Vagante

There is little as challenging as a constantly regenerating game. That is to say, a game where every level is slightly different leaving no two play-throughs the same. That’s the main selling point of Vagante, a cave exploring adventure game for PC, Mac and Linux developed by Nuke Nine. Following in the footsteps of similar games such as Spelunky, Vagante takes the common concept and ramps it into another gear.

What It’s All About

The game is based around exploring and the idea that a certain cave at the edge of the woods contains an unimaginable treasure that many explorers covet. To get to it, you’ll have to traverse a world full of demons, monsters, villains and unforgiving terrain.

The unique feature of this game is the fact that each level is randomly generated with different monsters, items and layouts that you won’t have experienced previously. Each combination is different leaving no two levels the same, which is a terrific boost in the game’s longevity and replay value.

What I Liked

Vagante is one of the more realistic games I’ve played. Not in the sense of graphics or even its plot, but in its mechanics. The vast majority of games will have fixed plot devices or planned cut scenes etc, but Vagante often has you at its mercy. If you drink a random potion that you find lying around in a Zelda game, you know what you’re getting. If you drink a potion you find in a cave in Vagante, it could very well kill you. Or perhaps, a rock will fall from the ceiling and smash your head. There is no certainty in Vagante, much like there would be no certainty when traversing a cave in real life. There are dangers lurking everywhere, and the game is not going to be kind to you if it can help it. As annoying and borderline hostile as this can be, it’ll be a real positive for experienced game players who are sick of everything being so easy or solved by looking up a walkthrough. As Vagante constantly regenerates its levels, there is no set pattern in the game for people to guide you through. Every thing is up to chance!

What I Didn’t Like

In a way this difficulty can also be to its detriment. There are definitely times when the difficulty of the game has been infuriating for me, when I’m looking to just relax and enjoy a game but keep getting killed inside about 4 seconds without a moment to breathe. The game is also exceptionally dark (and yes I am aware it’s a cave game) which can be a little off-putting, especially combined with its rather dated looking graphics.

Pros

• Realistic gameplay experience
• No two levels are the same!
• Lots of various mechanics and devices to keep it interesting

Cons

• Very dark
• Difficulty can be insanity inducing at times