Quantcast
Destructoid - ShawnKelfonne's Community Blog




About Me
Well, let's see, I've got a ridiculously sized game collection, spanning from Coleco to Wii, with much of what's in between. The Super Nintendo was the height of awesome for me, and I still break it out once in a while to relive those memories.

I'm also a fairly big RPG nut, recently been playing WoW, may god have mercy on my soul.

I've got all three "current-gen" systems, and love them all for various reasons.


Currently playing:
WoW
Rock Band 2(360)


Ohshi- Avatar:



RPG Spotlight:
SuperHero League of Hoboken
Anvil of Dawn
Vampire:The Masquerade:Bloodlines
Nethack
Albion
Avernum
Arcanum:Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Dragon Wars

Gamer Profile
3DS friend code:
Steam: skelfonne
Battle:
PSN: FoxKelfonne
Mii: 4829 7327 4812 3930
Gamertag: FoxKelfonne
Following (18)
-D-
Aaron Mxy Yost
BenHaskett
BlindsideDork
bluemeep
Butmac
Chad Concelmo
Coonskin05
Cowzilla3
Gen Eric Gui
Hamza CTZ Aziz
jackal27
naia-the-gamer
ShawnKelfonne
shipero
Shoop
Snaileb
zanthox
RPG Spotlight: NetHack
ShawnKelfonne | 2:49 PM on 10.11.2007 13 comments




Okay, Okay, I know. NetHack is not exactly the most obscure RPG out there. Especially because whenever there is a list of "Most Influential RPGs" or whatnot, either NetHack or another Roguelike (or even Rogue itself) is on the list. However, how many of you have actually sat down and played it? If you're looking for a challenge, NetHack will definitely give you one.

The NetHack project has been around for ages, and the "pure" way of playing the game is in a console window. Various ASCII symbols are used to represent everything around you, and the main point of the game is to get to the bottom of the dungeon and escape with the Amulet of Yendor. Gripping plot, I assure you. However, there are so many things to do, and so many different character combinations to work with, that it's always a blast. I could not possibly go into detail about everything you can do in NetHack. (PROTIP: Kicking sinks can often lead to hot lovin' with a succubus.)


No, this isn't an excerpt from LUELinks.

When starting, you can either pick all of your character choices, or have the game randomly roll one for you. Upon my first random roll, I was given a tourist as a character, which starts with a load of food, and a camera that can blind enemies, but very little fighting power. I was dead before reaching Lv 2. The key point to remember is that if you try to do something stupid, it'll probably come back to bite you. Kicking walls is a good way to open secret passages, but it's also a good way to injure yourself. Also, as I found out, it's probably not a good idea to eat dead monsters if they've been laying around for a while.


And people think the E. Coli problems are bad...

The basic version of NetHack comes with both the console version, and the slightly more graphical version shown above. The graphical version is slightly easier to keep track of everything with, as it is probably easier to read. For those of you who need something shinier, another project called Vulture's Eye takes the NetHack engine and gives it a coat of isometric paint.


It's like Diablo, but...without the mousebreaking clicking!

The best thing is that NetHack is freely available for download without the need for an eyepatch, parrot, or other such piratey gear.
NetHack: http://www.nethack.org/v343/downloads.html
Vulture's Eye: http://www.darkarts.co.za/project/vultures/download

That's it for this edition of the RPG Spotlight. If you have any suggestions for future ones, let me know, because if it's not obvious by the fact that I ended up picking NetHack, I'm low on ideas at the moment.



Attached photos:

Photo Photo Photo Photo

Is this post awesome? Vote it up!

0



Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

11 comments | showing # 1 to 11
prev next

Aerox's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2007 15:17
Aerox
I love Nethack. I'm really bad at it though; I get impatient and charge into things without preparing and inevitably die. Thinking about it now though, it IS a good game to sneakily play at work...hmmmm...
shipero's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2007 15:21
shipero
I have the same problem as Aerox, I tend to treat this like like I do Diablo, So many @'s lost in battle.
ShawnKelfonne's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2007 15:23
ShawnKelfonne
I think most people out there are really bad at NetHack. Pretty much everything can and will try to kill you. And yes, it's excellent for playing at work. I've already led a legion of adventurers to their doom today, which is obviously part of my duties as a programmer.
shipero's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2007 15:24
shipero
@Shawn

I'm goofing off, I'm waiting for code to compile.
shipero's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2007 15:26
shipero
Huh, there was supposed to be a 'not' in that first statement, Oops.
ShawnKelfonne's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2007 15:34
ShawnKelfonne
@Shipero: The optimal way to wait for code to compile is by swordfighting with cardboard tubes on office chairs. NetHack works in a pinch though.
bluemeep's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2007 16:21
bluemeep
My first clog was about NetHack. And #7, #29, and #30. There's probably some other commentary in there somewhere too...

I'm a bitchin' barbarian, but pretty miserable at every other class...
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2007 16:36
king3vbo
Nethack is FTMFW.

plus its really simple to play at work w/out getting caught :D
Spartacus's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2007 16:49
Spartacus
I tried Nethack...I couldn't get past the first screen.

But then, I didn't even glance at the 30+ page instruction manual.
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/11/2007 18:54
wardrox
Rock fell on me, was not amused.

Took my housemate about 3 months to ascend.
Natali Alinskaya's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/22/2011 03:08
Natali Alinskaya
Hello friends,this is a nice site and I wanted to post a note to let you know, good job! Thanks
Best regards, Natali, CEO of free online music
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!