Posted by Derek Yu
Mon, 06 Aug 2007 21:55:00 GMT
Here’s to incomplete, awesome games! Incursion is an extremely detailed Roguelike that is “based on (but not strictly adherant to) the mechanics of the d20 system made available under the Open Game License by Wizards of the Coast.” This seems to be, for all intents and purposes, a good example of what we can expect in next generation of Roguelike games, although, like Dwarf Fortress, it also raises the barrier of entry for newer players.
One feature I really like is the inclusion of detailed descriptions of the areas you’re in. And they’re quite varied. In my first few minutes of playing, I encountered an old armoury, a flooded room, a kobold warren (which was quite scary – I had to crouch to fit inside), a garden, a ritual chamber, and a small fortification. I also got jumped by a dwarf rogue who appeared out of nowhere and had to wrestle him to the ground. Rogue players and fans of stealth will appreciate that currently they are the strongest class by far.
Unfortunately, the game is prone to crashing and there are bugs abound. The creator, Julian Mensch, is going to try to address those problems with a new release in the next few months, but admits on the Something Awful forums that after that, it’s going to be a long wait before we see any significant changes. We’re talking 2011, here, folks. Yikes!
Read about his plans in more details after the jump:
Read more...
Posted in Roguelikes, Windows, Freeware | 21 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Wed, 25 Jul 2007 07:13:00 GMT
Frozen Depths is a relatively new Roguelike that’s geared toward newbies, boasting a small command list and straightforward, combat-oriented gameplay. The premise of the game is that you’re sent deep underground to find out why the world is freezing over. On the way, you’ll fight everything from goblins to caribou to… snow-covered hedgehogs?!
The frozen theme is carried through quite nicely. One interesting aspect of the game is that you have to keep from freezing to death by wearing warm clothes, eating hot food, or standing by intermittent campfires. The deeper you go, the colder it gets. It’s a nice innovation that adds a bit more color to this otherwise basic (but fun) dungeon crawler.
(Source: Temple of the Roguelike)
Posted in Roguelikes, Windows, Freeware | 14 comments
Posted by Tim
Sun, 22 Jul 2007 19:27:00 GMT
What’s up with JTR and creepy crawlies? First you play as one, then you’re in a dungeon full of them.
Anyway, here’s a new game by the author of Death Worm – a polar opposite of the monstrosity known as Dwarf Fortress. The Crypts of Despair plays a bit like Sword of Fargoal as well, so anyone who enjoys these sort of games will feel right at home here. Run into monsters to attack them, collect stuff using the X key etc.
I mean, you guys aren’t still playing DF are you? Gawd…
Get the game here.
Posted in Roguelikes, Windows, Freeware | 6 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:20:00 GMT
dessgeega describes Drain Storm as an “FPS for Roguelikes,” since it retains the turn-based movement, randomly-generated dungeons, and low-level tactics, but drops the complex controls and memorization. What you get is a really fast-paced strategy game that is easy to pick up and play.
The game is quite difficult, and on any setting higher than “Beginner” you’ll find yourself swarmed by enemies at every turn. Even with a dazzling array of weaponry, it’s hard to make it to the Sewer City and below (where the real fun starts). But because games move so quickly and every time feels so different, it’s rarely frustrating.
This one is great fun! And best of all, it comes as a 1.2Mb executable (no installer or zip files).
(Source: The Gamer’s Quarter Forums)
Posted in Highly Recommended, Roguelikes, Windows, Freeware | 18 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:13:00 GMT
One thing I love about games are the stories within the stories – the ones that are not created by the developers, but by the players and their experiences. Dwarf Fortress is a game that is more or less built around this idea. Zach Adams spins fantastical yarns that his brother Tarn then makes possible within the game’s engine. Excitement, tension, and high drama arise naturally from the player’s choices and their interactions with the game’s ruleset.
Actually, while reading this “Let’s Play” succession game of Dwarf Fortress, even the more mundane events that occurred were interesting to me, because of how they were framed. Like this journal entry, for example:
12th Hematite, 1052: Today one of our apprentice carpenters fell asleep on the bridge and was swept away by a flood, never to be seen again. On the same day, the metalsmith gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Doren Clearingsilvers. Also, mandrills stole several objects we had lying around outside, but nothing important. Just a few bits of clothing and an iron helmet.
Diablo took the Roguelike genre and dumbed it down and gussied it up. It’s a fun game, but there aren’t many compelling stories in there that Blizzard didn’t come up with first.
(Source: GameSetWatch)
Posted in Roguelikes, Community, Developers | Tags TarnAdams | 12 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:37:00 GMT
This month’s issue of Games for Windows has an awesome 3 page article dedicated solely to Dwarf Fortress. YES! I love the layout, too.
Zach, for his part, isn’t all that interested in how it works. “If I didn’t have a brother who could program… I would have taken it upon myself to fill his shoes,” he explains. “But as I do have that brother, I am blessed with the opportunity to make my computer-game dreams a reality.”
Very interesting to read about the dynamic between Tarn and Zach Adams and how they work together to create the Roguelike monster that is Dwarf Fortress.
Scans: Pages 1, Page 2, Page 3
(Special thanks to the DMac for the scans!)
Posted in Roguelikes, Community, Windows, Developers | Tags TarnAdams | 14 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Thu, 21 Jun 2007 06:40:00 GMT
I really just wanted to show off dessgeega’s awesome crawlthrough (which is wonderfully explained and stylishly depicted), but since we haven’t featured Crawl on our front page before, let’s do it.
Ostensibly based on Nethack, ADOM, and other Roguelikes that came before it, Crawl nonetheless innovates by offering loads of very different race/class combinations to start with, as well as a varied pantheon of gods. dessgeega says that Crawl is “leaner and more balanced” than Nethack and is “logical, consistent, and straightforward.”
But yeah, play the game if you haven’t already, and definitely check out the entertaining and extremely informative crawlthrough by dess. I’d love to see more stories from the dungeon!
Tile version available here.
Posted in Macintosh, Highly Recommended, Roguelikes, Linux, Windows, Freeware | 10 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Tue, 22 May 2007 22:49:00 GMT
Our pal Slashie (aka Santiago Zapata) has created a new site for Roguelike news, called Temple of the Roguelike. So far it’s off to a great start, with Slash updating regularly and posting about Roguelikes which I doubt have seen much press outside of a few small circles. There’s even an interview with Glenn Wichman, the creator of Rogue!
All I gotta say is keep going, Slash! Keep going!
Posted in Roguelikes, Community, Interviews | 5 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Mon, 07 May 2007 16:32:00 GMT
Here’s something that the Something Awful guys and I can agree on: Dwarf Fortress is awesome. Which is why I was elated to hear that creator Tarn Adams (aka Toady One) has decided to go full time:
“He he he, I’ve been out of school for two years. I’m quitting my job as a visiting assistant math professor (like a baby professor) to write video games, DF in particular. Ideally, I’ll be supported by the DF community. Realistically, who knows? Right now I can pay for food, utilities and a slice of rent on donations, and I’ve saved enough money to make an honest effort for some months after I leave my job mid-May. I’m hopeful that when I finally have my time freed up I can push things forward to the point where the project generates enough interest that I’ll be able to pay my bills and maybe even get health insurance or something. Whether or not that’s optimistic remains to be seen, but I think it’s worth a try.”
Donationware is a tough route, but I would love to see Tarn get to make DF a living! Given his insane pace, one can only imagine what the game could look like with a few years of full time work. Send money!
Posted in Roguelikes, Community, Developers | Tags TarnAdams | 11 comments
Posted by Shapermc
Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:05:00 GMT
Recently a new e-zine was released titled Roguelike. The magazine (RTM) from editor Mario Donick. In the introduction of the first issue Mario makes a proclamation for the magazine and the genre:
“Most of today’s gamers, when presented with the ASCII-interface of a typical roguelike, immediately dismiss it as old, graphically unappealing, and boring. These sceptics refuse to have a deeper look into the game’s mechanics and its >inner values< and it takes time and effort to convince them to just try to discover the fun roguelikes have to offer. The outward appearance of the game is not as important for a roguelike as it is for a more modern, commercial game.”
The first issue is up now, and it looks good. It covers subjects on the interface and typography of the genre as well as taking an in-depth look at Glenn R. Wichman’s game The 7 Day Quest, a contestant from this year’s 7 Day Roguelike competition.
The second issue is scheduled to come out on April 2nd and plans to expand on the subjects covered in the first issue.
Posted in Roguelikes, Community | Tags 7DRL, ASCII, Magazine, Roguelike | 3 comments
