Castlevania II (NES): Simon's Quest: Part 5: Ferrying to Braham Mansion & Dracula's Eye

For this next step, you're gonna have to go ALLLLL the way back to the first town, the Town of Joba, and then go west beyond that into the Belasco Marsh. The monsters you likely got killed by both should be more manageable to slay, now. There is a poison marsh, here. If you have some Laurels on you, use them now and then cross the poison while you're invincible. ---------- West beyond that Marsh should be the Dead River, where you can find a ferryman that can boat you across the river. HOWEVER! If you equip Dracula's Heart, he'll take you to a secret spot: The 3rd mansion Braham Mansion! But first I go past that into the Dead River crossing. There will be blocks to jump on in that crossing. You will jump higher if you jump while the blocks are rising. Past that area is the Jam Wasteland. Find a robed man there, and he'll give you the Diamond subweapon, which ricochets off walls, floors, and ceilings while damaging monsters. Good for tight spaces. ---------- I then go all the way back into Braham Mansion and deal with things there. Find another robed man in there and buy another Oak Stake from him. But right before you reach Dracula's Eye at the end of it, you can fight DEATH! Actually, you don't have to fight Death. You can even ignore him entirely, but if you DO fight him and beat him (trap him with the Sacred Flame and WHIP THE HELL OUTTA HIM!), you'll get the Gold Knife. This Gold Knife is a very powerful subweapon that explodes on contact, leading to a combo of massive damage that can shut down every common enemy in the game. If you CAN beat Death, I suggest just doing it now for that Gold Knife, and only once, too, because he'll respawn every time you leave his room even after you pick up Drac's eye. When you have the eye, you'll be able to see hidden Clue Books before revealing them out in the open by breaking their blocks with Holy Water. Two more mansions and Dracula pieces to go!