Quest of Dungeons

I have been meaning to do a quick look-see at this streamlined accessible roguelike, that is now out on many platforms (mobile, PC/Steam, PS4, Xbox One). Here I play a Mage finishing up dungeon level 1 and meandering into level 2, on the PS4 version.

The game has four classes to play:

1. Fighter (bump to kill)


2. Mage (burny burny tingly fingers)


3. Hunter/Archer/Ranger (plink, plink)


4. Shaman (scarey fear!)

Although the game is a very streamlined pixel roguelike, I think it is an ideal gateway into the "proper" roguelike genre - leading new players in gently, but still spanking them enough so that they learn lessons on what to do over time, how to horde what you need, how to switch on the "Stop and think" mode when you encounter a tricky boss.

The positive feedback with the plentiful looting, and bashing of room objects is a constant drip feed of acquisition. But when you meet a merchant, you need to know what to sell, and what trinket or bauble you need to buy at very elevated prices to ease your quest/door/chest opening burden for the future.

It can be quick play, sweeping around as fast as you want, but there are times when the smooth loot collecting is interrupted by REAL DANGER, and you must slow down and think about how you are going to live through this challenge.

You can stumble upon a boss early, and it's lights out. But usually, you're comfortably levelling up and upgrading equipment by the time you're seriously tried. The Archer seems the easiest to begin with, because everything is distance kill.. I've found the Shaman to be the most taxing, because his initial spell is simply a one or two turn "scare". There is diversity enough in the game, to keep playing.

So, if you're roguelike curious, this game is worth considering. It's only a few quid, and you might find it opens up the door to a myriad of roguelike gaming in the future! Plus the music by Aaron Krogh is cool.

Quest of Dungeons

The Haunting

So, I'm bull charging my way through Crawl with an impulsive axe wielding Minotaur named Bowson.

And he's blowing through level 6 of the Dungeon in a raged temper steaming out of his bovine nostrils, when he stumbles upon a ghostly elven figure who happens to be the vexed apparition of our very own Zax!!! Resurrected in torment to wander these caverns for all eternity exacting an ectoplasmic revenge!



The ghost of Zax passed, has even brought his White Imp with him...

So Bowson engages the familiar friend gone sour, with his usual horned gusto!

The nebulous Zax casts a spell and begins chanting.. whilst his Imp shouts out "Fly, thou unmuzzled tip-merry gudgeon!"



Bowson, the bull is poisoned. But calls upon the spirit of Trog, and tips into a Beserker rage!

and headbutts the spirit of Zax long gone, back into the neverworld once again!



Sick and Exhausted the fevered rage subsides...

(ooc: I know this is a regular unsurprising occurrence in the roguelike world, but still, there is something exciting upon meeting an old friend, that once kindled my imagination so many moons ago)

Bowson had a good run, cleaving Sigmund not shortly after..



 

and Crazy Yiuf with relative ease, these two being the bane of novice adventurers delving into the early levels of Crawl..

 



 

but also coming across the gluttonous wizardy slug, Gastronok the Ponderous.. a nasty slime with an array of spells at his command.

 



 

With Trog and the zerker rage on your side, Gastronok was no match for the Bull!

 



 

Sadly, Bowson's relentless slaying was on a timer, and by Dungeon level 10 that time was up. After unleashing a horde of small and large Abominations, he was eventually swamped by the sheer numbers of them.

They Zerged the Zerker. 

RIP Bowson, till we meet your vengeful ethereal corpse once again.

The Hunted become the haunted.