Play Willow (Europe) Online

Willow for the NES came out in 1989, developed and published by Capcom. It was based on the fantasy film, and it arrived during a time when the console was packed with action-adventure titles trying to capture that exploratory, Zelda-like feel.

You control Willow, a farmer turned hero, navigating a world split into distinct overhead and side-scrolling sections. Your main goal is to rescue a kidnapped infant and defeat an evil queen, which involves traveling across the land, gathering key allies, and delving into multi-level dungeons. The combat relies on a short-range sword, but the standout feature is the magic system; you collect different runes and combine them to cast specific spells, which is necessary for solving puzzles and defeating certain enemies. The pacing is deliberate, with a moderate difficulty that comes from managing your limited health and magic resources against frequent enemy encounters. It feels like a thoughtful, slightly clunky adventure where planning your next spell combination is as important as swinging your sword.