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Indie Games

Indie Gamer/noun/in-dee gam-er/1.Individual that values indie games 2. One who plays games made by other gamers 3. Innovative,fun,boring,dumb but above all else: for the love of the games.

The Indie-Games Soapbox


Welcome back everyone once again! This month I want to take a look at one of the greats amongst all the indie genres namely, the roguelike. There are a lot of games out there that have used the template of a little game by the name of Rogue. Nowadays there a lot of great Roguelikes out there and sometimes it can seem daunting having to sort through them all, so I figured it would be helpful to those of you unfamiliar with the genre to have a little bit of help navigating these dense waters.

Remember also to send me any suggestions for the showcase or any reviews of indie games that you have written that you would like me to showcase and I'll consider them for posting on this page.

Roguelikes


Beneath Apple Manor



People will probably always think of Rogue whenever they think of crawling through dungeons slaying monsters and acquiring loot but I would be remiss not to mention a game by the name of Beneath Apple Manor. BAM was created by a man named Don Worth a full two years before the release of Rogue. In BAM you will see many things that would become standard in the RL genre such as randomly generated content and turn based combat. While it doesn't sport the ASCII graphics that are most commonly associated with RLs today it does have a simple charm that definitely echoes the games that came after it. If you want to check out a piece of gaming history take a look a BAM.

Beneath Apple Manor Download
Don Worth's Website
Beneath Apple Manor GGE Profile

Rogue



The game that coined the term Roguelike, Rogue is seen as the progenitor of the Roguelike as we see it in it's current incarnation. Rogue uses the familiar mainstays of the RL genre: ASCII graphics, randomly generated dungeons, permanent death. At it's core Rogue is a very basic game but is still just as engaging and addictive as the games that took their inspiration from it.

Rogue Download
Rogue GGE Profile

Ancient Domains of Mystery




ADOM was actually the first RL I ever played so needless to say it has a very special place in my heart. The game takes the Rogue concept and really runs with it. Featuring an overworld, a immense variety of customization and some very deep gameplay, ADOM is a game that everyone should play at least once.


Ancient Domains of Mystery Download
Ancient Domains of Mystery Homepage
Ancient Domains of Mystery GGE Profile

Nethack




Nethack is a great game that has been in development for quite sometime now. It is Open Source and is maintained by a group of volunteers that update the game from time to time. The game itself is straightforward RL goodness. You will select a class in the beginning of the game which will align you to a particular deity and then you will descend into the depths to sacrifice the amulet of Yendor to your deity. The game is a classic in the genre and should not be missed!

Nethack Download
Nethack Homepage
Nethack GGE Profile

Iter Vehemens ad Necem




IVAN is definitely a entertaining and welcome addition to the RL genre. The game has some of the most outlandish, laugh out loud moments that you'll experience in a RL. Ever used your own limbs that have been severed to beat a monster to death? No? Well you will in IVAN. The gameplay is somewhat more simple then other RLs but is some of the best I have seen in the genre not to mention the obvious sense of humor that went into the game. Definitely download this one.

IVAN Download
IVAN Homepage
IVAN GGE Profile

DoomRL




DoomRL threw me for a curve ball. When I first heard of it I was apprehensive to say the least. How do you take Doom, a fast paced, FPS and then make it into a turn-based RL? Well after playing Doom RL I now know it is possible. Doom RL take all of the best elements of Doom (fast paced gunfights, inhuman monsters, great music and sound) and combines them with the best of the RL genre to make one of the best RLs I have had the pleasure of playing. Doom RL is a must have for anyone interested in RLs.

DoomRL Download
Doom RL Homepage
Doom RL GGE Profile

Dwarf Fortress




While many would argue that Dwarf Fortress isn't a RL per se I think it embodies at least the essence of an RL. It does have an adventurer mode which is more akin to the RL framework established before it but the real meat of Dwarf Fortress lies in the creation of an management of a fortress. You will start out with a group of Dwarves and from there you will begin to amass resources to build your fort. The game's strength lies in it's immense degree of detail which new players may feel daunting at first but once you get pass the curve you will find the most engaging and enjoyable RL experience yet.

Dwarf Fortress Download
Dwarf Fortress Homepage
Dwarf Fortress GGE Profile


Of course these are just a sampling of the RLs out there. If you want to find out more information about the Roguelike genre I would recommend you stop by Temple of the Roguelike and Rogue Basin.

Stay tuned for next month when I will talk about the The Independent Games Festival!

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