Topic: Spelunky

[idolminds]

I did a search, and I find it hard to believe this wasn't mentioned anywhere on the boards yet.

You can get the latest version right here. Its still technically beta but trust me, you won't care. The official description:

Probably the easiest way to describe Spelunky is that it's (kind of) like La Mulana meets Nethack - every time you play the levels, items, monsters, and so forth, are all procedurally-generated.  And the terrain is destructible and there are quite a few ways in which the various game elements can interact with one another.

My goal was to create a fast-paced platform game that had the kind of tension, re-playability, and variety of a roguelike.  In roguelikes, the gameplay tells the story, and I wanted to give Spelunky that type of a feeling... but make the player rely on their reflexes rather than their brain (or knowledge of what 50 billion command keys do!).  If there's a best of both worlds, that's what I was trying to go for.

You play an Indiana Jones style explorer with a whip. The caves and dungeons are all randomly generated. Its a side scrolling platformer. Trust me, its great. I had an issue earlier with some graphical corruption or something, so I didnt really play the game. Not sure what changed, but I unzipped the files again and now the thing works fine and I'm hooked.

[Quemaqua]

I really need to grab this for the laptop.  Thanks for the reminder!

[idolminds]

Update on my playing.

Furthest down I've reached is area 3, the ice levels. I only made it there once so far, so I need to make some return trips to pay Tunnel Man. He will dig a tunnel from the main menu to the first level of each area for a fee. A large fee. Got the Area 2 tunnel, which helps so I can practice those levels.

My last 2 runs were quite entertaining. The first I had some good luck, bought some climbing gloves at a shop which made navigation much easier (not to mention loot gathering!). I also picked up a parachute, and killed a giant spider (so I had sticky bombs). I eventually found a golden idol, avoided the boulder trap, and using the idol to set off arrow traps I made my way to the exit...only to get greedy and not notice the last arrow trap 3 squares from the exit. Dead.

I set off again! This time I spent a lot of time collecting loot and to my good fortune, had a bunch of women to save. In all I saved 4 lovely ladies. (for those that don't know, saving women is the only way to gain health. Take her to an exit and you gain 1HP.) First few levels weren't that interesting other than that, but I did kill another giant spider. Then in a crate on level 6 I found a shotgun! It was great, blasting bad dudes and racking up a nice kill count. Sadly my killing spree was ended after a run in with a spike trap, some frogs, and a large fall.

[Quemaqua]

Were you to read a transcript of idol's day-to-day activities, you'd realize this is stuff he does quite often.  Lots of ladies, shotguns, and spike traps.

[Ghandi]

Downloaded this today and played it for just a few minutes. It's fun - haven't played it long enough yet to comment, though. Need more beer / pot before I begin to delve into it more.

[idolminds]

Note to self: Do not attempt to rob the shopkeeper with a bow and arrow. It ends in tragedy.

The game gets more fun once you get a handle on how to play "properly". Since its a platformer, at first you're tempted to run-and-jump like other platformers. That usually ends up getting you killed. You need to slow down a little, think before you leap. That goes at odds with the level timers (no real hard limit but if you hang around too long....you'll find out), but I've gotten a nice balance going with speed and carefulness.

Collecting treasure is fun, and you start thinking risk vs reward. Theres a little gold over there, but to get back out you'll have to use a rope or a bomb. Is it worth it? Maybe not. If its a crate, it might have ropes or bombs in it so generally its worth checking crates out.

[idolminds]

I love this game so very much.

I started a "quick game". Figured I'd die quick...time killer game, you know? I started at level one and ended up powering down to level 9! I saved a damsel in the first 4 levels, so I had a good amount of health going into the jungle levels. Lost a few HP due to some bad luck in one of the dark stages. Had 1HP and was able to save a damsel so it wasn't insta-death on my next mistake.

Went through the jungle maps fairly quickly. Guess it was a lucky break that the levels had a pretty clear shot straight down to the exit. It was easier, but I didn't collect much gold. I had gathered a lot in the caves, so wasn't too worried. I just wanted to reach the Tunnel Man and give him some cash!

The last level before Tunnel Man I got to the area above the exit. I scanned the path to the exit and...it was rough looking. Couple frogs, a pool of water with some piranhas in it, a caveman, and it was all generally a tight squeeze with a low ceiling. With only 2HP it was going to be hard if not impossible. Luckily I had picked up a bunch of bombs, I had like 12 of them. So instead of going through that mess of enemies I blew a path through the rock right to the exit. SUCCESS! I met the Tunnel Man and he wanted $200,000 for the tunnel. I gave him everything I had, $78,000. If I can do another run or 2 like that I'll have a path to the ice levels!

Speaking of, I died quickly in the ice levels. Yeti are everywhere, ice blocks cause you to slide, and I don't think there is a bottom to the map. HARD.

[gpw11]

Note to self: Do not attempt to rob the shopkeeper with a bow and arrow. It ends in tragedy.

There's been a thread up on Something Awful for a while about this called "Spelunky: Don't steal from the shop"  Kind of catchy.  Anyways, I'll check this out on my laptop...apparently it's from one of the creators of Aquaria?

[idolminds]

Yeah, Derek Yu also worked on Aquaria.

Currently, shops aren't that useful unless you steal from them. Everything costs so damn much that you can't afford anything until deep in the dungeon, but you need the stuff to even make it that far. Derek mentioned in the Tigsource thread that in the next version item costs have been lowered so you aren't forced to rob the shop to get anything.

If you do rob a shop, remember: Shotguns are free...as well as everything else in the shop selling the shotgun.

[idolminds]

v0.99.9 is out!

+ Added to level editor:
   + Trees and tree branches.
   + Adding "!" to the front of a level name will make it not appear in
     the Load Level menu.
   + Pressing the attack button will now start a test game.
   - Fixed bug: entering a new custom level from a previous one would
     reset the amount of life, ropes, and bombs.
   - Fixed bug: certain objects could not be deleted properly.
+ Added new item.

= Separated config menu from main game (config.exe).
= Lowered shop prices.
= Increased scarab value.
= Made chests more worthwhile.
= Changed craps houses to dice houses with new rules (no cheating!).
= Changed the way that flares work (no more flare button).
= Increased radius of explosions horizontally.
= Trees can now be climbed without the aid of items.
= Tweaked altars.
= Tweaked player movement and physics.
= Beefed up machete.
= Bow has a special action.
= Each bow now gives the player 6 arrows.
= Players can now exit the tutorial level to the title screen.
= Miscellaneous other tweaks and improvements.

- Fixed bug: on some configurations, joysticks were not detected by game.
- Fixed bug: in certain situations arrow traps would not fire when they should.
- Fixed bug: locked chest would not always appear when it should.
- Fixed bug: ceiling traps were rendered inactive in last build.
- Fixed bug: ceiling traps could still cause damage while inactive.
- Fixed bug: being hit by a projectile while holding an item and switched to a
  bomb or rope would cause you to lose the item.
- Fixed bug: shopkeeper could shoot you through a single tile.
- Fixed bug: held damsel would drop inappropriately when near spear trap.
- Fixed various bugs involving the player and ladders.
- Fixed bug: getting stunned on a spring would cause you to bounce extra high.
- Fixed bug: teleporting could cause the player to "land" in mid-air.
- Fixed bug: dropping blocks on [SECRET]'s head incapacitated him.
- Fixed a lot of other miscellaneous bugs and graphical glitches.

[Quemaqua]

Holy crap, nice update.  This game is awesome +2.

[idolminds]

Shop prices are indeed lower, which is great! Now you can actually buy stuff instead of trying to rob the place every time. Of course, the first two shops I ran into had shotguns in them so...why pay when you don't have to?



Because the shopkeeper that guards the exit to the level with rip you a new asshole, thats why. +1 death.

Being able to climb trees will be great. Before they were mostly a barrier. If it didnt have enough branches you might not be able to climb it, so you had to spend a rope or a bomb to get around it.

[idolminds]

1.0 released!

Plus hes going to make the game open source on PC so people can add all sorts of fun stuff, AND hes making a version for XBLA.

[Cobra951]

Neat, but buggy.  The music sometimes gets way loud on room transitions.  If you use the rope by accident in the tutorial cave (before learning about it) you're stuck.  I know (now) that using the rope properly is important, but you shouldn't get stuck hopelessly and without any feedback in a tutorial.  When I quit, the whole screen went black (playing in window mode).  Then I got an abnormal termination (program crash) in the Spelunky app.  I had to use the show-desktop icon to bring it back.

I guess I should post this in the game's page (if it has a forum).

[Quemaqua]

Well, it is made by a single dude and is entirely free, so you can't expect too much.  That said, I've never experienced any of those problems.

If you do want to post, I think there's still a gigantor thread over at tigsource (which is where you'll find Derek most consistently, I think).

[Quemaqua]

A nice writeup on the game that I missed from earlier in the year.

I still haven't gotten around to downloading the latest version of this.  I really need to do that.

[idolminds]

Necrobump!

Spelunky XBLA launch trailer

I am so deeply saddened that this isn't planned for a PC release. I mean, you make an amazing game thats popular on PC and then make a big huge improved version for a completely different platform? Come on! I want to buy this!

[Cobra951]

I imagine it will see a Steam release after it makes some money on the console(s?).  Stuff like this is way too easy to pirate on PC.

Not coming this week, though.  Damn.  (Adventures of Shuggy?  Never heard of it.)

[idolminds]

Wow, thats coming to XBLA? I remember playing Shuggy on PC like 2 years ago. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

[Cobra951]

It's out for XBLA.  Very pretty and refined version of the PC freeware.  Also equally insanely difficult.  So far, I have no reason to buy it, since I keep dying before I reach the end of what the demo will give me for free, and you can't save your progress anyway.  Haha!

[idolminds]

Hey guys, are you still waiting for the updated Spelunky to be released on PC?

Yeah me too. God damnit....

But its coming to PS3 and Vita. Sony better be careful with all these indie games on Vita....I might have to buy one. Portable Spelunky? Yes please.

[MysterD]

Destructoid -> Spelunky is coming to PC on GOG & Steam this Summer.

[idolminds]

Best news ever

[idolminds]

August 8th!

GOG version here I come!

[idolminds]

Well shit. I might have to get the Steam version as well. Daily Challenge! Every day a level will be generated. Everyone gets the same level, and you only get one life! Every day is a new leaderboard.

[Ace_O_Spades]

I've been watching Let's Plays of this for a long time. Not being able to play it as I don't have an X Box, I'll definitely be picking it up.

[Quemaqua]

I'm tempted, but also poor.

[idolminds]

It sure is Spelunky. My first go at it, my first major drop down and...oh hey, spikes. That was unpleasant.

[Quemaqua]

I went for it as a reward for all the horrible amounts of packing I'm doing. Terrible excuse, but fuck it. It's Spelunky and I brought back an old 360 controller I left in Cali since I still haven't gotten back the one I left at Pyro's during the meet. Platforming, ho!

[idolminds]

I finally made it to the jungle...once. And the dead were restless and I was quickly killed by a vampire. Boo. At least I was able to give something to Tunnel Man, which was my goal. Saw some other enemies but since I didn't interact with them they weren't added to my journal. I kind of like that stuff being added to the journal because I'm an explorer! Need to write these things down!

The game ends up making the most hilarious stories without even trying, it's great. I will share a couple I just experienced.

-I finally come across a shop that is more than just bombs and rope! I didn't know what to pick and ended up grabbing a cape. Slow fall, bitches! I got this shit! Step out of the store and have to get to this ledge and drop down but theres a spider. Hey, whatever. I can handle it. Fuck up, spider knocks me back, wakes up skeleton, knocks me down hole, arrow trap, dead. I couldn't help but laugh that I only had the cape for 5 seconds before the game kills me. Interestingly, the very next run I immediately find a chest with a cape in it.

-Look at that golden idol just sitting there for the taking. I know what happens when you take them so I quickly set up a rope. Grab, jump up the rope and the boulder passes safely under me. Ha! Stupid trap. "TERRORIST!" Ah what the....did that thing just roll into a shop and I'm getting blamed for it? Welp, time to book! I race to the end of the level all safe like and was feeling ok. Next level was a dark one. I sure how there aren't any shops because that would be pretty dange...BLAM! And so ends *that* run.

-Another idol. Eh, why not? Soon as the boulder passes by I decide to drop down the hole it made in the floor. Oh cool, an evil altar! I haven't found one of these yet! Ok, if I find some human enemies I...oooohhhh shiiiiiit the boulder rolled back and is now crushing the altar and there are now spiders EVERYWHERE! I ran. Kept the idol, though.

I also met the ghost at the very end of one level and still managed to avoid him, pick up the damsel I was escorting, run through a cobweb, and hit the exit before he could touch me. It was pretty tense.

[Quemaqua]

I've had several good ones too, including one where I accidentally tossed a bomb at one of those little shelter areas, killed the dude inside without even actually meaning to, got all his stuff, and the shopkeep below went crazy trying to kill me and stabbed himself to death on some spikes. Yay, free shop inventory! Then a ghost came out and I managed to grab several large piles of gold, a couple big gems, and a damsel and make it to the exit just in time. The next level, I got killed by a fucking snake.

I got killed by a ghost another time when I accidentally dropped a stone block right in front of a half-buried exit door, and I had no bombs to blow it back out.

Do the ghosts come out every single level if you take too long? Because that seems to be how it's going for me.

[idolminds]

Yeah, they will come out at like 2:30 I think. Also if you smash enough altars they will come out at the start of every level. So...try not to break too many.

[idolminds]

Yay! Unlocked the first shortcut into the jungle! I'm not lasting very long in the jungle, though. But at least with the shortcut I can get in there and practice.

Unlocking the tunnel was kinda fun in its own way. You have to get to the end of the Mines 3 different times and meet the Tunnel Man. Each time you meet him he wants something different, here are the things he asks for:

First:

(click to show/hide)

one bomb

Second:

(click to show/hide)

one rope

Third:

(click to show/hide)

$10,000

So be sure to have those things when you get to him or it would be pretty frustrating. Getting to him the third time took several runs because I would be close to the end of the level and try to hurry, which would just backfire in weird ways and kill me. Always play it safe!

Of course the one time I died I thought I was playing it safe. A ledge with a ladder down, but a bat on the ceiling just 1-2 squares away. The platform I was standing on put me even with this bat so I could get close but not trigger it, but also it was too far away for me to hit with my whip. I only had one heart left so if I just ran in and dropped down he might hit me, if I climbed down the ladder for sure he would activate and probably hit me. So I decided to do the safest thing...throw something at it.

It bounced off the corner and hit me in the head, killing me.

[idolminds]

Exploring the jungle areas, I just love this dudes hut.


That run ended kinda funny. I didn't see exactly what happened as I dropped down, but something exploded taking out an entire tree and put a hole through the floor. In a weird stroke of luck, a human was killed in the explosion and landed on the altar in the room below. Sweet! I'll just hop down there and see what I got! Fall was farther than I thought, so I got knocked out. On top of the altar. I inadvertently sacrificed myself.

[Quemaqua]

Haha, brilliant stories.

[idolminds]

I tried out one of the multiplayer maps. No, there is no online multiplayer and I didn't have anyone to play with, but the empty spots are filled with AI that are real good at killing you. It's really fast and hectic with rounds over in a matter of seconds. First round I didn't even know what happened because I was almost instantly thrown onto some spikes and dead. Second round I tried to do better but didn't, but then I noticed that once dead you become a ghost and can float around. Neat I guess. Then I started getting a little bit of a grasp on things and at least wasn't dying as soon at the match started. But thats when I discovered that as a ghost you can actually interact with the still live players. You can blow weapons and objects to them or away from them...you can also blow them off ledges! Many rounds ended with no winners as all the ghosts were pushing living players onto spikes simultaneously. It was pretty hilarious. I had almost caught up with the leading AIs score but she pulled it out and won.

So it's pretty fun even by yourself. Try it out if you haven't.

[idolminds]

So the one annoying thing in the game are the menus when you boot it up. They have the cute randomly generated "intro" which you can quickly skip past, thats fine. Then you have the light the match, light the torch, ok now you can press start title screen. That leads into watching the big stone door unlocking itself and the parts grinding away until you get to the actual main menu. Then you can select Adventure, then you have to pick your adventurer, then it has you climb down into the cave...and NOW you finally have control and can enter the levels and finally start playing. Of course when you enter from the very start you get that other spinning animation.

For a game that is perfect to just boot up and play for 5 minutes having this long and unskipable stuff really kills that. I just timed it. Blasting through the menus as fast as possible and entering the cave from the start, but the time I'm actually in the level to play...from desktop icon to that point was 50 seconds. Restarting levels and stuff is really fast, and hell even exiting the game back to desktop takes no time. When you play like I do, where you'll do 2 or 3 runs, take a break, then try another couple runs...that adds up every time I run the game.

[Ace_O_Spades]

So I've put about 40 hours into this game so far since release, and I still suck haha. I did manage to get top 500 in one of the daily challenges, which is nice. I also unlocked the first two shortcuts, but I don't use them.

The thing I love about this game is that when you die, you usually feel like it's your fault for rushing. Otherwise, you generally die as the result of some ridiculous Rube Goldberg-esque chain of fail. Fun to watch, in any case.

[Ace_O_Spades]

Oops, meant to say 14 hours, not 40, that's what I get for posting during my night shift.

On that note, look what I did! Finally beat Olmec! Now I'm not sure what I should do. I think instead of going for Hell I'm going to try and go to the secret levels and unlock some characters.

(click to show/hide)

Here's a picture

Sorry, changed it to a spoiler hyperlink instead of just showing the end.

[idolminds]

Patch!

Here's the full list of changes:

    Quickstart option added that will let you skip from the intro straight to the Adventure Mode entrance

    Graphics settings menu added with more robust screen options (every available resolution offered, separate windowed toggle)

    Special effects and dynamic shadows can be set to "low" or "off" on the Graphics menu

    Saving is not multithreaded anymore to prevent rare save loss

    You can now exit completely from the game via the pause menu

    Tried to address crashes related to resolution changing

    Framerate drops caused by last update should be fixed

    ESRB logo removed from beginning of game

    Volume settings now affect audio that plays before you reach the Main Menu

    Keyboard controls now display properly on the How to Play menus

    Ninja character no longer has visible ears in his climbing animations

Yes! Quick start!