The Thriller Dungeon video games share a core formulation: you get up as a human was a pocket monster, you select a companion, after which descend by procedurally generated dungeons to rescue your fellow Pokémon and uncover the explanation behind your transformation. It’s simple and kid-friendly, however the sequence does not draw back from complicated themes or difficult boss battles. All 11 entries on this spinoff franchise proceed the loop of dungeon spelunking and rescue missions, whereas layering on a dramatic plot that appeals to each followers of roguelikes and the basic Pokémon titles.
Rise and grind
The Thriller Dungeon franchise started with Pink & Blue Rescue Crew for Recreation Boy Advance and DS. It launched us to the sequence’s grid-based, turn-by-turn exploration the place you both seek for a staircase, a goal Pokémon, or an merchandise. The missions are repetitive, however sturdy theming for every dungeon and a rising moveset assist to maintain you engaged. Failure in a dungeon sends the participant again to city, and all carried cash and objects are forfeit. This harsh penalty is par for the course for followers of roguelikes.. Nevertheless, Thriller Dungeon softens the blow by letting gamers stash valuables within the city storage field between runs, differentiating it from harsher roguelikes like Shiren the Wanderer.
The subsequent installment, Explorers of Time & Darkness, made some main enhancements to the formulation, including new Pokémon from the fourth technology of and increasing the scale of the dungeons. It was actually extra Pokémon Thriller Dungeon, and that is all it wanted to be. The Time & Darkness video games launched new mechanics, such because the starvation meter and Monster Homes, mini-combat gauntlets with tons of enemies in a decent area. These additions made exploration rather more difficult and are an ideal callback to the roots of the roguelike style—video games like Eighties Rogue. The video games really feel extra like a normal roguelike thanks to those modifications, however one of the best enchancment is the sport’s story. Time & Darkness has an interesting narrative, emotional stakes, memorable character interactions, and feels unapologetically Pokémon. This period of Thriller Dungeon made narrative an important pillar to the franchise’s id, one thing much less widespread in roguelikes from the late ‘00s.
Explorers of Sky is the improved third model of the Time & Darkness video games. It doesn’t alter gameplay; as a substitute, it provides extra story and a layer of polish to Time & Darkness, protecting the problem intact whereas introducing correct post-game quests to present probably the most devoted gamers one thing new to attempt for.
A unsuitable flip
Picture: Spike Chunsoft Co. / The Pokemon Firm
The primary 3DS entry, 2012’s Gates to Infinity, reimagined the franchise in full 3D, but in addition marked the second the franchise started to say no in high quality. Gates to Infinity simplified the formulation to make it extra approachable, eliminating the flexibility to tackle a number of jobs without delay. No Pokémon is left behind with its change to the expertise system, and all factors are shared amongst all crew members. Late-game exploration is way much less grindy. Whereas all of those modifications could seem handy on the floor, they arrive at a price.
Gates to Infinity solely consists of fifth-generation Pokémon with a couple of sprinkled in from the earlier generations—this utterly gutted roster selection. Whereas the narrative is bold, it fails to match the highs of the earlier entry. Whereas Gates to Infinity has interesting visuals and music, it strips again the roguelike depth launched within the second technology of Thriller Dungeon video games, making it a step backward within the sequence catalog.
In distinction, 2015’s Tremendous Thriller Dungeon looks like an overcorrection. This 3DS title brings again the outdated type and content material: each Pokémon from the primary to sixth technology is recruitable, practically all the simplifications launched within the Gates to Infinity are absent. Prolonged tutorials and cutscenes bathroom down the early gameplay. Nevertheless, when you slog by the intro, the story turns into the most effective within the franchise. The issue, nonetheless, is that it boils the roguelike features of those video games all the way down to their naked necessities. Tremendous Thriller Dungeon’s ranges are randomized however not sufficient to really feel like the weather are literally altering. When you’ve seen one of many dungeon flooring, you’ve seen all of them. When in comparison with video games like Spelunky and The Binding of Isaac, Tremendous Thriller Dungeon opts to play it protected somewhat than trying to push the roguelike style into new territory. It’s extra of an “Oh, you need outdated Thriller Dungeon? Right here, now by no means ask me for something ever once more.” type of sport.
Picture: Spike Chunsoft Co / The Pokemon Firm
2020’s Pokémon Thriller Dungeon: Rescue Crew DX is one other step backwards, wallowing within the nostalgia of the unique video games as a substitute of doing something particularly attention-grabbing. It affords quite a few quality-of-life enhancements, comparable to streamlined menus and controls, in addition to the flexibility to skip the character quiz and easily select your most popular starter. It’s a wonderful method to expertise the primary video games in the event you haven’t already, and the refreshed artwork type is a pleasant plus, however in the event you’re conversant in the franchise, it’s a simple skip.
At its greatest, Pokémon Thriller Dungeon captures what makes each Pokémon and roguelikes so beloved: the sense that each journey issues. You may be scaling the extraordinary 99-floor gauntlet of Future Tower, and even simply rescuing a misplaced Caterpie. Even the best quests carry weight. That’s why, peaks and valleys apart, Thriller Dungeon is certainly one of Pokémon’s most significant experiments—and one of the vital essential roguelikes ever made.
