I’m able to admit my mistake. Shiren the Wanderer: The Thriller Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island isn’t the primary Shiren recreation I’ve performed. I attempted Shiren the Wanderer on the Wii, didn’t get it, and shortly moved on.
The identical would possibly’ve occurred right here if I weren’t reviewing this recreation. I didn’t get the roguelike method. I wasn’t keen to just accept loss of life as a studying expertise. However then all of it clicked, and I’m now such a fan that I’ve been hitting up eBay for that Wii recreation I stupidly traded in.
Collection followers already perceive this, after all. This evaluate is for the remainder of you. Shiren the Wanderer: The Thriller of Serpentcoil Island is super enjoyable; you simply want to offer it a number of classes to grasp why.
The sport begins with Shiren and his speaking ferret good friend, Koppa, receiving a imaginative and prescient of a land in misery, a kidnapped lady, and a promise of riches. Attracted by all three, Shiren and Koppa shortly discover themselves battling a fierce monster…who kills them. However loss of life isn’t the top in a Shiren recreation. Our heroes awaken the following morning again within the beginning village, all gadgets gone, all expertise misplaced. Time to face the day.
Shiren’s aim is to traverse the primary story’s 31 ranges to return to that monster, remedy the thriller of the kidnapped lady, and obtain his treasure. He does this by coming into randomly generated “dungeons” which can be populated with enemies and traps.
Fortunately, useful gadgets may also be randomly scattered about: weapons, shields, staves, scrolls, and extra, together with (hopefully) a plethora of onigiri. Shiren will get hungry, you see, and must quell that starvation so as to proceed.
In fact, the participant has to fret about well being, too. If that drops to 0, Shiren dies, and is returned to the village with nothing: gadgets misplaced, gold gone, ranges reset. However he’s smarter. New monsters are added to the sport’s encyclopedia with data on the best way to beat them. OK, wonderful. However what’s higher is the weapons you needed to attain, say, stage 10 to acquire can now begin exhibiting up in stage 1. So, the deeper you get, the better it’s to get again there. That’s what I didn’t perceive.
And getting again there stays enjoyable due to the brand new parts that pop up. You’ll get entry to secret routes. You’ll meet fellow adventurers (NPCs) who can be a part of and support you.
You’ll get new staves to make the most of in intelligent, life-saving methods. And for the reason that ranges are randomly generated, you’re by no means taking the identical path from entry level to stairs. Though, admittedly, some layouts will change into acquainted.
Different parts enable you in your manner. The controls of Shiren the Wanderer: The Thriller Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island are streamlined and intuitive. Steps are turn-based (for each step you are taking, the approaching enemies take theirs), however you management the pacing; run when there’s nobody round, take cautious steps when surrounded by enemies or wandering darkened mines that mean you can see just one grid sq. forward of you. The UI means that you can arrange your favourite gadgets for fast entry. Whenever you discover some wanted onigiri or a defend enhancement, however your stock is full, you may make the most of that merchandise with out having to first add it to your stock. There are numerous streamlined options like this to maintain you transferring.
There are additionally key selections to make as you progress. If you happen to discover the steps early on the map, do you progress forward or danger exploring to search out extra treasure? If you happen to meet the man who can transport one in all your gadgets again to the village for safekeeping, do you ship again your prized weapon for later makes an attempt or danger utilizing it on this try? Do you attempt battling via a monster room to reap its rewards or flee realizing your probabilities of survival are small? Must you placed on that bracelet earlier than you utilize an Determine Scroll to find out what it’ll do? Each journey is a chance, and also you’re not prone to attain the top with out taking quite a few dangers.
Fortunately, you could be rescued. If you happen to die, you’re in a position to name out for an internet rescue as much as 3 times per run. Different gamers can settle for your request. In the event that they’re profitable, you’ll begin again up proper the place you went down. You possibly can’t progress within the recreation till you’re rescued, you abandon the request, otherwise you rescue your self. So, what to do within the meantime? Rescue others for numerous rewards. There’s at all times one thing to do, even while you’re mendacity inclined on a mountain, surrounded by monsters.
In truth, there’s a lot to do even after you’ve accomplished the preliminary story and the credit roll. I did so after about 35 hours with the sport. That run consumed just below three of these hours and was fully surprising; it began as an try to easily advance a selected sidequest development. However because of an impressive defend, numerous revival grass, a trio of companions, and a heavy dose of luck, I used to be in a position to wrap all the pieces up. Or so I believed. Finishing the primary run opens up numerous difficult new areas. Even higher, you get to maintain all the pieces you had with you, and also you’re really given locations to retailer it. Now, all of that cash and all of these gadgets can be utilized as you search out treasure in new locations. Till you die in these, after all, so watch out what you are taking with you when exploring someplace new.
Irrespective of the place Shiren and Koppa discover themselves, the visuals stay enjoyable and vigorous. The music is even higher—amongst the perfect I’ve heard in a Change recreation. I additionally by no means received bored with the rousing level-up chant. Almost each side of the sport has one thing to please gamers as they take care of their frustration.
And you’re going to get annoyed, as the sport will usually bully you. You’ll die on stage two since you merely missed a punch. You’ll die on stage 28 due to a badly timed entice. An enemy will spoil your onigiri simply earlier than you had been about to eat it. Rescues can alleviate that frustration, however they gained’t take away that feeling of getting the rug pulled out from beneath you.
Accepting this, although, is liberating. Taking part in a recreation the place loss of life is a requirement is nearly cathartic, and I’m now hooked on the expertise. I tremendously loved Shiren the Wanderer: The Thriller Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island and can proceed to take action. Extra importantly, I’ve added it to my brief record of IPs the place I need to personal every recreation. I see that that is the sixth within the collection, so it appears like I’m set for an much more irritating journey. Higher refill on onigiri.
