1kb Rogue
From Spheriki
1kb Rogue is a simple roguelike game made in Sphere by SDHawk. It is remarkable because the entire source code of the game is less than one (1) kilobyte in size.
Contents |
Gameplay
Like most roguelike games, gameplay is top-down, two-dimensional and turn based. All game elements are represented by text-based font characters. Unlike in most roguelike games, the player is only able to move up, down, left and right, and is unable to move diagonally.
Aim
The ultimate aim of the game is to dive as deep as possible into the dungeon. This can be achieved most effectively by avoiding combat as much as possible.
Dungeon Levels
All dungeon levels are generated randomly. Levels are typically large rooms with winding corridors and straight passages.
The up staircase (represented by what is typically the down staircase in most other roguelikes, the greater-than sign '>') is always generated in the same place as the starting position of the player, unless the player is on the first floor, in which case the up staircase is omitted.
The down staircase (represented by what is usually the up staircase in other roguelikes, the less-than sign '<') is generated in another location of the level to the start. The player may have to fight some monsters to reach it.
Dungeon levels are not saved when they are returned to. Note that the up staircase is always generated beneath the player when they enter a level, even if they return from a lower level (where one would typically expect to be near the down staircase instead). This also makes it possible to 'reroll' a dungeon level by leaving and returning to it.
Monsters are static, and do not move around the level.
Unlike in most roguelikes, the entire dungeon level is visible upon entry.
Combat
As a simplified roguelike, you do not equip any weapons or armour. You attack merely by walking into a monster, represented by a red capital 'M'. Running into monsters this way will randomly result in the player either being hurt, or inflicting damage. Damage caused or received is based on the dungeon level of the player.
The player and monsters have a limited number of hit points. When the hit points reach zero, the entity dies. If the monster dies, it vanishes from the map. If the player dies, the game displays a brief message describing the dungeon level the player reached, and exits.
Monsters are static, and will never attack the player unless the player attempts to attack them.
Healing
Every time the player enters a down staircase, they will gain one (1) hit point. There is no defined limit to how many hit points that can be gained this way, other than JavaScript's internal number capacity of +2147483647, or 2 ^ 31 - 1.
Controls
- Cursor keys are used to move, attack enemies and enter stairways.
Player Comments
- Very simple gameplay. Surprisingly effective random map algorithm, but sometimes it glitches. Has a style similar to Dweller, but in Sphere instead of on mobile phones. Alright if you want to burn time and don't like to think too hard. --Tunginobi 02:43, 6 July 2006 (PDT)
- Nice and easy to play. Map algorithm makes it challenging, but occasionally locks you up so you can't move at all. I haev trouble on my computer with the keys used to play because of the odd placement of the control keys. I often use it for stress relief. --mezzoEmrys 10:55, 1 July 2009 (CDT)
Links
- Download game archive (requires Sphere engine, ZIP, 4.1 KB)
- Dweller, a roguelike for mobile (cell) phones
- Roguelike on Wikipedia
