Some call it a roguelike RPG, I call it Hard Core. This is why Mystery Dungeon:Shiren the Wanderer has been underrated.

User Rating: 9.5 | Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren DS DS
Shiren the Wanderer is a roguelike RPG first of all. This sub-category of an RPG video game is important. Look up roguelike on wikipedia. It means that Shiren isn't the typical Final Fantasy or Wizardry game. Roguelike RPG's have randomly generated dungeons and a simple story. They have monsters that you fight that curse you, steal from you, turn your items into junk, and of course they level themselves. Every monster you encounter, you make careful moves knowing that the wrong one could be your last. Typically your character starts out in a town and goes on a journey towards some treasure or goal. The level's your character gains during the journey are reset when you travel back to the starting city or town. You get to keep your items and gear though, unless of course you die.
If gamespot was going to rate games according to what they are and not what they want them to be, then the rating would be a bit higher. I would never rate Tetris a low score just because I dont like puzzle games, I would rate it for what it offers. Why score a game badly because it's not for wimps who cant play a game that is "hard"? Chunsoft and Sega made this game knowing that it wasnt going to be on the best seller list. That list is for fruits who only like romantic cinematic rpg's . If your brave enough to go back to the roots of RPG's, then play Shiren.

You can save your game and play again later, but that function is not like other rpg save game functions. This save game is real, which means that if you die you cant reload. Your character died if you dont want to lose your items, then dont die.
Perhaps I was to critical. Read the other reviews, unless the average person who plays Shiren is an idiot, then Gamespot should have given it better than a 6.0. I recommend this game to all those who want to play a game and really get into it. If your casual and just want to look at your emo-like hero and how pretty they are, then there are plenty of games out there to enjoy.
Have fun