SOLOMON'S KEY

Solomon's Key (ソロモンの鍵, Soromon no Kagi) is a classic action-puzzle video game developed and published by Tecmo (formerly Tehkan), originally released as an arcade cabinet in 1986. The game was designed by Michitaka Tsuruta and quickly became one of the most beloved puzzle-action games of the NES era.

Players control Dana, a young wizard trapped in an ancient dungeon filled with deadly demons and magical creatures. Armed with the power of sorcery, Dana can create and destroy stone blocks at will — a mechanic that was revolutionary for its time. The goal of each of the 50 rooms is to locate the Key of Solomon and reach the exit door.

The arcade version was ported to numerous platforms including the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Commodore 64, MSX, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST, Amiga, and the PC Engine. The NES version, released in 1987 in North America, is considered one of the most polished ports and remains the definitive way to experience the game.

What made Solomon's Key unique was its blend of real-time action with deep puzzle mechanics. Players had to think multiple steps ahead — every block placed or destroyed could mean the difference between escape and doom. Hidden rooms containing fairies and bonus items added replay value and rewarded careful exploration.

The game spawned a spiritual successor on the NES called Fire 'N Ice (Solomon's Key 2) in 1992, which built upon the original's mechanics with even more complex puzzles and refined gameplay. Solomon's Key is widely regarded as a foundational title that influenced countless puzzle-platformers that followed.