I have 3 CD cases in my car, because apparently I like primitive physical media. Apparently I also like peppy songs about death. Not “death metal” or anything so raucous, just “la la la everyone dies”. So, for your enjoyment and mine, here are Ferret’s music reviews:
Track 1: Thirty-three presumed dead by drowning. ***** Five stars, and the holotype example on this album. It has a very peppy Caribbean beat, and then a shipload of people perish in a hurricane. At least I assume they perish. There’s no explanation for the omniscient third person narration, but that’s the most likely interpretation, I believe.
Track 2: No human deaths, but dead windmills, at least. *
Track 3: Thousands dead at Gallipoli, in this mournful memoir of war. ****
Track 4: No deaths, one possible statutory rape. Zero stars, do not like.
Track 5: Dead father, dead nobleman and henchmen, and peasant heads on pikes by morning. ****
Track 6: Just one dead deputy sheriff, with attending legal consequences. ***
Track 7: One dead knight, with grateful commentary by scavenging birds. ***
Track 8: Most of humanity extinguished when someone pushes the button. Super peppy. *****
Track 9: No immediate deaths, just alcoholism. * One star for amusing ad-lib.
Track 10: No deaths, but some very unfortunate life choices. *
Track 11: No deaths. Beans. Do not want.
Track 12: No deaths, but it’s about sleep, which is somewhat akin. *
Track 13: I have no idea what this song is about, or even what LANGUAGE it is supposed to be. I once put this song on auto-repeat to see how long it would take for a child to figure out that it wasn’t ever going to end. **
Track 14: No deaths, just poor life choices and alcoholism. No thanks.
Track 15: Three dead brothers, and another one heading away to war. Kinda peppy, but missing something. ***
Track 16: Death is only mentioned once, but tyrants who imprison people and then get their comeuppance is something to sing about. I’m quite fond of this one. ****
Track 17: Probably lots of people dead in battle, but the protagonist is only MOSTLY dead. His mortal wounds are healed by a witch when she has her way with him. What’s not to like? *****
Track 18: No reported deaths, but this song is all about the fear of death, and losing one’s loved ones. Be thankful for the time you have. ****
Track 19: Mocking the criminal ancestry of Australians. Meh.
Track 20: Very catchy, even though nobody dies. ***
A Knight to remember
11/21 '19
* nethack the original, v3.6.1 and counting.
* unnethack - kitchen sink of additions, harder than vanilla, very actively developed.
* Slash'em/Slash'em Extended/SlashThem - I play this one a lot, basically 3.4.3 with new roles, races, monsters, artifacts, longer dungeon, shorter Gehennom. Kinda hard. Playing as a Vampire wizard is super fun. Playing as a Doppleganger is OP AF. Dev seems stalled for most of these subvariants.
* dNethack - new and actively changing as we speak, new mechanics for almost everything, WAY harder monsters, new roles that are basically impossible to ascend, Elbereth replaced with a series of Wards and spirit bindings that convey an intrinsic but only if you don't break conduct...easily the most complicated and difficult of the current variants. You can play as an android or a convict or a time traveler from the future who doesn't know why he has all these crazy plasma weapons etc.
* FiqHack - mostly UI and QoL improvements...didn't do much for me.
* GruntHack - intended to be harder; can't say, never tried it.
I think that's the major ones? AceHack and NitroHack got folded into one or more of those...NetHack4 became FiqHack I think...NetHack Fourk might be active.
Still a great (set of) game(s).
https://ascension.run/hterm/ appears to have many of the variants Paul listed.