Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island

The sixth mainline entry gets the balance right.

It’s been fourteen years since the last mainline entry in Shiren the Wanderer series. During that torturous duration, there have been a multitude of games that have attempted to duplicate the franchise’s feel- incorporating the same kind of procedurally generated environments and the unsettling sting of permadeath.

At best, these were also crafted by Shiren developer Spike Chunsoft. Efforts like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity and Etrian Mystery Dungeon proved to be surprisingly good substitutes. But many off-brand Mystery Dungeon clones proved inferior, with efforts like FURYU’s Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs: The Thrilling Steamy Maze Kiwami struggling to keep the exploration entertaining.

Thoughtful Changes to Formula

With the release of Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island, Spike Chunsoft seems to have reflected on the series’ nearly three-decade long history. So, you’ll see trademark mechanics like health regeneration and the ability to sprint through corridors. But each of these actions has been attentively tweaked. Now, you’ll heal at an unprecedented rate or employ the new Handy Dash to automatically round corners. Although these might seem like minor changes, collectively they give Serpentcoil Island distinction.

Of course, the appeal of each new alteration or addition isn’t always immediately evident. When you first encounter the beasts that fill 3×3 grid spaces, defeating these adversaries can feel like a chore. But later, Serpentcoil Island reveals its true intentions in one of the post-game dungeons, as you covertly navigate around these opponents.

Sure, injecting a bit of stealthy gameplay is nearly a gaming cliché at this point. But the developers manage to make sure it doesn’t feel completely stale within Shiren’s auxiliary dungeons. Likewise, new wrinkles are gradually rolled out across the main campaign and its substantial supplementary treks, ensuring that play remains engaging.

Accepting Loss and Other Life Lessons

Two dominant tactics in previous Shiren entries were using items to teleport back to town or paying money to tag items, ensuring you wouldn’t lose your gear when defeated. For better or worse, Serpentcoil Island greatly reduces the ability to swindle-grind your way through the game. Not only have these systems been jettisoned but weapons and shields no longer evolve. In their place are Sacred Items blessed with an advantageous modifier. Stumbling on one of these consistently feels like a kind act from the random number generator. At least until you lose the tool that you’ve been relying on- which can feel like Spike Chunsoft dropping life lessons. Yes, I’ll learn to not depend on things.

But the biggest shift for The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is the inclusion of more storyline. After reintroducing the sandogasa-clad protagonist and his sidekick ferret, Koppa, the adventurers encounter of assemblage of famished folks. After kindly offering the group some onigiri, you’ll learn of their relationship with a pair of quarreling gods, as well as a kidnapped princess in the belly of a villain named Jakaku.

The Tools to Keep You Subsisting

Pleasingly, Serpentcoil gradually rewards players with additional exposition. Beyond explaining the cause of the drought, additional storytelling introduces side characters – typically in towns that appear every few stages along your journey. Not only do these provide some charming tales, but they provide a refreshing respite from the taut, turn-based encounters. Expectedly, these towns also offer service for hire, so you can augment your arsenal at the local blacksmith or stock up on goods to replenish your health and reduce your hunger.

In keeping with series tradition, many of the game’s supplies are mutable. Onigiri provides Shiren with a bit of nutrition, of course. But leave it in your possession too long and the rice ball will rot. At this point, you can use it as a weapon, souring the stomach of a monster. Should Shiren get burned, the food becomes fried, boosting its ability to satiate your hunger. Staying true to tradition, Serpentcoil Island can frustrate with its swift deaths. But each passing shouldn’t be in vain. Instead, you’ll likely learn another mini lesson about survival, that often hinges on creatively managing your inventory.

Conclusion

By the time most series venture into their sixth iteration, inconsequential additions and unnecessary changes can make titles feel like a money-grab. Fortunately, that’s not the case with Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island. Nearly every alteration feels like an advancement, whether it’s the incorporation of storytelling or the eliminating ways of cheesing through the game’s dungeons. If we have to wait another fourteen years for a follow-up, Serpentcoil is successful enough to get us through another Shiren drought.

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island
was played on Switch with review code provided by the publisher.