Roguecraft (2024)

a COMMERCIAL game for Amiga OCS by ‘Badger Punch Games’
published by ‘Thalamus Digital’

Written for BrewOtaku #004 by Usman A. Khan

The developers admit tinkering with the palette and eventually landing on something that feels both familiar and fresh. From procedurally generated levels to awesome soundscapes, this roguelike is a dream for dungeon-crawling enthusiasts. At the heart of it is an engrossing story. Playing as ‘Zendar’, your journey begins after stumbling upon an ancient legend in an Egyptian library.

“Zendar’s Got a Brand New Dungeon”

The legend speaks of a mystical dungeon containing huge wealth and a magic amulet tied to an ancient dark being. Your task? Battle monsters, uncover secrets, and hopefully walk away with enough riches to become a king. Or, you know, face chilling horrors. The gameplay offers solid choices as you pick between playing a warrior, rogue, or mage — each with its unique difficulty level. The game unfolds at your pace, which means strategizing is key. Want to lure enemies into traps? Go for it, as it’s immensely satisfying. With the game’s procedurally generated levels, no two walkthroughs are ever the same, keeping things fresh with several room variations. The pixelated isometric graphics are a treat for any Amiga fan, while the Lovecraftian influence oozes from every dungeon level. The atmosphere gets darker and grittier as you progress, ratcheting up the tension.

Complementing the visuals is a riveting soundtrack by ‘Jogeir Liljedahl’ and sound effects by ‘h0ffman’, all of which immerse you deeper into the nightmare. The physical edition of the game adds a cherry on top, coming with a glossy box, CD, postcards, stickers, and more.

Conclusion

Roguecraft may have taken two years to develop, but this enhanced version of Rogue64 was well worth the wait. It’s a marvellous gem that absolutely belongs in your collection. And while there are no Easter eggs, you’ll find plenty of chickens, potions, and pickups to keep things cool. The procedural part adds up to the replay value, no doubt.

Link: https://thalamusdigital.itch.io/roguecraft