Dunjonquest: Gateway to Apshai Retrospective
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Players could find new equipment as they progressed through the dungeon, allowing them to take more damage and defeat foes more easily. The further they went into the dungeon, too, the stronger the monsters became, so it was necessary to take advantage of the better equipment in order to stay alive. Occasionally between dungeon levels, too, one of the player's statistics (Strength, Agility, Luck or Health) would increase, but this wasn't tied to an experience points-based system.
Gateway to Apshai had an interesting structure that meant two games didn't necessarily have to be alike. While not a true randomly-generated dungeon system, Apshai's approach of offering eight levels, each with sixteen dungeons to choose from, meant that players could enjoy many different combinations of adventures. In practice, all that changed in each dungeon was the layout of the rooms, but it was nice to have a game that wasn't completely rigid in its structure. There was a strict time limit to each level, too, meaning that if you weren't quick about it, you might miss out on some treasures in a particular level. Running out of time didn't cause death it simply moved you on to the next level. And if you tired of a level, you could finish it early at any time with the touch of a key.
