Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II (1989-)

• Developer: Zippo Games

• Publisher: Acclaim

• Genre: Platform

• Designer: Ste Pickford, Steve Hughes

• Composer: David Wise

Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II was developed by Zippo Games and released for the NES in 1989. The game was published by Acclaim Entertainment as the sequel to the 1987 title Wizards & Warriors. Unlike many NES releases of the era, it did not see ports to other systems, making it an NES-exclusive experience. Its development carried forward the sword-and-sorcery themes established in the first game, while introducing a new structure and challenges meant to expand upon the foundation Rare had originally built.

The game follows the knight Kuros as he battles to defeat the elemental wizard Malkil, who has returned after his apparent downfall in the original game. Drawing inspiration from high fantasy adventure tales and mythological themes, Ironsword was designed around collecting pieces of a magical sword needed to restore peace to the kingdom. The narrative structure pushed players to face elemental challenges tied to earth, water, fire, and air, giving each area a distinct identity. Its fantasy storytelling was simple but effective, adding motivation to the action-driven gameplay.

From a gameplay perspective, Ironsword retained the side-scrolling action-platform style of its predecessor while introducing more open-ended level design. Players had to explore large environments, manage resources such as food for survival, and collect currency to purchase items and upgrades from shops. Combat combined swordplay with the use of magic, expanding Kuros’ abilities beyond his original quest. The difficulty level was known to be steep, requiring precise jumps and strong memorization of enemy patterns. This design made the game challenging but rewarding, offering more depth than many action titles of the period.

The soundtrack featured atmospheric tracks that sought to match the elemental themes of each area, reinforcing the tone of the adventure. Promotion emphasized continuity from the first Wizards & Warriors, and the cover art became famous for featuring Fabio as Kuros, an unusual choice that gave the game a distinct marketing identity. Reception at the time was mixed to positive, with some praising its ambition and scale, while others found the difficulty frustrating. The series would later continue with Wizards & Warriors III: Kuros: Visions of Power in 1992, which shifted focus again with new mechanics and a different structure. Together, the trilogy established itself as a notable, if challenging, set of fantasy action games on the NES.

Images from MobyGames