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 rapidly moved on.
The identical would possibly’ve occurred right here if I weren’t reviewing this recreation. I didn’t get the roguelike strategy. I wasn’t prepared to just accept demise 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, in fact. This evaluation 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 buddy, 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 rapidly discover themselves battling a fierce monster…who kills them. However demise 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 objective is to traverse the primary story’s 31 ranges to return to that monster, resolve the thriller of the kidnapped lady, and obtain his treasure. He does this by getting into randomly generated “dungeons” which can be populated with enemies and traps.
Fortunately, useful gadgets can even 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 as a way to proceed.
After all, 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 tips on how to beat them. OK, tremendous. 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 simpler 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 assist 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 turn into acquainted.
Different parts assist you in your method. 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 permit you to see just one grid sq. forward of you. The UI means that you can arrange your favourite gadgets for fast entry. If you discover some wanted onigiri or a protect 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 various streamlined options like this to maintain you shifting.
There are additionally key choices to make as you progress. In case you discover the steps early on the map, do you progress forward or threat exploring to search out extra treasure? In case you meet the guy who can transport one in every of your gadgets again to the village for safekeeping, do you ship again your prized weapon for later makes an attempt or threat utilizing it on this try? Do you strive battling by a monster room to reap its rewards or flee understanding your possibilities of survival are small? Do you have to placed on that bracelet earlier than you employ an Determine Scroll to find out what it’ll do? Each journey is a big gamble, and also you’re not prone to attain the top with out taking quite a few dangers.
Fortunately, you will be rescued. In case you die, you’re capable of name out for a web based 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’ll be able to’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 all the time one thing to do, even whenever you’re mendacity susceptible on a mountain, surrounded by monsters.
In truth, there’s lots 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 specific sidequest development. However due to an impressive protect, plenty of revival grass, a trio of companions, and a heavy dose of luck, I used to be capable of wrap every part up. Or so I believed. Finishing the primary run opens up plenty of difficult new areas. Even higher, you get to maintain every part 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, in fact, so watch out what you are taking with you when exploring someplace new.
Regardless of the place Shiren and Koppa discover themselves, the visuals stay enjoyable and energetic. The music is even higher—amongst the most effective I’ve heard in a Change recreation. I additionally by no means obtained bored with the rousing level-up chant. Almost each facet of the sport has one thing to please gamers as they cope with their frustration.
And you’ll get pissed off, as the sport will typically 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 lure. An enemy will spoil your onigiri simply earlier than you have 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 underneath you.
Accepting this, although, is liberating. Enjoying a recreation the place demise 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 listing of IPs the place I wish to personal every recreation. I see that that is the sixth within the sequence, so it appears to be like like I’m set for an much more irritating journey. Higher fill up on onigiri.