Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer

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Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer

Feel like games have gotten too easy in recent years? Then maybe you should try out Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer for the Nintendo DS. Whether you're looking for a more hardcore alternative to Pokeman: Mystery Dungeon, or you're just looking for a new RPG experience altogether, this is your game.

Along with all the games in the Mystery Dungeon series, this is what is called a "roguelike", so called for its similarities to the 1980 computer game Rogue.

What is a roguelike, and what's so good about Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer? Read on and find out!

Roguelikes 

So what exactly is it?

A roguelike is a game that shares features of the computer game Rogue. These features include
  • Randomly generated dungeons

  • Turn-based gameplay (the difference here being that every move, including every step you make, counts as a turn, adding an amazing strategic element to gameplay similar to chess)

  • When you die, you don't just get a "game over" screen, you start from the beginning!


Sound pretty hardcore? It is, but it's not as hard as it sounds, though it's definitely challenging.

Shiren the Wanderer 

History and Gameplay

This release for the Nintendo DS is actually a port of the game, which was originally for the Super Famicom in Japan.

You play as Shiren, one of many Wanderers, or adventurers, trying to make their way to the Plains of the Sun, where the Golden Condor will grant the adventurer a wish.

As mentioned previously, if you die in this game, you start again from the beginning. However, the game does make a few allowances to prevent this from being a total loss.

  • There are warehouses in several of the towns where you can store items. As long as an item is stored here when you die, it will be here when you return.

  • Multiple playthroughs (and thus deaths) are rewarded in the sense that certain areas, shops, and other information are only unlocked after you speak to certain characters on separate playthroughs.

  • New to the DS version of the game, if you die, you can make a request to be rescued through the use of wi-fi connectivity or passwords. Using this, you can begin your quest again from where you left off, up to 3 times!

Don't Fight Fire With Fire...

The Game Itself 

And others related

Apparently Nintendo DS has been praised for doing a great job of providing a steady stream of roguelike games. If you like the genre and don't have a DS yet, get one!

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Question Time! 

Have you played the game? If so, did you like it? If not, are you intrigued?

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Feedback & Friend Codes 

Let me know what you thought of this page, or the game, or the genre! Additionally, go ahead and leave your friend codes here. You never know, you might just get help from a stranger when you need it most!

My friend code is 1547-6407-9666.

Lensmaster

FillyB0y wrote

Friend code is: 4554 1777 3104

Reply Posted July 21, 2008

ricarde wrote...

5 stars for your lens! Great and concise info! I also find roguelike games interesting.

ReplyPosted June 16, 2008

by pyrox02

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