Tales of Maj'Eyal

Happy TOMEntines day! This week we choo-choo choose to revisit the traditional roguelike-sphere with an oldie but a biggie. Tales of Maj’Eyal holds a special place in the hearts of old guards of tradrogues, continuing a legacy from an Angband spinoff in 1998. There’s a lot of love stemming from a vibrant community around TOME, if you can look past the ugly duckling presentation. It’s time to use our Chronomancy to turn back the clock, fight back the Spellblaze Scar, and try to charm the master of Dredfell Tower to watch some sappy romcoms with us.

1:57 - game stats
4:31 - one sentence description
6:13 - First impressions discussion and art criticism begins
10:18 - Will’s 60-hour experience and frustration with mechanics
16:41 - Mechanical cohesion: enemies use same systems as players
19:06 - Different starting scenarios for various races/classes
23:37 - Auto-explorer feature and movement controls discussion
30:19 - Game modes: permadeath vs multiple lives system
34:12 - Debate on roguelike length and investment vs permadeath
45:58 - Vault mechanics and elite enemies discussion
50:28 - Controls and UI complexity criticism
56:40 - Music repetition and sound design complaints
59:49 - Graphics critique: “objectively ugly” debate and art cohesion
1:12:32 - Dating quest discovery and bikini character screenshots
1:18:21 - rankings and final thoughts
1:26:38 - similar games

Next episode: Against the Storm

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: Thomas Marriott - The Tale of Debauchery

Outro music: Celestial Aeon Project - Virtue Lost