There are puzzle rooms that reward you with bonuses once you figure them out and secret areas to uncover but there's not nearly enough to make up for the simple core gameplay. All you do is mine and dig over and over again. Whereas the sequel is full of awesome things to see and do, this debut title feels flat in comparison. In the end, I wish there were more tangible replay incentives.įinally, there certainly isn't much variety in SteamWorld Dig. After you beat it, you can keep playing to acquire more goodies and upgrades but doing so feels kind of empty since you already completed the game. For the record, I completed my playthrough in just over four hours. First of all, the campaign is very short. Being able to survive much longer because you decided to enhance these aspects results in a significant sense of accomplishment for frequently unloading all of your precious materials at Tumbleton.Īlthough SteamWorld Dig is definitely an enjoyable game that's still worth playing in 2018 and beyond, there are a couple of substantial downsides that take away from its shelf life. On top of all these, you'll regularly upgrade your pickaxe, drill, life meter, water meter (that you use for your drill and super-jump), and light meter. Each one of these abilities and items creates a new wrinkle to the gameplay formula and it all adds up to make a satisfying and constantly evolving dynamic. As you progress, you'll learn how to dash, double-jump, use a powerful drill, super-jump, and utilize a wide array of tools such as teleporters that create handy shortcuts, dynamite, ladders, and lamps. Now I can freely fall wherever these digs take me!īesides just digging and fighting, Rusty has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. It's surprising that after so many years, the sights and sounds of SteamWorld Dig rival even the best indie games on the market. Meanwhile, the quietly atmospheric music adds a layer of mystery as you dig which contrasts with the much louder and immediately gratifying sound effects to create a varied and full soundscape. The detailed character sprites, natural-looking animation, and intricate environments hold up beautifully. When it comes to graphics, SteamWorld Dig still looks fantastic. Overall, the gameplay loop is engaging and addictive and had me hooked from start to finish. The 2D platforming controls are spot-on which makes digging through the mines and fighting the odd enemy feel all the more rewarding. As you dig deeper and deeper, you'll uncover many interesting things such as new enemy types, secret areas, puzzle-oriented challenge rooms, and permanent upgrades that'll help you reach further depths. You unload your materials at the town of Tumbleton to earn cold hard cash that you can use to purchase items and upgrades. SteamWorld Dig has you control a robot named Rusty as you unearth minerals from a seemingly endless mineshaft. I'm sure you're already familiar with SteamWorld Dig and possibly its incredible sequel but allow me to explain what it's all about in case you're new to this charming indie series. □□ When Rusty goes adventuring, these guys just stand around twiddling their robot thumbs │ At Video Chums, accessibility is important and we go to great lengths to ensure that it's easy for everyone to enjoy our content. Rusty's little adventure has been ported to many consoles since and now you can join him on your newfangled Switch so let's head to the mines. SteamWorld Dig is also available for Wii U, 3DS, PS4, PS Vita, and Xbox OneĪlmost five years ago, 3DS owners were treated to the debut of a delightful mining 2D platformer. Maciejewski playing a Nintendo Switch on February 3, 2018 Enemies even behave differently in these different biomes, adding an additional layer of freshness to each area.Reviewed by A.J. The Temple of the Guardian in particular features traps reminiscent of an Indiana Jones movie. One might be dusty, while another is fairy-like. Reminiscent of old western-style lore, El Machino and its population of humans, cult members, and steambots embody the legends of cowboys and cowgirls. Even the environment itself feels like a character, with each new mine you explore possessing a unique feel. The world that this story takes place in, however, is brimming with character. Again, this is typical for the SteamWorld universe, but lackluster is still lackluster. Players only face his forces a handful of times, which felt a bit sparse and unnecessary. Though the game features two main antagonists to combat, only one has even some depth to their character. The other, Ronald, who leads a doom worshiping cult, felt like a simple throwaway character. The main thing you need to know is that there are earthquakes in the area and that the search for Rusty is still ongoing by your character. While the story is on par with other games in the SteamWorld universe, there is not much to it.
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