The Accessible Rogue

spelk · November 07, 2012, 07:59:58 PM

I did a piece looking at some of the newer more accessible rogue-likes, mainly to use them as door-openers, for folks to explore the world of rogue-likes.
http://sugarfreegamer.com/?p=83125

son_of_montfort · November 07, 2012, 09:59:51 PM

NICE!! I am dl'ing TOME, because I liked the older versions and didn't know about the new one.

I was a proud supporter of the new ADOM project and I can't wait until that gets all nice and pretty, so I can play it!

Nefaro · November 08, 2012, 12:05:47 AM

Quote from: son_of_montfort on November 07, 2012, 09:59:51 PM
NICE!! I am dl'ing TOME, because I liked the older versions and didn't know about the new one.

I was a proud supporter of the new ADOM project and I can't wait until that gets all nice and pretty, so I can play it!

TOME is great. I'd say the best of the polished ones out there.

I even signed up so I could log in while playing and see what people would be chattering about. Not a lot of chat, but you get to see the "Player X Killed by Monster Y" messages all the time. It's amazing that even with just a few people logged in and playing end up dying so much BUAHAH!

Nefaro · November 08, 2012, 12:20:23 AM

Did you ever check out some of the other Roguelikes I listed in this thread? Or were you only going for the purely fantasy setting in your list of extra roguies?

http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=3090.0

and don't forget WazHack as one of those high-fantasy rogues that's commercially available:

http://www.desura.com/games/wazhack

spelk · November 08, 2012, 04:28:35 AM

Quote from: Nefaro on November 08, 2012, 12:20:23 AM
Did you ever check out some of the other Roguelikes I listed in this thread? Or were you only going for the purely fantasy setting in your list of extra roguies?
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=3090.0

I did look at some of the dungeon crawlers you posted up there, but mainly I've been soaking myself in "proper" 2d top-down fantasy based rogue-likes recently, with a view to distilling the many I've dabbled in, into a short list of recommended "starters", for my blog post.

Quote from: Nefaro on November 08, 2012, 12:20:23 AM
and don't forget WazHack as one of those high-fantasy rogues that's commercially available:
http://www.desura.com/games/wazhack

Oh yeah, I've played WazHack on both PC and Android. I really wanted to keep to the more traditional formula, rather than take in any hybrids such as WazHack, or Spelunky, or even A Valley Without Wind. The Binding of Isaac or FTL are recent offerings too.

A great number of the 7 Day Rogue Likes (7DRL) are short and inventive attempts at pushing the boundaries of rogue-likes, and they're worth exploring once you've got your foot in the door so to speak.

There's just so much gaming on offer in the rogue-like world, and much of it is hidden away - enjoyed by only a few. As with all other areas of gaming, I just wanted to help folks ease themselves gently into this spooky and mystical world, so I kept my suggestions limited to traditional rogue-like mechanics, but with a pleasing or more palatable presentation style.

I'm not averse to the textual purity of rogue-likes, which a lot of players seem to insist on. In fact QuickHack and Sword in Hand are two of my "fascinating dabblers" at the moment.

Nefaro · November 08, 2012, 08:52:15 AM

There certainly seems to be no end to them. Whenever I try digging around for more, I'm often surprised by something I've never seen before.

PanzersEast · November 08, 2012, 09:04:20 AM

A couple....

Cataclysm: A Roguelike
http://whalesdev.com/forums/index.php
A survival game where you wonder around finding items to survive.

Project Zomboid
http://projectzomboid.com/
Same as above, but graphical interface

</rouguelike>

Running with Rifles
http://www.modulaatio.com/runningwithrifles/
While this is not a roguelike, it is a very fun game... I've had it since the early stages and I get a kick out of it.

PE

son_of_montfort · November 08, 2012, 11:31:30 AM

My favorite is and always will be UnReal World. But I have such a tough time keeping it updated and I don't like the pricing scheme. I'm too chicken to buy the lifetime updates, because I once lost the unlock file and he isn't particularly good about providing those again.

PanzersEast · November 08, 2012, 11:33:15 AM

Quote from: son_of_montfort on November 08, 2012, 11:31:30 AM
My favorite is and always will be UnReal World. But I have such a tough time keeping it updated and I don't like the pricing scheme. I'm too chicken to buy the lifetime updates, because I once lost the unlock file and he isn't particularly good about providing those again.

That is an awesome game, however it is very tough one and add the fact like you said the pricing scheme is very weird... Lifetime updates was out for me because who knows how long or when it will be updated.

PE

son_of_montfort · November 08, 2012, 11:37:27 AM

Right after saying that, I just ponied up for lifetime. I've re-bought it so many times, it just seemed the better choice. And I was like ten updates behind in versions. He seems to be active, so I figure - what the heck.

PanzersEast · November 08, 2012, 12:07:17 PM

Quote from: son_of_montfort on November 08, 2012, 11:37:27 AM
Right after saying that, I just ponied up for lifetime. I've re-bought it so many times, it just seemed the better choice. And I was like ten updates behind in versions. He seems to be active, so I figure - what the heck.

I have considered many times doing the same.... but I have always held back because of the unknown. It is a great and challenging game... to me better than most.

PE

spelk · November 08, 2012, 06:14:16 PM

I haven't played it recently, but is that the viking, photoshopped snaps with filters game? I didn't think much to it, when I tried the demo, but I wasn't in the "rogue-like zone", like I am now.

I'm utterly entranced by them now. I've been playing that QuickHack over and over again, and it's graphics are just slightly modified ASCII. The action is just so moorish.

My twisted mind, is trying to find a design concept for depicting some wargaming scenarios in a rogue-like! I want to see a "horde mode" rogue-like, based on the Battle of Rorke's Drift. I'm sure there should be some sort of medication I can take to stop me thinking these things... :)

Nefaro · November 15, 2012, 02:53:39 AM

Quote from: PanzersEast on November 08, 2012, 09:04:20 AM

Cataclysm: A Roguelike
http://whalesdev.com/forums/index.php
A survival game where you wonder around finding items to survive.

I've been playing NEO Scavenger beta a fair bit, lately, and it's definitely got it's own Survival Roguelike feel to it. I'm looking forward to a finalized and bug-free version, as the occasional interface bug that places an inventory item into an inaccessible location has been an issue. That's what betas are for, right?

spelk · November 15, 2012, 04:24:34 PM

I bought NEO Scavanger, but haven't put much time into it... theres just so many RL's to explore! :)

I will get round to it though, perhaps a few more patching sessions and I'll dive into it whole-heartedly. It's in my Desura collection.

Been trying to fathom out Epilogue too. I seem to just die in a hail of shmup style laser pulses!
http://kraflab.com/blog/?page_id=16

Have I mentioned The Slimy Lichmummy? It's very Cthulhu-esque, or at least thats my take on it.
http://www.happyponyland.net/roguelike.php

Still ploughing through the 7DRL's developed by Jeff Lait at Zincland, he's the geezer behind Powder. He always has some interesting twists in his efforts.
http://zincland.com/

Nefaro · November 15, 2012, 06:58:16 PM

Quote from: spelk on November 15, 2012, 04:24:34 PM
I bought NEO Scavanger, but haven't put much time into it... theres just so many RL's to explore! :)

I will get round to it though, perhaps a few more patching sessions and I'll dive into it whole-heartedly. It's in my Desura collection.

Been trying to fathom out Epilogue too. I seem to just die in a hail of shmup style laser pulses!
http://kraflab.com/blog/?page_id=16

Epilogue still feels like it needs more "stuff" and some more mechanics to it, but the developer has been saying he wants to wrap it up and call it done. Must be getting bored with it. I think it has potential but it may never be reached. :(

Quote
Have I mentioned The Slimy Lichmummy? It's very Cthulhu-esque, or at least thats my take on it.
http://www.happyponyland.net/roguelike.php

While TSL is relatively painless in the ASCII department, I've sworn off those eye-bruisers for good. They gotta have a full tileset for me to even touch them these days. :-\

Quote
Still ploughing through the 7DRL's developed by Jeff Lait at Zincland, he's the geezer behind Powder. He always has some interesting twists in his efforts.
http://zincland.com/

While Powder is nice for it's easier interface, I'm still not sure about the content end. I must have been too spoiled on some of the more mature/developed ones, sohaven't got into the 7DRLs much just because they do feel like rush jobs in the content department and can be a little too cookie cutter for me.