Reaping The Dungeon
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| Reaping The Dungeon | |
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| Developer(s) | Ron Heuse |
| Publisher(s) | Frontline Software |
| Version | 1.1 |
| Platform(s) | DOS |
| Release date | 1993 |
| Genre(s) | Roguelike |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Input methods | Keyboard |
Reaping The Dungeon (also known as Dungeon Rogue) is a MS-DOS shareware computer game written by Ron Heuse and originally released in 1993 by the now-defunct Frontline Software. It is a roguelike game with a science-fiction setting. It uses a modified character set as graphics and the internal speaker for sound.
Commercial distribution has been discontinued; registration now consists of linking to the author's website, subject to his review.
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[edit] Plot
In 2048, a research laboratory on Jupiter has built a device known as The Machine 650 meters below the surface. The Machine goes out of control and generates creatures, forcing researchers to escape underground. The player plays the part of a mercenary hired to retrieve the Oxide Rifle, hidden 150 meters beneath the surface. Once this weapon is retrieved, the player must then continue the descent, destroy the Machine, and restore order to the planet.
The shareware version ends once the Oxide Rifle is retrieved. At that point, the player is returned to the surface to save the game. In the full version, the player may then descend to 160 meters below to continue the game.
[edit] Gameplay
[edit] Vitals
There are three crucial statistics: Energy Cells, Oxygen Cells, and Health Cells.
- Energy Cells power the player's weapons and devices. All weapons and devices work on Energy Cells, with the exception of the Oxide Rifle that is fueled by Oxygen Cells.
- Oxygen Cells allow the player to breathe. Every turn, Oxygen Cells are consumed. If the player runs out of Oxygen Cells, one Health Cell per turn is consumed.
- Health Cells denote the health level of the player. They are consumed by creature attacks, falling into various traps and road blocks, and depletion of Oxygen Cells. If Health Cells are fully depleted, the player dies and the game is over.
There are multiple ways to restore cell levels. One can purchase cells from shops on every level, extract cells from various sources, or multiply existing cells by using stars.
[edit] Creatures
On each level, there are several creatures, the number of which increases as the player descends. The primary (but not mandatory) objective is to destroy every creature on a level. Killing all creatures on a level yields randomly selected bonuses, from which the player chooses one. One bonus always consists of credits, and the other three are usually based on the current level.
[edit] Skills
For every creature destroyed, the player will receive Raw Crystals. At lower depths, they can also be found on the ground. These can be used to improve many aspects of the player's character: defense against specific creature attacks, increased weapon effectiveness, cell yield from extraction efforts, Oxygen Cell consumption rate, range of vision, or the speed of the player character relative to creatures.
[edit] Reaping
As the name of the game implies, the caverns are filled with various treasures, all of which aid the player on his journey. Copper, silver, and gold can be found in clusters within large rooms, as well as diamonds. All of these can be sold at the shop for credits, the official currency of the game.
[edit] Items
Throughout the course of the game, the player will have the opportunity to purchase many weapons and devices. Every weapon and device starts with an base success rate; no weapon or device is guaranteed to work immediately. Successful usage will increase success rate. It is also possible to increase the success rates by spending credits or Raw Crystals.
