Chunsoft's Mystery Dungeon series

Who's played these roguelikes? What do you think of them?

I personally am not much of a fan of the Pokemon games. But my favorites are definitely Torneko no Daibouken, Shiren The Wanderer DS, and Chocobos Dungeon 2.

Torneko no Daibouken is actually pretty basic, but I like how you can expand your shop the more you play. Adds more replayability (and Rogue Likes have more than enough of that to go around)

Nightmare of Druaga truly was a nightmare, though.

I've never played the Wii version of Chocobo's Dungeon. How is that one?

edited 23rd May '11 5:01:30 PM by Schitzo

I've played Pokemon Mystery Dungeon myself.

I probably have to try the pokemon ones again. Should I play both Blue Rescue Team and Explorers of Sky, or will just Explorers of Sky do?

The only roguelike I ever really liked was...Izuna Legend Of The Unemployed Ninja, and it's sequel.

I spent a fair amount of time munchkining in Chocobos Dungeon 2 to get to 999 HP. Didn't get quite to ultimate weapon status, but playing around with the stove was fun.

edited 23rd May '11 5:16:43 PM by Cliche

Izuna taught me that status buffs have higher priority over hitting hard almost every time.

And Signed, knowing you, I thought you would have liked Shiren The Wanderer? :/

edited 23rd May '11 5:18:48 PM by Schitzo

I've played Pokemon Mystery Dungeon and Shiren. Pokemon just bored me to death, it just really doesn't work for the roguelike genre in my opinion. Shiren was enjoyable but was ultimately too easy and a bit guide-dang-it-esque at times.

Do you have any idea how fast they sell out in game stores?...plus I suck at online purchases.

Mario Galaxy? They're still on the shelves even NOW. Games I want to play? They're sold out in a week.

...plus. Izuna and Shino had a Crossover appearance in Rondo Of Swords. Did Shiren appear as a Game-Breaker in Rondo Of Swords? I don't think so...granted Rondo Of Swords only had Izuna and Cotton as crossover characters...and Saber if Expies count.

edited 23rd May '11 5:37:35 PM by Signed

I've been playing Shiren the Wanderer for Wii... I'm trying to get some loot out of the Tsuzura Maze, this game's equivalent of Fay's Final Puzzle, but no such luck. One notable difference from FFP is that you can bring party members, and there are Escape Scrolls (already identified, no less!) and there are bosses; the first one of which drops an Escape Scroll, but none of which I have managed to reach. I'm hoping to find such gems as the Analyzer, Escapist, Discount, etc Armbands; basically the things that I couldn't manage in Sanuki Thicket. I have more morale in it for some reason but I don't seem to be having that much more luck.

Does anyone here have experience with Sanuki Thicket or this dungeon that could help me? I'm pretty good at stealing from this dungeon, but I can never seem to find a shop on the runs where I find Walrus Jars...

Tips: Eat Herbs as soon as you find them. When the Ghost Radish misses when it tries to shoot an herb, identify it as the Poison Herb immediately. Always check the jars you find by pushing it if it can be pushed, in a hallway just in case it's a Monster Jar. If it's a regular jar, use Put to see if it's a Hiding Jar; if it brings up items, it's a normal jar, Read Scrolls only when you are on the stairs after scouring the floor; we don't want to get an Overloaded Scroll or a Monster Scroll unexpectedly.

Check armbands like this; when you get one, walk into a wall, and in water. If you can actually do it, then you have an Escapist or Gerridae Armband, respectively. Don't dare to test for the former if you have 15 HP or less, however. Try shooting arrows; if it pierces, then it's a Pitcher's Armband; if it always seems to miss, then it's an Aching Armband. Remember that Dodgy Moles will avoid them anyway, so don't test on them.

The prices that the shopkeepers will give you for items can be very telling of what the item is; see http://akurasu.net/wiki/Fushigi_no_Dungeon_3/Item_Values. If a Shopkeeper sells an Armband for 10000 Gitan, buy it, because it will be either Sight, Discount (say no you won't pay to check if it is one), Escapist, or Analyzer. Same thing if it sells for 2000. An armband that is worth 5000 and sells for 1000 usually isn't worth keeping or buying, unless it makes your strength level red. (which means it is boosted, and that it is a Hercules Armband.) DO NOT eat herbs in the store that you need 1000 to buy; it is probably a Revival Herb.

About the game itself: I can't be the only one who loved Oboro...

edited 26th May '11 2:44:00 PM by TorchicBlaziken

I've played Chocobos Dungeon and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. i like both a lot! ^^

How is the Wii game, Torchic?

Well, you need to play on easy mode. In normal mode, it'll be a chore because needing to gather equipment for three characters in a game where you need to have good equipment to stand a chance in a dungeon even if your level is high, and where you can die easily, you'll need to go back to older levels over and over and over again every time you die. So you need to play on easy mode. Even in easy mode, you'll have to grind for levels, but at least you'll only be forced to grind for those.

The game is a bit like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon in that there are Escape Scrolls and many dungeons instead of one segmented one. It is also sort of easy in the main campaign if your level is high. But, the rescue feature is not in the English version because Atlus isn't good at Wifi (but couldn't they have at least kept the password rescue system?)

If you liked Shiren being an AFGNCAAP and the Excuse Plot and non-ubiquity of cutscenes in earlier games, then you might not like this one, since Shiren gets a backstory and there are loads of Unskippable Cutscenes. I enjoyed them, though; there's a lot of Shinto stuff. The post-game is really funny and doesn't really take itself seriously, but sadly, you cannot replay those cutscenes like you can the main campaign's.

In this game, there isn't much randomness in the items you will find in early dungeons unlike in other games where you might find a great item on an early floor. The post-game is where the challenge begins; really great items await in the Bonus Dungeons. There is a Bufu Cave (with a trick to escape from it like in the first game) as well as a hiding dungeon which there was in other Shiren games but not the first one, called the Shrine of Mystery (available as DLC in the Japanese version) where you are at level 1 and faced with very strong monsters who will surprise you in the corridors and pummel you in one hit, and you can find items such as Armband of Sight, Leaping Staff (works like a grappling hook) Knockback Staff, Exile Staff, Victory Herb, Haste Herb, and Hiding Jar to help you avoid your inevitable death. There's even a dungeon with 1000 floors!

In this game, at least when you're playing on Easy Mode, your items are a lot more permanent, but finding the best equipment is an adventure in itself.

The game really didn't balance out the party member system very well, though; you may find yourself going alone on dungeons where Fear Radishes are found, because, even in the post-game, it's game over if your partner dies. Even stepping on a One-Way Trap can be instant game-over, as it makes you keep walking in one direction and attack anything that blocks you (including walls)

edited 26th May '11 1:17:01 PM by TorchicBlaziken

Regarding the Pokemon games, Sky is the best one to get. And the games aren't continuous outside of a few returning tracks, so it's not like you won't understand the plot or anything. The soundtrack is amazing, the plot is highly praised, and it has a ton of bonus features. Gameplay is the divisive part. Either it's relaxing or boring. I personally like it, but sometimes I get sick of the longer dungeons.

I think Pokemon Mystery Dungeon's gonna be one of those "30 minute playing session" games for me then.

Isn't that the case for most Roguelikes?

not for me it isn't... unless I die

Trying out Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobos Dungeon.

Hrm... It's ok, for now. I still like Chocobos Dungeon 2 better. I don't really care for the story in this one.

Chocobo's Dungeon 2 was fucking amazing!

Unfortunately, I believe I lost my copy...

if only it was available for the PSN Store.

Chocobo's Dungeon 2 scared me senseless as a kid cause of Doom, the Grim reaper shopkeeper and who appeared in random treasure chests, And chased you if you used a Doom Card or spent too much time on the same floor.

I accidentally blew up the shopkeeper.

Explained: I was identifying items in a store, and one was a scroll. I read it, and it was an Explosion Scroll. I blew up, and the shopkeeper died.

And when I left, it counted me as a thief! Even though I had no way to pay!

Luckily, in the Wii Shiren equipping infinity plus 99 equipment, an Escapist Armband, and stocking a blessed Millennium Pill (works twice if blessed, and works like a revival herb and you get a free one-but-only-one after a side quest, like Yggdrasil dew.) can be enough to let you steal easily.