As much as I wish that English translations would materialize for the two Shiren the Wanderer games on Game Boy and Game Boy Color, alas, roguelikes remain a very elusive genre on the platform (at least Cave Noir has a translation, amirite?). Yes, we’ve had a handful of recent indie roguelikes, like Grave Rogue, which is solid in its own right. But I hunger for more, which is why I was very excited to discover Amiga’s popular indie roguelike Roguecraft has been ported to the Game Boy Color, and you can snag the ROM directly from Itch.io for $7.99, which is 20% off in celebration of the port’s launch.
Roguecraft doesn’t miss a step now that it’s 2D
15 minutes of gameplay recorded on Modretro Chromatic with OBS
Turning an isometric game into a 2D title is no easy feat, especially one that was originally designed for a 16-bit system and then ported to one that’s half that at 8-bit. And yet this is precisely what developer Badger Punch Games has done with its roguelike indie game Roguecraft. Better yet, the GBC port is pretty damn good, offering colorful pixel graphics that can stand up against any of the officially published titles from yesteryear, similar to the isometric graphics for the Amiga title, just flatter. That’s to say, the game looks great, even now that it is displayed in 2D.
However, I’m not so sure I’m a huge fan of the soundtrack. Parts of it are great, but the bassline can be grating. Thankfully, there is an option in-game to turn off the music with the Select button, which is greatly appreciated (sorry, SloppyGoop, maybe I’ll learn to like it with time). I did leave the music on for the gameplay video above, just so everyone can get a taste. The rest of the sound design is on point, so it’s still a pleasure to play with the music off.
Screenshot of gameplay from the mGBA emulator
Controls also work well. Traversing the map is a cinch, and so is attacking by simply pressing the D-pad in the direction of the enemy. It did take me a second to learn how to use my items, but really, all you do is hold the A button while navigating the five shortcuts on the bottom left of the screen. While there is no save functionality built into the Game Boy Color version, you can always use save states in an emulator or on a flash cart.
It would also appear that a Steam port of the isometric Amiga version is coming, with a page on the store already, though no release date or price just yet. Also of note, there is a physical Evercade cart available for Roguecraft DX, a port of the expanded version originally developed for the Amiga, complete with new monsters and five more levels over the base version. So even if you’re uninterested in the 2D GBC port and would prefer to play the isometric version, there’s no shortage of ways to play, from commercial carts to an upcoming Steam release.
There is one thing missing. Currently, there’s no physical cart available for Roguecraft’s new Game Boy Color release. But rather than begrudgingly making your own, hold tight: a physical release is planned, with the Itch.io listing directly mentioning a physical version “coming soon.” So if you’re a collector who would rather spend their money on a physical copy, rest assured, it’s planned. Still, if you’d like to get a taste of the GBC version right now, you’re free to snag the ROM while it’s on sale for 20% off. Just keep in mind this sale ends Sunday, January 8th, so don’t wait too long.
