I’m a big fan of the first SteamWorld Dig. I’ve bought and completed it twice, in fact. The “digging genre”, such as it is, has always appealed to me. Ever since playing a demo of Diggers on the Acorn at high school, I’ve been drawn to them – Mr Driller, Miner Dig Deep, and SteamWorld Dig being the headliners.
SteamWorld Dig 2 was a thought-free instant purchase then, but if I’d not bought it the overwhelmingly positive reviews would have made it difficult to resist.
A cursory glance of the game shows little has changed since the first title. You’re a steambot (although not Rusty any more – he’s gone missing), and you have to dig down in a mine. The more you dig, the more you need upgrades to assist. However, after you’ve played it for a bit you realised it’s not just about depth – there’s more to explore here.
Instead of a single shaft, there are a number of separate – albeit linked – areas, each themed. A more powerful axe is less important this time around, with rocket boots and a grappling hook becoming the essential tools for getting around. Larger, more open spaces replace much of cramped mining, but there’s always something, and some reason, to dig.
Smaller rooms, filled with puzzles or navigational challenges, pock the mine and reward you with items that further boost your skills. Cogs can augment your abilities over and above the standard bought upgrades, reducing water use or making your pressure grenades more powerful, for example.
The gameplay is perfect. After every “run”, usually when you’ve found another return tube (which acts as a warp point), you sell your ore and gems, bump your powers up with the money and cogs, then return “just to get to the next tube”. And the next tube. And the next tube. It’s addictive, and soon enough eight hours have passed and I’ve completed the game.
But still there’s more. My completion stats say I’m just 53% done, and Image & Form tell me there’s a whole extra section if I make it to 100. So of course, I’m going to make it to 100%.
Stabbing and murdering. And that’s just Lego!
Play
SteamWorld Dig 2 (Switch)
Bought, played and completed. Just like that. Then went for 100%. It’s a fantastic game, always a pleasure and never a chore. Although the final, after-100%, trials are the hardest thing ever and I’ve not managed to best them. Yet.
Hitman (PS4)Completed! Had a lot of fun with this, finding ways to make use of the schedules and weaknesses discovered to bump off people in interesting ways. Crushing the heart (literally) of the heart transplant bloke, poisoning a lawyer via fugu, making use of a battering ram, and tinkering with a Tuk Tuk. It’s the best Hitman game.
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens (PS4)
It’s Star Wars and Lego. Not a fan of the former, but a fan of the latter, so it was OK. I don’t like the two new mechanics (cover shooting and multiple builds from the same bricks), but they’re not deal-breakers. The stats say we finished the story in under 10 hours, making it the shortest Lego game by some way, but there’s still plenty to do as the stats also say 25.4% complete.
Picross S (Switch)
This looks kind of weird on the big screen, but that’s probably only because I’ve only played 3DS picross games for the last few years. I’ve not finished many puzzles yet, mainly because of…
Golf Story (Switch)
Long wanted, and finally here. It’s a sort of adventure game, only with golf and golf-related game mechanics. It’s a little rough round the edges (literally – I’ve got stuck in or on scenery multiple times so far, and had to quit out), and the multiple pixel sizes jar a bit, but it’s nuts and lovely and I’m really enjoying it. I’ve just gained access to the third course, having fed some fish, dug up an idol, found some lost turtles, played disc golf, and all sorts of other not-golf activities.
Want
Stardew Valley (Switch)
Rumours abound this’ll finally hit this week. Let’s hope!
Fire Emblem Warriors (Switch)
This month, apparently? Blimey.
Mario Odyssey (Switch)
Also this month. I’ve pre-ordered it!
Lego Ninjago The Movie Videogame (Switch, or maybe PS4)
ALSO out this month. Sake.
Bin
All the games coming out at the same time. Come on lads, sort it out. It’s not even Christmas yet.
Expense
Whoops.
Golf Story: £10.79
Picross S: £5.75
Super Mario Odyssey: £35.14
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