maxlords
03-24-2005, 12:21 PM
Sleeper of the Week: Dungeon Explorer (TG16)
Here we are again with another odd little game! Don’t judge this one by its cover because holy crap does it have some weird cover art. Dungeon Explorer is one of those games that’s kind of hard to describe. The best way that I can think of is to say that it’s a 5 player simultaneous action game that’s a cross between Gauntlet and Zelda, if that makes any sense at all.
The story, as with many older games, is quite thin. Find a sacred stone and return peace to the land. Got it. Check. Rocks bring peace. But story isn’t really what this game is all about. We’re talking a lot of action here. Tons of dungeons everywhere you go make exploring a constant surprise. Well, maybe not too surprising due to the fact that the name of the game is Dungeon Explorer. However, the dungeons are many and quite varied. They remind me of Zelda-style dungeons but with less puzzles. The game really is about halfway between Gauntlet and Zelda. There are towns where you can talk to people, and you have your choice of eight characters and can find more along the way. You can even switch between characters if you like, and they all have different strengths and weaknesses, different ranges, etc.
As for the gameplay, it’s very simple. If it moves and it’s not from your party, kill it. Got that? Good. Neat bosses, tons of monsters, and a simple control scheme all await you. You’re provided with two attack buttons, one for weapons, one for magic, and you can use the select button to change between types of magic. That’s about it. I guess the designers decided that keeping things simple was the best way to go, and I don’t think they were wrong. The game isn’t complicated, but it’s very long, and quite fun. I could care less about the story on this one, I just have fun playing it, which of course was the intent.
There are eight playable characters, the fighter, thief, warlock, witch, bard, bishop, elf, and knome. Yes, that’s right, knome. It’s nice to know that the English language is alive and flourishing isn’t it? There are two types of magic as well, white (defensive) and black (offensive). I must say that while most of the magic is your standard stuff, my favorite spell ever is the black magic “Music” spell, which allows you to change the background music when you use it. I still haven’t figured out how this is an offensive spell. Maybe the music itself is offensive, or maybe all the monsters can hear the background music. Either way, it’s kinda funny. On top of the weapons and magic you also get accessories to boost your stats. They’re all pretty standard items, but you’ll need them.
All in all, Dungeon Explorer is a pretty straightforward action/adventure game. The thing is, no one really played it, partly because it originally came out on the Turbografx 16, but also because it’s just not something that looks all that great until you try it. The game was also released for the Sega CD, but it’s actually a completely different game with the same designs and concepts. I’ve only had a chance to play the TG16 one however, so if you like this one, you may want to pick up the Sega CD version as well. Dungeon Explorer for TG16 will usually cost around $10-15 for a complete one, and up to around $20-25 for a copy with the cardboard box as well. The Sega CD version is also around the same price. There’s actually a TG16 sequel as well, but it’s a Super CD game, and quite rare. Dungeon Explorer II has tons more characters, CD quality sound, and pretty much the same gameplay, but expect to pay upwards of $75-80 for it. The copy of Dungeon Explorer II that I got a few years back ran me $100. Try the original and see if you like it. They’re a fun little series of games and well worth playing!
Here we are again with another odd little game! Don’t judge this one by its cover because holy crap does it have some weird cover art. Dungeon Explorer is one of those games that’s kind of hard to describe. The best way that I can think of is to say that it’s a 5 player simultaneous action game that’s a cross between Gauntlet and Zelda, if that makes any sense at all.
The story, as with many older games, is quite thin. Find a sacred stone and return peace to the land. Got it. Check. Rocks bring peace. But story isn’t really what this game is all about. We’re talking a lot of action here. Tons of dungeons everywhere you go make exploring a constant surprise. Well, maybe not too surprising due to the fact that the name of the game is Dungeon Explorer. However, the dungeons are many and quite varied. They remind me of Zelda-style dungeons but with less puzzles. The game really is about halfway between Gauntlet and Zelda. There are towns where you can talk to people, and you have your choice of eight characters and can find more along the way. You can even switch between characters if you like, and they all have different strengths and weaknesses, different ranges, etc.
As for the gameplay, it’s very simple. If it moves and it’s not from your party, kill it. Got that? Good. Neat bosses, tons of monsters, and a simple control scheme all await you. You’re provided with two attack buttons, one for weapons, one for magic, and you can use the select button to change between types of magic. That’s about it. I guess the designers decided that keeping things simple was the best way to go, and I don’t think they were wrong. The game isn’t complicated, but it’s very long, and quite fun. I could care less about the story on this one, I just have fun playing it, which of course was the intent.
There are eight playable characters, the fighter, thief, warlock, witch, bard, bishop, elf, and knome. Yes, that’s right, knome. It’s nice to know that the English language is alive and flourishing isn’t it? There are two types of magic as well, white (defensive) and black (offensive). I must say that while most of the magic is your standard stuff, my favorite spell ever is the black magic “Music” spell, which allows you to change the background music when you use it. I still haven’t figured out how this is an offensive spell. Maybe the music itself is offensive, or maybe all the monsters can hear the background music. Either way, it’s kinda funny. On top of the weapons and magic you also get accessories to boost your stats. They’re all pretty standard items, but you’ll need them.
All in all, Dungeon Explorer is a pretty straightforward action/adventure game. The thing is, no one really played it, partly because it originally came out on the Turbografx 16, but also because it’s just not something that looks all that great until you try it. The game was also released for the Sega CD, but it’s actually a completely different game with the same designs and concepts. I’ve only had a chance to play the TG16 one however, so if you like this one, you may want to pick up the Sega CD version as well. Dungeon Explorer for TG16 will usually cost around $10-15 for a complete one, and up to around $20-25 for a copy with the cardboard box as well. The Sega CD version is also around the same price. There’s actually a TG16 sequel as well, but it’s a Super CD game, and quite rare. Dungeon Explorer II has tons more characters, CD quality sound, and pretty much the same gameplay, but expect to pay upwards of $75-80 for it. The copy of Dungeon Explorer II that I got a few years back ran me $100. Try the original and see if you like it. They’re a fun little series of games and well worth playing!