So I just beat Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer

It feels really good to beat a Mystery Dungeon game because you've already died so many times. You've gotten so damned close to the end, but you didn't have enough food, or you were hypnotized, or you stepped on some trap that got you killed, or you made some goddamn boneheaded call that you should have known better than to do, but now you're dead and there's nothing you can do about it.

One of the big reasons I like Mystery Dungeon-- and, indeed, roguelikes as a genre-- is that death carries weight. This is also the point at which reviewers start to bitch and moan, and as such Mystery Dungeon games are always critically panned when they get US releases.

I'm going to give it to you straight: these people are pussies.

In Mystery Dungeon, when you die, you are transported to the first town, lose all of your items and equipment, go back to level 1, and start the game over. You are expected to die. In fact, on your first several runs, you will die, and it's best to leave any really strong equipment you find behind in a storehouse so that you don't lose it forever. People say that this makes Mystery Dungeon not fun, but I would argue the exact opposite. If you kept your experience and loot in Mystery Dungeon, it would be like every other Japanese RPG: you would completely overpower the dungeon and the game would be over in two hours. It would be a completely thoughtless, painless exercise. It wouldn't be any fun at all.

Shiren is engaging precisely because the stakes are so high. Everything is randomly generated. Usually there's a way to make it out alive, but sometimes there really isn't! You have to be able to tell when you have a shot at winning and when you don't: often you can simply be dealt a bad hand. Your inventory space is pretty limited, so you've got to be very careful about what you take with you. Everything you pick up has some kind of use, and most items have more than one use. Play cleverly and thoughtfully, and you shall be rewarded. Without the severe death penalty, you wouldn't learn anything. You wouldn't bother being clever or thoughtful or anything. You'd just win, and it would be empty. Mysterious Dungeon, on the other hand, is an adventure. You make the story. You fight for your life. You are involved.

Beating Shiren for the first time was really satisfying. After 30-some failed attempts, I was having a good run. I had found a small arsenal of magic items (including an invincibility herb that I have never seen again since) and an unusual amount of storage jars, so I decided to pull my rust-proofed, heavily upgraded sword and shield (the set you save for just such an occassion) out of storage and make a serious run to beat the game. I was still quite vulnerable. There were still a lot of near-death situations. Instead of fighting through the last three floors, I simply ran towards the last boss and unloaded all my spells on him and his entourage. Then I ate my invincibility herb and, without any trouble, I calmly beat the final boss to death. It felt damn good.

And you know what else? The game is only 20 bucks. Go buy it. God, would you look at that box art, though? A real shame. Welcome back to the early 90's, Sega. For some more about Shiren check out this wonderfully thorough post from GameSetWatch's @play column, which is all about roguelikes. And if you want to GET ANGRY, they link to those reviews I was talking about. Or you can read this magnificent NeoGAF rave. It's all you!

Comments

[piyo]

Wow, congrats. :-)

I actually stumbled onto the "wonderfully thorough post" before your win, and both posts make me want to play this game. However, my Rogue-alike skills are zilch. This DS based one would great for a JRPG-coddled pussy like me, probably. I mean its got cutesy anime-like sprites and that other post claims "its the best first-time intro [to the genre]", o rly. I rather start playing a free game close to me, like NetHack, though.

BTW, isn't there another Rogue-alike on the DS, called "Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja"? Have you tried that?

[Sub]

Izuna was on my to-buy list before Shiren came out, but once it did, Izuna kinda dropped off the list. I might try it when the sequel comes.

[whodunnit]

the box art for the jpn and us version is night and day

[piyo]

I got this game after thinking about buying for three weeks (and of course your post). I like it! Except for the part where my DS was sleeping (power on, lid close) and I accidentally ejected the DS cart, which caused the game to reject the save. And I was doing pretty good on that run, too. Instead of throwing the DS against the wall I opted to let go of the DS for a week. :-)

BTW, the JP version of Shiren DS is also going for a price-reduced 2000 yen at Sofmap in Japan probably to clear stock, (because the "best of" version is out).

Maybe I should get the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games. They should be easier?