Gaming Writer Hamza Khawaja finds a gem of a story hidden in this platform mining adventure
I really enjoy the world of Steamworld Dig 2, despite not playing any Steamworld titles outside of the Dig series. However, after writing this retrospective, this might change, as I clearly enjoy the worldbuilding established by Image & Form Games.
Utilising an Old Western aesthetic
Steamworld is a steampunk reimagining of our planet, utilising an Old Western aesthetic for its starting location and character designs. The twist is that most of the characters are mechanical robots, creating a futuristic wild west vibe.
The core gameplay loop involves 2D mining in a square grid for resources. I know what you’re thinking — ‘Whoa, slow down there, don’t get too crazy!’ — but it is genuinely entertaining. This is especially thanks to a series of underground puzzles, ranging from ‘baby’s first puzzle room’ to genuinely fun challenges.
The puzzles never cross into the ‘too challenging’ territory, and the gameplay itself also sticks to this philosophy. Although there are penalties for dying, they are not hard to recover from, despite my complaining after dying to cultists.
Speaking of cultists, there are many types of enemies and NPCs, all of whom have interesting stories and vibrant personalities. Their engaging stories almost feel like a childhood cartoon that you would have loved to spend the day in.
Cartoonish and fun atmosphere
The characters themselves are quite unique. The mailman is a part-horse, part-person, and part-mechanical. There is a mechanical crab prospector who offers money for resources, perhaps a nod to Spongebob‘s Mr. Krabs. There is also a human later in the story, serving as a foil to the surface town’s mayor.
Overall, this game has a very cartoonish and fun atmosphere, even across the varied environments you progress through. For me, the consistent art style makes everything come together, especially for smaller titles lacking an individual identity and running the risk of feeling generic.
The 2D platforming element utilises a momentum system featuring a grappling hook, helping players think about movement more fluidly. The change from static to fluid movement marked a notable shift in progression, from methodical mining to zipping around enemies. Your progress feels very tangible as a result.
Creative approaches against hazards
Whilst not explicitly explained anywhere that I could see, the hook also served as a utility weapon. Attacking enemies or explosives with the hook turns or triggers them respectively, allowing for creative approaches against hazards.
Upgrading abilities requires resources collected from the mines and some other locations. Specific upgrades such as the grappling hook must be found in puzzle rooms along the path of story progression. As previously mentioned, however, the puzzles are not very difficult, so you should have no problem getting them.
The difficulty is perhaps this game’s biggest boon and curse. If you want a challenging experience to sink several hours into, this is probably not the game for you. However, the relaxed pace and amazing art direction make an incredibly immersive, story-driven experience.
Relaxed pace and amazing art direction
There are only two difficulty modes, Easy and Normal, so the introduction of certain ‘upgrades’ that make the game harder seems strange. For example, in my playthrough, I took an extra damage upgrade — not for myself, but for the enemies attacking me. In exchange, I received a slightly increased chance for enemies to drop more money.
There are a few ‘upgrades’ like this, but only hidden characters in the mines can find them. I personally would like an easier way to collect them, as they increase the challenge in a controlled manner.
I would strongly recommend this game to players interested in a story with easier mechanics and a captivating art style. The story itself is heartwarming, following a character called Dorothy searching for her friend Rusty who went underground. All the while, mysterious earthquakes keep disrupting the town below.
And with this review done, I must now return to the mines and teach that cultist a lesson!
Rating: 9/10
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