• Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Mar 4, 2008
Metascore
69 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 27
  2. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. By hooking up to the Internet or a nearby friend, a fallen Shiren can call for help. If another player hears his plea and pulls off the rescue mission, Shiren is revived, goodies intact.
  2. Shiren the Wanderer doesn't coddle its players, but those willing to invest enough effort into the game are rewarded with a game that's intricate, deep, and infinitely replayable.
  3. 87
    This is a game for the most hardcore of the hardcore. Though, on another level, it is a surprisingly casual game if you want it to be.
  4. Success is 30 percent planning, 30 percent persistance, and about 80 percent luck--making for a challenging, infuriating, but deeply rewarding experience. [May 2008, p.89]
  5. 83
    It's far more demanding than its fellow DS-based roguelikes, lacking, say, the cuddly mascots of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon or the cumulative experience-building of Izuna. But it's remarkably well crafted, with streamlined gameplay that belies its impressive substance.
  6. With various side quests,puzzles and bonus dungeons, there's a lot to keep you busy with.
  7. Shiren the Wanderer is the most brutal of the above games in every sense, with severe punishments for slight miscalculations.
  8. 80
    It may not be a game for everyone, but those that can truly immerse themselves in Shiren the Wanderer will discover one of the most enjoyable experiences the DS has to offer.
  9. Not everyone is going to take a liking to Shiren - it's a game where you need to actively seek out its pleasures, and other than some occasional advice from wandering NPCs, you'll need educate yourself by reading FAQs or interacting with other Shiren players.
  10. 80
    Between the cute 2-D graphics, the comfortable, nostalgic soundtrack, and the super addictive "Just one level further!!" game flow, my wander-lust is on full blast. Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer is a great way to dip a toe in the rogue like pool.
  11. It certainly won't be to everyone's tastes but deep within the dusty catacombs of Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer resides a unique and impressively addictive game.
  12. 70
    Shiren is absolutely and utterly a game for the hardcore. Being flung back to level one for dumb luck or a simple error is infuriating, and Shiren lacks the storytelling polish that many gamers expect from their titles regardless of genre, but the core game is very well done.
  13. 70
    I haven't made it to the Lair of the Golden Condor yet, but I'll give it a go every once in a while. It's a great way to kill some time and enjoy a style of gameplay we don't often see anymore.
  14. Thankfully, there's a rescue function, or else Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer would be endlessly difficult for many. Instead, it's simply a tough, deliberate RPG that's still worth the time for its challenge aspect.
  15. A journey that's littered with pits and troughs that's rewarding if you persevere. [June 2008, p.83]
  16. It's a very difficult game simply because the prospect of death is such an overpowering force in the game that it literally changes the way you play.
  17. Some will loathe it and some will love it, although you can be sure that the former will be in the vast majority. [May 2008, p.74]
  18. 65
    The random dungeons are oftentimes poorly laid out, and the turn based gameplay can lead to a slow, jerky experience. Still, Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer is a game that will certainly give players a run for their money, if only due to the fact that it takes forever to beat.
  19. Starting from scratch every time you have bad luck will be frustrating, but if you can get past the setbacks, you'll enjoy a solid DS adventure. [Mar 2008, p.86]
  20. 65
    While some will be turned off by the challenging gameplay and the less appealing visuals, those seeking an old-school gaming experience should look no further.
  21. Shiren The Wanderer still has its own charm and deep and lasting individual value that, for all its abstract irritations, surpasses many more modern gaming experiences. [May 2008, p.96]
  22. We're also sure the majority of today's gamers will find it nasty, plodding, and archaic.
  23. An above-average dungeon crawler.
  24. If you're not put off by the idea of an RPG in which every death returns you to the start of the game, Shiren the Wanderer can be a lengthy, satisfying experience.
  25. Mysterious Dungeon is the anti-Zelda doppleganger, cute and unthreatening in its top-down stylings, but as potentially punishing and old-school as lurking demons come. Once again, the question is begged: Do you feel lucky?
  26. The worst flaw in any RPG is the lack of a decent save system, and in that respect, Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer is guilty as charged. This frustrating trait, combined with the mediocrity that's prevalent in the rest of the title, makes for a pretty poor showing.
  27. Shiren the Wanderer was a nice concept back on the Super Nintendo. It's not that the game is unplayable, but it ruins your joy when you lose all you have accomplished when you're killed. The game doesn't make much use of the Nintendo DS functions. It would have been better if the game was released on the Gameboy Advance.
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Holy crap! This is amazing! Sooooo amazing. Graphics: On my way in from Angband the graphics are heavenly. They aren't to much and they're not shiny or anything. They're simple sprite sheets and they work for the type of game. Gameplay: The controls are simple A: attacks. Y: open inventory. Crosskeys/ touch screen: Move shiren. You think its all easy then you die lose everything and have to navigate the dungeon with no weapons shields or healing items. Sound: The music and sounds work but nothing flashy and over the top. The game gets a nine out of ten for effort and succeeding in making a new Rougelike game for the DS. If you enjoy Rouglikes go buy it. Go buy it now. You were supposed to have bought it tree lines ago stop reading. Full Review »
  2. DJT
    10
    Don't let the reviews fool you. This is an awesome adventure game for casual and hardcore gamers alike. For those of you unfamiliar with the 1983 game Rogue, here is the link on some information about the original: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_%28computer_game%29 Anyway, as a young nerd, I found this game ridiculously addictive (although primitive) because of it's random item/monster/dungeon mechanics. It was a different adventure EVERYTIME! It was perfect for the A.D.D gamer in me! Although there was an actual goal to the adventure, I found myself playing just to try and accumulate as much gold as I could for a high score! Mystery Dungeon offers the same classic mechanics in a wonderfully dressed up adventure game. It's hard, it's addictive, but most of all, it's FUN! Lots of replay so you don't have to trade it in to gamestop in a week. I've played izuna and although that is fun, Mystery Dungeon is the closest to the classic Rogue experience from the 80's. Hardcore RPG fans are going to need to adjust to the type of game Mystery Dungeon is, and while there isn't a huge final fantasy 5000 dramatic story, there's a lot of hacking and leveling up to do! PICK THIS UP. Full Review »
  3. IshmoksA.
    10
    This game is the most satisfying game I have ever played. This game is all about tactics and strategy will snappy game play. Its like diablo but deeper and not about whacking creatures. this game is where the real life XP counts and not just in game XP. I've been playing Nethack for about 9 years, Shiren is the only game that is at par with it. No wonder the japanese have a fascination for roguelike games on consoles....its all because of Shiren. If I could get all the versions of this game, (Wii, N64, DS, SNES, etc.) This is the game that you will play over and over, and will definitely come back to after getting sick of the latest game in the market. Game play rules them all!!! Full Review »