES game. The Amiga version isn’t a straight port; it’s a remake built using the original NES assets, with adjustments and improvements made to fit the Amiga format and the developer’s own knowledge and style. It’s a fascinating project and a welcome addition to the growing list of modern Amiga conversions.
TECMO, NINTENDO, AMIGA, 2015…
I had never even heard of Solomon’s Key 2 until recently. I was never particularly into the NES back in the day, but I still kept an eye on it through the multi‑format sections in classic gaming magazines, where standout titles from other platforms would occasionally sneak into the spotlight.
When I finally booted up the game, something felt off right away — it didn’t follow the same style or structure as the original Solomon’s Key at all. In fact, the funniest part is that the core mechanic from the first game is completely missing this time around. That’s right: in Solomon’s Key 2, you’re not actually looking for any keys! It’s a totally different take on the formula, almost like the developers decided to reinvent the concept rather than evolve it.
INGAME SHOTS IN MOTION…
The more I played, the more Solomon’s Key 2 started to feel like a “push‑and‑pull” puzzle game — sliding ice blocks around to crush enemies, clear paths, and solve spatial challenges. And to be fair, I’ve always loved that style of game, so I wasn’t disappointed. But curiosity got the better of me, and I headed over to YouTube to check out footage of the original NES version, just to see whether the Amiga remake had changed anything.
It turns out the NES game is virtually identical, so in terms of faithfulness, this remake holds up extremely well. Watching the original gameplay, I noticed the graphics and animations were almost a one‑to‑one match — everything moved and behaved exactly the same. That alone reassured me that this Amiga version is a genuinely solid effort.
That said, a few elements didn’t make the cut. The final boss battle is missing, along with some of the more elaborate animated background effects. According to the developer, these were intentionally left out due to platform limitations or other constraints. More details can be found on the developer’s website.
This Amiga remake was written entirely in Assembly, starting out as a learning project — and that’s a very good sign for the future. Assembly‑coded games usually run on extremely low specs, which means this release works on every Amiga model at the speed it’s supposed to. Unlike some of Meynaf’s and Asman’s earlier projects, this one is universally compatible across the platform.
And just to be clear, none of this is meant as an insult or attack toward Meynaf or Asman. Their work has been invaluable to the community, and this new project simply takes a different technical approach.
IMAGINE IF WE GET MORE NES CLASSICS…
The full intro is included in the game, and watching it genuinely made me feel all mushy inside — like I was 10 again. Well… okay, I was actually 18 in 1993, but I’d already been an Amiga‑only gamer since 1986, so seeing NES‑style visuals in 1993 still felt incredibly old‑school. That intro hit me right in the nostalgia.
The level selector is a different story. From what I can tell, the original NES version had a much more polished and intuitive system. The Amiga remake’s selector works, but it definitely looks and feels more basic. Maybe we’ll see an update in the future — who knows?
Alright, that’s enough writing for now. I’m off to play this remake some more.
A Classic Reborn ? – Solomon’s Key 2
A Classic Reborn ? – Solomon’s Key 2
Now this brings me back!!!