Is anyone out there playing Spelunky? Shea and I have become somewhat addicted by it, and I am surprised there isn't a forum topic about it yet. It is really must-have for anyone from the 8-bit console generation, and best of all, it is being freely released by its developer Derek Yu.
The game is essentially a platformer with procedurally generated levels where you play as an Indiana Jones type character searching for treasure and saving damsels in distress. The game is very unforgiving in that you will die a lot. Man-eating plants, the undead, spikes, arrow traps, bottomless pits, angry shopkeepers with shotguns are just some of the ways you will die. But, like Dwarf Fortress, losing is fun, and you'll always be eager to start up another game. There are also a lot of secrets to discover and items to try out.
You won't likely ever spend more than 10 minutes in a game, so there isn't a huge time commitment involved. Give it a try and tell me what you think!
This game is lots of fun! The game plays like La Mulana, where your intrepid adventurer delves deep underground searching for treasure, but the art reminds me of Cave Story. It is a charming game, but extremely unforgiving. The only way to regain (easily) lost health is to win a kiss from the maidens that have somehow managed to get themselves lost inside the cave. Usually each game ends in death fairly quickly, but what makes the game most interesting is that it plays differently every time. The levels are procedurally generated like nethack, so while you will meet certain familiar set pieces, the configurations are always different. As you descend deeper into the cavern the scenery and challenges also change. It goes from dusty tomb, to apparently subterranean jungle, and once I glimpsed vistas of ice on the lowest level I have managed to make it to.
Luckily there is a financially challenged tunnel digger that will build shortcuts to lower levels if you chip in a “modest” sum.
I also like how you are able to use equipment to alter the environment. You are equipped with bombs which can blast through inconvenient chambers, and ropes to help you scale cliffs safely. If you are lucky you might find some other equipment to aid you, or buy items by handing over some of your ill gotten treasure to certain... trigger happy... shopkeepers. My favorite item I've found so far is a pickaxe, a useful digging implement that unfortunately appears to have been made by the lowest bidder.
Anyway, I highly recommend giving the game a go, it really is a rare gem, and is definitely worth at least trying.
Seriously, this game is awesome. Also: Needs to be on XBLA and PSN, so every gamer can enjoy this gem.
Seriously, this game is awesome. Also: Needs to be on XBLA and PSN, so every gamer can enjoy this gem.
How far have you been able to get in the game, Kannon? I think Shea has gotten to the Ice levels, but I've yet to beat the jungle ones.
Sounds interesting. I'll have to give this a shot at some point tonight.
I prefer my nethack games as ascii. Graphics are for squares.
I prefer my nethack games as ascii. Graphics are for squares.
3D graphics are for cubes. 
I played a couple of games - it strikes me as a cross between the old arcade game Black Tiger and the Atari 2600's Pitfall II. It definitely punishes you, which I like.
I bought a couple gamepads for my computer and they arrived in the mail today. The game is even better now that I don't have to use a keyboard. Seriously, everyone should at least give this game a try.
I haven't put a lot of time into this game yet, but it's showing a lot of promise, especially for a game done in Game Maker. Plus it's Derek Yu. Enough said, this game wins.
I've gotten into the jungle levels, but haven't beaten them yet.
I made it to the Ice levels (!) and promptly died. I've decided the best tactic for the jungle levels is to just bomb your way down to the exit and not worry about getting gems and gold. And stay the hell away from those spiked totem poles.
I finally got a shortcut down to the ice levels. Spelunky is one of those games, that the first time you get to a new area, you'll get pwned. A lot. But, once you get your bearings, you can do pretty well.
My usual methodology to get through the jungle levels was to use the bombs and ropes freely. Always use the ropes/bombs to get around the spiky totem poles. But grab as many of the trapped gold statuettes as you can, as they generate a lot of cash, and can help you pay off the shortcut guy quickly.
Edit: The next level is... some form of tomb? Interesting, but insane.
I got to the ice levels again, and I was able to stay alive for a minute or so, but I did not live past my discovery of the bottomless pit. Also, UFOs? WTF, this is turning into Indiana Jones 4.
I got to the ice levels again, and I was able to stay alive for a minute or so, but I did not live past my discovery of the bottomless pit. Also, UFOs? WTF, this is turning into Indiana Jones 4.
Yeah, the insanity is kinda fun though. Watch the UFOs though, they go... boom. Chucking a rope at them is pretty effective though. And damned awesome.
There is a new version of Spelunky out, version 0.99. It has a number of gameplay additions and bug fixes.
--------------------
0.99 - 1/9/2009
--------------------+ Added to level editor:
+ "All" tiles, unlockable through play.
+ Users can choose starting life, bombs, and rope.
+ Users can choose music for each level.
+ Users can connect levels together.
+ Added: [SECRET] between areas 3 and 4.
+ Added: new content (it's a [SECRET]!).
+ Added: music and sound volume sliders to config screen.
+ Added: "start" button to joystick configuration.
+ Added: "x4" resolution option to config screen.
+ Added music: "ice.ogg".
+ Added: miscellaneous sound effects.= Improved level generation.
= Tweaked player movement.
= Tweaked some of the graphics.
= Shopkeepers no longer sell duplicates of one-use items.
= Transitions display items the player is carrying.
= Player now cannot have the jetpack and cape equipped at the same time.
= [SECRET] has a new property.
= [SECRET] damage is now based on [SECRET].
= Reduced music file sizes significantly.
= Made "title.ogg" and "cave.ogg" loop smoothly.- Fixed fatal error: finally, the last of the held item crashes (prays)?
- Fixed fatal error: jumping on [SECRET] could lead to a crash.
- Fixed fatal error: blowing up [SECRET] with bombs could lead to a crash.
- Fixed bug: being killed by [SECRET] would cause high scores to not be
counted.
- Fixed bug: money exploit.
- Fixed bug: on certain gamepads "up" always registered as being pressed.
- Fixed bug: shopkeeper follow AI would freak out if player was holding
a "for sale" item high enough above him.
- Fixed bug: [SECRET] was incomplete, buggy.
- Fixed bug: shotgun weirdness.
- Fixed bug: boulder weirdness.
- Fixed bug: crawling on ice was problematic.
- Fixed bug: a lot of other little things.
I only played one game, not because I didn't like it but because I clearly need to use a gamepad and I haven't bothered to install one yet.
Found a golden idol. Picked it up. Screen started shaking. As I am apparently COMPLETELY unversed in the adventures of one Indiana Jones, I stood there curiously waiting to see what might happen until a gigantic boulder dropped from the ceiling and crushed me.
Good fun.
Well, I beat the ice levels. I couldn't have done it without my shotgun and my jetpack, which I procured from killing shopkeepers. My demise came right at the beginning of the next set of levels. A shop was located next to the entrance. I got off one good shotgun blast at the shopkeeper, but he kept coming and killed me in one hit. Alas.
Shopkeepers have jetpacks?
Shopkeepers have jetpacks?
He wasn't using it. Just selling it. God, that would be scary though. Those guys are vicious when you piss them off.
Unfortunately, this game just crashes when I try to run it. The ol "This program has encountered a problem, send error report" dialog. Blah.
Edit- seems to work OK on my Mac/bootcamp under Fusion. So, it must be something funky with my main machine's config.
LobsterMobster wrote:Shopkeepers have jetpacks?
He wasn't using it. Just selling it. God, that would be scary though. Those guys are vicious when you piss them off.
Seriously. How do you manage to kill them? I beat one with a bomb and all it did was annoy him.
EriktheRed wrote:LobsterMobster wrote:Shopkeepers have jetpacks?
He wasn't using it. Just selling it. God, that would be scary though. Those guys are vicious when you piss them off.
Seriously. How do you manage to kill them? I beat one with a bomb and all it did was annoy him.
Well if you time it right, you can activate a bomb and wait until it is flashing fast, then throw it at him and jump immediately to avoid his shotgun blast. I can get that to work about 1/3 of the time. Or if you have sticky bombs you can stick a bomb to the floor of the shop from below and kill him that way. I've also managed to kill a couple with the rolling boulder traps. Just make sure the boulder has enough momentum to kill him, if you damage the shop without killing him, he will hunt your ass down.
The easiest way though is if it's a weapon shop with a shotgun, just grab it and blast the hell out of him before he can do anything. Once you have a shotgun you can kill just about anything with ease, which is important since every other shopkeeper in the game will be out for your blood.
Got it working on my main machine by installing the latest Nvidia drivers. Who would have thought this relatively primitive 2-d game needed the latest Forceware? 
Kannon wrote:EriktheRed wrote:LobsterMobster wrote:Shopkeepers have jetpacks?
He wasn't using it. Just selling it. God, that would be scary though. Those guys are vicious when you piss them off.
Seriously. How do you manage to kill them? I beat one with a bomb and all it did was annoy him.
Well if you time it right, you can activate a bomb and wait until it is flashing fast, then throw it at him and jump immediately to avoid his shotgun blast. I can get that to work about 1/3 of the time. Or if you have sticky bombs you can stick a bomb to the floor of the shop from below and kill him that way. I've also managed to kill a couple with the rolling boulder traps. Just make sure the boulder has enough momentum to kill him, if you damage the shop without killing him, he will hunt your ass down.
The easiest way though is if it's a weapon shop with a shotgun, just grab it and blast the hell out of him before he can do anything. Once you have a shotgun you can kill just about anything with ease, which is important since every other shopkeeper in the game will be out for your blood.
I always try and make it so the Golden Idol boulder takes them out. That's just fun.
This is great. A perfect airport game. Thanks for the tip.
I love the music.
Yay, update! Hopefully he fixed the bug where the game always starts in black. 
I have to restart the comp to get it to work again.
Has anyone managed to get an X360 controller to work with this? I love the X360 controller, I love that my PC recognizes it, but so far I have not been able to get ANY games to recognize it.
I really wish this game existed on the DS. It's perfect for a portable game.
Has anyone managed to get an X360 controller to work with this? I love the X360 controller, I love that my PC recognizes it, but so far I have not been able to get ANY games to recognize it.
That's just what I've been using for it. Didn't have to do anything special, just had to setup the joystick controls in-game for it.
Same here, it should work out of the box. If no games see it, I'd try reinstalling the drivers.
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