Spelunky Review - XBLA

[ItsThere]

So. Spelunking, or rather, Spelunky.

Whatever you do or don't know about this game the most important thing you haev to understand is that it is hard, but at the same time, it isn't hard.

A particularly skilled player could complete it (if one of the achievements is anything to go by) in less than 8 minutes though.

Chances are however, that you won't. You pick an adventurer and set off into a cave. By picking up a journal you access the tutorial which basically tells you all the moves you'll need to complete the game. You want get any new ones (per se) for the rest of the game. You have 4 hearts, lose them all or win a permadeath by spikes and it is back to the start of the cave. The very start.

Running, jumping, blowing up the randomly generated levels with bombs and collecting treasure is the order of the day here. Enemies are viscious and you only have a tiny little whip at your disposal and a head jump mechanic to kill them. Death is frequent and uncompromising. Traps litter the level and for anything that you encounter a journal entry is added. For the first time in a long while they are almost required reading, the journal might reveal some hidden trick to defeating an enemy.

There is a shop you can (randomly) encounter to upgrade your stash or abilities and there are hidden bonus treasures and damsels for you to collect. The damsels are particularly important, you need to pick them up and take them to the exit of the stage you are playing. Do this and you get a kiss, which obviously equates to another life point!

I haven't progress passed level 1-3 yet, only had a quick blast on it so far but I can see myself getting hooked. It is frustrating but you have the means to succeed from the beginning so player death is only ever your own fault. Graphics are lovley HD sprites that have a cute charm to them. Music is annoying but catchy.

Some people regard 1200 MSP as expensive but, really, it isn't. There is a great game here for anyone who has the patience to learn how to play it well. Old school cave adventuring should not be forgotten.

[charlesr]

Please can you update your post with some actual FP impressions when you get it

[ItsThere]

Please can you update your post with some actual FP impressions when you get it

Mai oui. Out today. Adding to queue now.

[ItsThere]

Actually played this now, impressions updated.

If you're on the fence I'd suggest getting the trial because I can see how this wouldn't be to everyones tastes.

[Lebowski]

Played the trial, and came to the conclusion that this is priced way to high for what it is, I can see its charm but the randomly generated levels let this down, I came across some cunning traps on some of my runs through and completly bland levels the next time. one level had me useing rocks to spring arrow traps and feeling quite good at getting some quite cunningly placed treasure. I conserved my energy well escaped a ghost and got down to level 1-3 with quite a big stash of gold then bang surprise instadeath everything wiped back to the beginning with no compulsion to try again,

Carefull progress and treasure hunting is a waste of time, as the game requires you to die multiple times to see how it's traps work, it's not untill your journal is full of the games dangers that you can attempt a full considered run through.

The game reminds me of limbo but imagine if every mistake or misstep sent you back to the start to run through everything again. Bill murry should star in this as it plays like bloody Groundhog day.

[toythatkills]

Carefull progress and treasure hunting is a waste of time, as the game requires you to die multiple times to see how it's traps work, it's not untill your journal is full of the games dangers that you can attempt a full considered run through.

That's the entire point. You can't learn the levels so you have to learn the enemies, and every time you see something new you have to observe it carefully, or get killed by it. Then the next time you're prepared. Learn by doing. The only real enemy in the game is yourself: it's rushing, it's not paying attention, it's going for that one little piece of treasure too many. If you die, it's because you made a mistake, it's never the game's fault.

I've played this 250 times so far, and died 250 times, and I think it's just about time I went back for more!

[fuse]

I bought into the hype and plumped 1200 down without even thinking about it; now, a little remorseful.

I don't particularly like the aesthetic, and whilst the random level generation is pretty neat I feel like whilst you're learning the ropes you really need to take your time as there's so many different ways you can get screwed. I would probably be dying much less often if I just held off on the run button, but it feels so slow and much less thrilling when I do...

It's not a bad game, but I can't help but feel I'd rather just be playing Super Meat Boy.

[Ouenben]

Was there really a need to create the thread for this before it was even out? :S

Played the trial and quite enjoyed it but I think I'll wait for it to come down in price.

[ItsThere]

Was there really a need to create the thread for this before it was even out? :S

Played the trial and quite enjoyed it but I think I'll wait for it to come down in price.

Yes. Yes there was.

[charlesr]

Is it just me or is there something off about the controls. Like getting off ladders seems to be a pita. And the edge grabbing feature that allows you to get up higher keeps snagging me when I didn't want to go up - they should have just let me jump higher.

[Lebowski]

That's the entire point. You can't learn the levels so you have to learn the enemies, and every time you see something new you have to observe it carefully, or get killed by it. Then the next time you're prepared. Learn by doing. The only real enemy in the game is yourself: it's rushing, it's not paying attention, it's going for that one little piece of treasure too many. If you die, it's because you made a mistake, it's never the game's fault.

I've played this 250 times so far, and died 250 times, and I think it's just about time I went back for more!

And that's why I don't like it I've never been a fan of trial and error gameplay I much prefer something that doesn't punish you for exploring and experimenting.

[Mayhem]

Is it just me or is there something off about the controls. Like getting off ladders seems to be a pita. And the edge grabbing feature that allows you to get up higher keeps snagging me when I didn't want to go up - they should have just let me jump higher.

Yeah, I agree about ladders, you have to jump off by the looks of it, couldn't just move left or right when at the top of them...

[toythatkills]

And that's why I don't like it I've never been a fan of trial and error gameplay I much prefer something that doesn't punish you for exploring and experimenting.

It depends what you see as punishment. You see going back to the start as punishment, whereas I see it as an opportunity to do better next time. I haven't once felt like I was being punished.

I think it helps that most of my deaths have been totally comical. Even when I'm on a good run if I do something stupid that ends in my death I just laugh at it rather than getting annoyed at it. I guess I'm just more laid back than most when it comes to stuff like this. I don't get frustrated.

[Tig]

I liked Eurogamer's description of this:

This week's Xbox Live Arcade gem is a brilliant hybrid of roguelike and cheerful retro platform game; it's Dark Souls meets Boulder Dash.

I'm actually surprised that it hasn't got more love from the Dark Souls fans on here, given the game's similar philosophy.

[Sketcz]

I'm actually surprised that it hasn't got more love from the Dark Souls fans on here, given the game's similar philosophy.

But it's not even a remotely similar philosophy. DS had very precise enemy placement and level structures - it was built like a Swiss Watch, everything in a very specific place, designed for learning, understanding and beating, whereas Spelunky is randomised.