Auspicious tidings, intrepid wanderers! I’ve come to shed light on all things Shiren! In anticipation of the July 26 launch of Shiren The Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate on PS Vita, I’d like to take a brief stroll down memory lane as well as focus on some interesting features in the new game.

Shiren and Koppa’s adventures have spanned many years and many games, with only a handful of them making it to U.S. shores. Of the U.S. entries, the very first adventure took place in the vibrant Kobami Valley and featured diabolic dungeons and enemies that put even the most seasoned wanderers on edge. The next U.S. game saw many changes to the Shiren framework, the most notable of which was the option to choose a vastly decreased difficulty level. Where does that leave us with the latest Shiren?

Shiren The Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate keeps much of what worked and drops a lot of what didn’t while sporting a robust multiplayer mode. Link up with a friend and dive head first into dungeons and danger in co-op or versus mode. In co-op, two wanderers join forces to quest together and win by defeating a boss located on the last dungeon floor. Simple enough, right? The burden falls on both players, however, as one player falling in battle will end the adventure for both.

In addition to multiplayer, secrets and goodies abound as you traverse retro pixelated environs! I have received this knowledge from on high! There is a certain Tanuki (Raccoon Dog) in Nekomaneki Village. Go to Hotel Nekomaneki and find Pokopon, who will eventually ask for passwords. These passwords are not found in the game, so you’ll have to stay tuned as we dole them out here and there. What do they do exactly? I’ll leave that for you to discover on your own.

The first password is “Nonary Game.” What profound truths will you unlock? Keep your eyes peeled for the rest of the 32 remaining passwords and may the winds of Reeva blow good fortune your way!

Until next time, noble wanderers!