Gameplay: 5/10 Controls are really not well chosen. But again, this is rogue, and the original used numpad to move. I just feel there should be an option to allow usage of arrows to move (with multi-keypresses)

Storyline: 8/10 Randomized dungeons and adventures

Replay value: 10/10 Forever!

First of all, I just want to say, “CalcRogue” is amazing! The graphics are not ultra crazy, but I like the way the author made them; it’s easy to tell what is what in the game. Also, I like how there are shops in the game. I have also helped to make it better by reporting a bug I found, and Iencourage anyone who plays this game to report any problems they may find.

---Possible Spoiler---
One trick I like to use is to get a wand of teleportation, throw something at a shop keeper, then ZAP, get him out of there and take everything! (Just watch out for him later :])
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Gameplay: 10/10
Graphics:9/10
Controls:9/10
Overall:15/10!

This is pretty much the best thing to happen to calculator-based gaming since “Joltima” on the old TI-86. Well, not everybody may agree with me- especially in this day of amazing graphics on computer games, it takes a certain type of person to appreciate ASCII-based “rogue-like” games. I've been a “NetHack” junkie for almost a decade now. I've always wanted a handheld “rogue-like” game though I never really imagined a worthwhile “rogue-like” game showing up on the calculator, given space limitations and processor power and whatnot.

Well here it is, to my pleasant surprise. It appears the author is still working on it, which is wonderful because I could envision this becoming a truly amazing game. Some things are lacking in it when compared to other PC “rogue-likes” are a god/prayer system, monsters dropping items/weapons/corpses when they die, class artifact items/weapons and the like. However, I've been playing “CalcRogue” addictively for the past couple of weeks now, because despite what I deem are its current shortcomings, it's an amazing “rogue-like game and very challenging. Don't let my criticisms indicate that I find this game anything short of amazing. The game is very deep as-is, and even has a couple features I think would be cool additions to other bigger “rogue-like” games, like books of knowledge (a book on gemology automatically identifies all the gem types for you, for example).

The author has done a great job making the interface user-friendly, and the built-in tutorial does a good job getting you used to the controls. It doesn't take very long playing it to memorize the controls; at that point the interface becomes practically invisible.

*Possible spoiler alert*
Successfully playing “rogue-like” games can take some getting used to. Here's some tips for anybody wanting to check this game out who hasn't played a “rogue-like” game before: The fighter is the easiest character to get started with; the magic user the hardest. The necromancer is a magic user that's a bit easier to get started with, as you can summon undead baddies to fight next to you. A common problem in this and all “rogue-like” that doesn't exist in a lot of standard computer-RPG's is food. One of your first goals should be getting a decent supply of food, or you'll starve to death. Finding an amulet of slow digestion helps in the beginning, but given the random nature of the game you have to get lucky to find one. If you find several food rations along the way in the first dungeon (the first 5 levels of the game), you can take your time killing everybody and building experience. But if you don't come across any or very few food rations, try to jam through the first five levels; after them there's a town where you can buy food. It doesn't hurt to stock up on things like daggers and even swords, even if you won't wield them as your main weapon. Remember that you can throw items, so having a bunch of daggers can be handy to throw at (and kill) certain obnoxious monsters like “aquatars” and “ice monsters” at a distance (unless you're an archer of course, in which case this doesn't matter).

Being somewhat of a RPG person (After all, I do host a site devoted to a RPG series), I really wanted to try “CalcRogue.” Initially, I was a little overwhelmed, which often happens with RPGs since there tend to be a lot of concepts that you need to understand in order to fully master the gameplay. However, not only did “CalcRogue” contain a tutorial that was very useful in explaining to me how to play the game, but it also had some easy to use in-game references that explain the controls of the game, in case you forget them.

What about the actual gameplay? I’ve been busy for the past two weeks before I wrote this review just playing “CalcRogue” whenever I get a chance, because there is just so much to do in it. First off, as mentioned in the game description, there are five different job classes available, each having their own set of skills. However, you can still pick up a Wizard’s spellbook as a “Fighter,” but you won’t be able to learn any of the spells (But, you can make a nice little profit selling it at the store). There is so much to do in “CalcRogue,” that it is difficult to find a starting point with the gameplay. When you first enter the game, you start off in a dungeon, with only a few basic items. Here is what makes “CalcRogue,” so great: it’s replayability. The first dungeon is divided into five different levels, and I’ve found them a bit challenging (It was only the other day I got through that dungeon, but then again, I could just be a bad RPG player). However, through my many deaths, I discovered something amazing about the maps: they changed their form. I wasn’t going through the same dungeon each time; the maps kept recreating themselves for each new game! So that added a new challenge to “CalcRogue,” I couldn’t fake it by memorizing the map and beating the dungeon: I had to strategize every single time.

The battle system in “CalcRogue” is relatively easy to learn, you move in the direction your enemy is, or you use an item or a spell. It gets more interesting when you have multiple enemies, since you need to plan how you attack carefully, or get chewed up pretty quickly. Items add yet another twist to the game: unless you use a “Scroll of Identify” or have used the same type of item already, you have no clue what the item is. Sometimes, you just have to use them at your own risk. It’s humorous to be low on health, drink a “Murky Potion” hoping that it will heal you, but instead it turns out to be a hallucination potion, and then get killed by an enemy with a crazy name. And, like maps, the item types change with each new game, so no cheating by writing down what unknown type is what item!

I'm not sure that simple words can describe such an amazing calculator game like this, but I will try. “CalcRogue” is basically a dungeon-romp, where you (as one of five character classes with advantages and disadvantages) travel through various locales, such as caves, forest, dungeons, and towns. On the way, you get powerful weapons, new spells, and generally get to kick some butt. The game seems to be balanced fairly well, and I think I've had fun every time I've played it. The new updates to the game make it more complex, enjoyable, and adds replay value. The graphics on the game aren't spectacular, but serve their purpose admirably, as less graphical clutter makes the game more streamlined. I like the option to turn off the grayscale graphics in order to save battery power.

My major problem with the game is that Voyage 200 users need to patch the 92+ version to make it work on their calculator. A version compiled specifically for the V200 would be much appreciated.

CalcRogue is one of the best games I have ever played on the TI-89. CalcRogue is very simple to play but it is also very complex to win and master. Version Gamma 5 includes five player classes to choose from. There are dozens of weapons, some ranged and some melee and dozens more of amulets, potions, scrolls, rings, and pieces of armor. There are a vast amount of spells ranging from teleportation to summoning monsters to your side. There are towns and shops, as well as NPCs and quests. Countless monsters lurk in each level as you search for the Amulet of Yendor.