Summary
While the term ‘power creep’ - where a player’s gear or character can become obsolete as they get more and more powerful - is usually a glaring negative,the roguelike and roguelite genreshave found a way to incorporate it instinctively into their design.
While the risks of power creep do still remain, the diversity of the genre has meant that there are many ways to tackle the issue. From 2D dungeon-crawlers to third-person Sony console exclusives, roguelikes balance player struggle with an eventual feeling of being a one-person army.
While the bite-sized play sessions and constant improvement of roguelikes have made them the bastion of the indie video game scene in recent years, that is not to say that the genre has no place within the AAA space. Housemarque’s 2021 Sony console exclusive not only proved to be an intriguing third-person horror-inspired take on the genre but also showed off the graphical and lighting capabilities of the latest PlayStation hardware.
Returnalretains the artifacts and consumables of other titles in the genre while injecting some pseudo-rhythm mechanics into the flow of gameplay. It offers also alternative fire modes on all weapons, allowing for bullet hell-style combat and harkening back to the developer’s arcade roots. Beyond that, the constant narrative and gameplay progression allows fora steep learning curvethat allows players to dominate from above once they’ve reached the peak.
Combining the explorative elements of Metroidvanias with the character development of the roguelike genre,Dead Cells' 2018 release brought with it a whole host of new players to the gameplay style. The Prisoner’s substantial buffs, alongside gradual improvements to combat and movement effectiveness, across every run have become hallmarks for many roguelike fans.
Specific toDead Cells' island are the whole host of modifications and mutations that allow for a much more focused player experience. Permitting players to specialize their gameplay style is a boon to the title’s steady individual power creep. However, the steady incline to absolute power is seemingly a little tighter than other games in the genre.
Released four years after the success of its cooperative FPS namesake,Deep Rock Galactic: Survivornot only expands on some of the ideas of the original but applies the engaging moment-to-moment gameplay to a new genre and a new perspective.
The auto-firing nature of combat spurs on an inert trigger happiness in players, andthe title’s unlockable specializationsallow for a much more nuanced and diverse set of powerful skills. Utilizing the combined destructive force of turrets, tunneling, and mining explosives, players can create synergetic gameplay that annihilates enemies in later stages. Bolstered byDeep Rock Galactic: Survivor’s overclocking system - which allows for weapon boosts ranging from +200% fire rates to splitting of laser beams - players can see a vast difference in how their first descent into the underground may feel compared to their hundredth.
While the classic hellspawn-slaying experience of 1993’s originalDOOMmay have beenported to almost every electronic deviceat this point, the gameplay of 2002’sDoomRLcould not have veered further from id Software’s original vision. While the open-source, turn-based interpretation of classicDOOMmay have switched to a drastically different genre, the soul of the title remains much the same.
RetainingDOOM&DOOM 2’s classic music and effects,DoomRL(simply calledDRLsince 2016) reinterprets Doomguy’s protection of humankind through the leveling, buffs, and equipment of a very competent roguelike. While the fast pace and combat-centric nature ofDOOMmay feel incohesive withDRL’s design, the lack of intricate number-crunching means that the pulverizing punk-rock essence of the FPS original remains.
As a winner of seemingly countless critical and player-led awards,Hades' success can be seen as proof of not only the Roguelike’s current renaissance but its cemented place in the industry. Supergiant Games' 2020 roguelike ARPG is a tightly-bound experience with the gameplay and narrative bolstering its core moment-to-moment action.
While the incremental improvements to weapons, attributes, and abilities are enticing,Hades' understanding that players seek different end-game goals is important. While many gamers will laud the title for its steady difficulty curve and eventual player power creep, those who wish to further challenge themselves are able to do so with the assistance ofHades' various modifiers. Though Zagreus' departure from the Underworld does engage in much of the narrative heavy-lifting, its cohesion withthe roguelike’s ‘try and try again’ gameplayelevates the title.
With its 2011 roots in the relatively archaic Flash format, the extent ofThe Binding of Isaac’scommercial and cultural success is arguably unparalleledin the roguelike genre. Although the title has received continued updates and expansions, the power creep of the game has been somewhat kept at bay with strategic buffs and nerfs.
Reinforced by the game’s plot of Isaac fearing for his life and eventually slaying his mother after progressing through layers of his basement, players interact with the title’s powerful weapons and synergies. While the potential for overwhelming power creep is there, especially with increased game knowledge and understanding, the cohesion of increased power with the game’s narrative makes sure it never feels unduly earned or out of place.
Although the roguelike genre is arguably as successful now as it has ever been, unbalanced combat and skewed gameplay can falter a title prematurely. As such, it would be understandable if developers shirked the responsibility of continued updates for roguelike titles - that cannot be said for Hopoo Games and their extensive support forRisk of Rain 2.
Even with expansive additions such as the title’sSeekers of the StormDLC bringing new characters, alternative skills, and buffs have ensured that there is a semblance of parity between all Survivors. The moment-to-moment gameplay ofRisk of Rain 2is as direct an analog for power creep as is possibly manageable - scrounging the realms of a playthrough to buff and bolster one’s arsenal before rushing to the teleporter. As such, with the availability of upgrades and abilities, a player’s first excursion into the Titanic Plains willdiffer greatly from even their second.
The crux of the roguelike gameplay loop is, of course, trying, failing, and getting incrementally stronger. However, whatVampire Survivors' enduring success has seemingly shown is that a player’s feeling of bullet hell dominance over hordes of enemies is just as grossly engaging.
Vampire Survivorsis a more than competent roguelike, and it strives to create a steady balance of abilities and weapons. Yet the title’s generosity in stat-enhancing Eggs alongsidethe upgradability and synergy of weaponsquickly bestow players with a tangible sense of destructive improvement. However, Luca Galante’s understanding of player-led challenges has seen them permitting players to curb the power creep and turn off Eggs, allowing for an arguably more gradual and methodical gameplay experience.
