Today, the Mystery Dungeon series is a long one - franchises fromPokemonandFinal Fantasyto evenOne Way Heroicshave collaborated with Spike Chunsoft to create Mystery Dungeon titles. But the king of the genre remainsShiren the Wanderer,Spike Chunsoft’s iconic feudal Japan-inspired series which first launched in 1995. After several years of silence, the series returned with a bang in the form of 2024’sShiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island,which sent the titular Shiren on an all-new adventure to an island filled with bizarre monsters and hidden secrets. Spike Chunsoft’s newShiren the Wanderergame is a treat for newbies and devoted fans alike, blending classic elements of the series with some all-new twists.
Game Rant spoke to project manager Hideyuki Shinozaki and director Keisuke Sakurai about the team’s decision to return toShirenafter so many years, howThe Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Islandincluded classesShirenelements fans love while also adding a few new twists, and whether Shiren himself has changed at all in his nearly 30 years of dungeon crawling. They also provide some helpful advice for new fans who may be discoveringShirenfor the first time with this brand-new title.This transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.
All English titles ofShirengames besidesSerpentcoil Islandare unofficial titles used by fans. They are included for clarity and ease of reading.
Blending The Classic And The New
Q: There are now many games in the Mystery Dungeon series, such asPokémon Mystery Dungeon,Chocobo Mystery Dungeon, etc. What sets the Shiren the Wanderer series apart from other Mystery Dungeon games?
SAKURAI:We thinkShiren the Wandererretains the allure of the classic Rogue, with heavily penalized/ruthless permadeath, but gives the players a definite sense of progress.
Q: Why did you decide to come back to theShiren the Wandererseriesafter so many years?
SHINOZAKI:Among us, theShiren the Wandererseries holds a special place in our hearts among the games in theMystery Dungeonseries. We’ve wanted to develop this game for a long time, and finally, our wish has come true.
Q: What classic elements from previousShirengames were important for you to bring intoThe Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island?
SAKURAI:The element of being able to transform into a monster was not in the previous title, but in an earlier one, it significantly expanded the gameplay, so we wanted to include it in this game.
Q: What are some new elements added in this game that are not in previousShirengames?
SAKURAI:In [The Mystery of Serpentcoil Island,] when your Fullness reaches 150 or more, you will attain ‘Sumo Status.’ This powerful state increases your Attack Power and allows you to destroy traps and walls. However, it also has the disadvantage of making you hungry much faster.
Shiren’s Long History
Q: The publication order and chronological order of theShirengamesis different. Why was this decision made?
SHINOZAKI:When we considered introducing the character Asuka, in order to convey the character’s unique tone, we decided the story should take place beforeShiren 3[known unofficially asThe Sleeping Princess and the Karakuri Mansion]. Additionally, from another perspective, we chose to set the character in this era because we believed that younger characters would be more suitable as 3D models.
Q: Has Shiren as a character changed inThe Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island, or do you feel he’s stayed the same?
SAKURAI:Just like before, the character is the friendly type, always ready to lend a hand to those in need. He’s eager to take on challenges and tends to get caught up in local affairs.
Q: What was the inspiration behind the new monsters you designed for this game?
SAKURAI:We tried to be conscious of how the monster looked and what it might do based on that, such as if it were holding a baseball bat, it would probably smack something right back at you.
Q: What advice would you give to someone ifSerpentcoil Islandis their first time playing aShiren the Wanderergame?
SHINOZAKI:Even if you collapse or make a mistake, we encourage you to keep going and continue to the next playthrough. Sure, at first you might feel frustrated when you run out of items or tools, but once you notice your skills getting better, you’ll start to find it even more enjoyable.
The Release And Localization OfSerpentcoil Island
Q: This is the firstShirengame to really feature multiplayer content. What was it like developing the multiplayer elements? How did you decide what to include?
SAKURAI:SinceShirenis a turn-based game, we thought it would not be compatible with fully synchronized multiplayer, so we considered implementing gameplay using a form ofasynchronous multiplayer. By doing this, we thought it could provide a form of play that was left up to the user, such as sharing the same difficulties and clearing the game as quickly as possible under the same conditions.
Q: PreviousShiren the Wanderergames have released in Japan first and then taken a long time to come to the West. What was it like releasing this game in Japanese, and then in English only a month later?
SHINOZAKI:One of the aspects we removed, partly because we wanted to keep things simple, was expressions or wordplay that could only come across in Japanese. This time, we had excellent English localization staff on board, so I think the production itself went smoothly.
Q: Shiren cameos in many Spike Chunsoft games, likeAI: The Somnium FilesandDanganronpa. What other games would you like to see Shiren cameo in?
SHINOZAKI:I haven’t given that much thought, but if that does happen, I hope we can do something that makes players go, ‘It’s Shiren!’ and brings them excitement while playing.
Q: If Shiren was in aPokémon Mystery Dungeongame, what Pokémon do you think he would partner up with?
SAKURAI:Oh, that’s a hard one… I’ll leave it to your imagination.
Q: Anything else you’d like to tell Game Rant’s readers?
SAKURAI:We’ve given [The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island]a modern makeover while keeping that classicroguelikefeel. Although it is a numbered title, you don’t need to have played any of the previous games to follow the story. Initially, you may find it quite challenging, but I believe you will pick up on hints for progress as you keep at it. Throughout your adventure, you’ll face all sorts of conflicts and choices with different tools and actions. I hope that even users who enjoy roguelites, hack & slash games, and turn-based strategy games will give this game a try.
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Islandis available now on Nintendo Switch.
