RoguecraftTable of ContentsIntroductionRoguecraft is a isometric, roguelike game written by Badger Punch Games and published by Thalamus. It bring the hero, who can be a warrior, a wizard, or a rogue, to explore 10 different procedurally-generated levels to fight monsters and collect gold and potions in a dungeon. The story is that of Zendar, who has been looking for this dungeon for many years after reading about in a mysterious Egyptian library. This dungeon is said to contain riches beyong imagination but also horrors beyond nightmares. Zendar will have to explore 10 different levels, fight 10 different kinds of monsters (plus a final boss!), and avoid 4 different sorts of traps to collect golds from chests and potions found lying around. He will also find secret rooms with more gold and maybe monster! He can also increase his health and strength after killing enough monsters... RealisationThe overall realisation of Roguecraft is great, with high quality, detailed graphics and very nice music and sound effects. Graphic DesignThe different levels of the dungeons are represented in beautiful isometrics graphics. Each level is procedurally-generated using common blocks, which all fit perfectly together. Each block seems to have been carefully and lovingly handcrafted. The general theme of the graphics is Lovecraftian horror cult, with Cthulhu-like statues, statues of strange birdmen, tapestries, crumbling walls, wooden and rock doors, metal bars jails, etc. Each level is composed of a maximum of 25 rooms, connected at the center of their edges. Most levels have less than 25 rooms to explore though. Each room can host monsters, gold chests, traps, and potions. One special room contains the portal to the next level. Once found (or revealed), it is marked by a blue dot on the map on the top-right of the screen. The screen is divided in four main sections. The top section shows on the left the usual health and strength bars depicted with shiny or dim red hearts and lit/unlit blue squares. On the center are the score and the level and its title. On the right is the in-game map showing the explored rooms as well as the unexplored ones if the "Reveal" potion is used (they will be dimmed). On the bottom left is the inventory showing up to five items that can be carried by the hero. Long-pressing the fire button allow moving from item to item, displaying their description. The bottom right shows the current magic effect if any, especially useful when freezing time to see how long before the monsters move again! Finally, the center and main section of the screen shows the room in which the hero is located. These rooms are usually square but can also be long corridors and T-shaped intersections. Doors to other rooms are illuminated, except, of course!, accesses to secret rooms
Musics and SoundsThe music is written by famous composer Jogeir Liljedahl and the sound effects by H0ffman. They all fit very well the theme of the game. In particular, the music is very nice and, although it repeats, it never becomes annoying and it very pleasant throughout the whole game. AnimationsThe hero and monsters are all animated carefully and beautifully. Although they seem to have just few frames while "standing", they are all animated when attacking. For example, Chicklothotep looks like a normal Chick Un but will change into a monstruous tentacles (?) when attacking the hero I noticed that the hero's movements become a bit more laggy when there are monsters in a room, probably because it's a role-playing game, with each character moving in turn... but nothing to worry, it doesn't affect the game play and doesn't make the hero vulnerable. GameplayThe game features three level of difficulty depending on the hero chosen at the beginning of a game: warrior (easiest), rogue (medium), and wizard (difficult). The difficulty depends on the strength of the hero: while the warrior can sustain some damage, the wizard will died almost immediately, even when facing Chick Un! An important feature of the game is that monsters do not actively attack you when you don't move, which allow appearing in a new level without fear but also entering a room without being attacked immediately Joystick ControlsThe game is supposed to be played with the joystick but I played it with the keyboard in WinUAE and it worked very well, no problem getting used to the control even with the isometric 3D perspective. QualityMiscGame ElementsHere are (all?) the main game elements and their descriptions. Collectibles
Dangers
MonstersThere seems to be 10 different monsters plus one boss in Roguecraft, which I present in alphabetical order, not in order of appearance! Different monster inflicts different damage, for example Chick Un only remove one heart while Dork Yung, three...
Tips and TricksSome room provide access to secret rooms. They are room with spare space on one of their side for another room but without the usual illuminated threshold. To discover and access a secret room, you must try to access an invisible room through a cracked wall (if visible from the isometric view) or path (if the wall is invisible). Spikes moves in three steps, with one being safe to move on. If you wait for the spikes to extend all the way, you can move on them next because they will retract entirely. If you use the potion to freeze time just before entering the portal to the next level, time will continue being frozen upon your arrival, giving you time to assess your new environment! ConclusionRoguecraft is great and a welcome new platformer in 2025 for our good ol' Amigas! Marks
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The last three changes:Tygre - 2025-06-21 23:58:31 | Tygre - 2025-06-21 23:51:24 | Tygre - 2025-06-21 23:42:46 |
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