The decades-old Shiren the Wanderer series is famous for being bluntly unforgiving, and The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is no exception to that intimidating rule. I'm dumped into a randomised dungeon and expected to fend for myself using nothing more than whatever I find lying around on the floor, the stairs to the next level only promising more of the same pain. A monster strolls into the room, one tile at a time, and I freeze, carefully considering every step and sword swing I can make before I act.