SteamWorld Dig 2 (2017)

its a metroidvania so not a genre i favor so i cant really speak to the gameplay but i enjoyed the story, i'd recommend playing this BEFORE steamworld heist despite heist being released first as theres no spoiler for heist in here and heist takes place after dig 2 just would be more natural imo

so yeah i enjoyed it still love the aestetic and i have a weak spot for steampunk so im not surpprised on to quest for gilgamesh or w/e its called :)

What a relaxing and fun little game. It is at its best when you are giving the most flexibility to dig through the mine any way you want with a whole bunch of powered up abilities. I also loved that the slower paced cave puzzles were a nice break from the dangerous digs.

But what is up with the light mechanic? That was a mildly infuriating nuisance that really didn't inhibit me much but kept nagging me to go back to town.

Ok, I lied. I gave the annoying boss one more take and beat it. Now continuing with the game and I'm kind of linking it much more?

Each upgrade improves the character's mobilty which makes the gameplay much more dynamic than the first game. Although I kind of miss having to build ladders and being forced to think carefully about how to dig to ensure that it was possible to return to the surface. With wall-climbing, grappling hook and jetpack (!) all of that is completely negated.

The "Dig" games do to me what "Clicker" games must do to their fans. For whatever reason, I must clear out every square of dirt and brick. I must buy every upgrade. I must acquire every cog. I enter into a zen-like state and almost pay more attention to my podcast or whatever I'm listening to instead of the game. The game is an extension of me. A menial task that makes me just a little happier while engaging with it. I focus in for the puzzles, but most of the time me and Dorothy are just mining and LOVING IT!

That being said, I think Dorothy gets too strong at the end and it takes away from the game's challenge. That is a nitpick. Really, I love this game and am ready to buy number three whenever it comes.

I really enjoyed the previous Steamworld games, so it's no wonder that the sequel engaged me quickly. It picks up after the first game's events where you have to explore the mines and search for answers behind your missing friend (the first game's protagonist). As a sentient robot, you'll collect minerals and relics that'll enable you to get upgraded in order to overcome new obstacles along the way.

There are rewarding secrets to be uncovered and fun moments to keep you engaged. The game's flow is quite seamless and adds to the addiction value, which makes it hard to notice how much time has passed in one sitting.

Warmly recommended for action adventure gamers, even those who enjoy exploration and the digging mechanics akin to Terraria and the likes.

“Wherever he saw a hole he always wanted to know the depth of it. To him this was important.” -Jules Verne, Journey to the Center of the Earth

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Swedish development studio Image & Form Games released the first SteamWorld Dig in 2013 and I realize just how tragic it is that I missed out on that game. Why? Because I have enjoyed its sequel so much. You know that feeling when you run into something that was made for you and you think “Where have you been all my life?” I dig this game.

SteamWorld Dig 2 I compare to a much more focused version of Terraria, a friendlier flavor of Super Metroid, and what Dig Dug would be if they turned the arcade classic into an RPG. Apparently it’s also bigger than its predecessor. Dig 2 takes the better elements of its influences and buffs out the smudges representing their worst elements: frustration over getting lost without any sense of what you need to do next, begrudging backtracking, getting flooded by largely useless upgrades with too much to chose from. Dig 2 is a fairly brief jaunt underground but it ensures that you know where you need to go next before patting you on the booty and saying “now shoo!”.

This is due in large part to a strong emphasis on traditional storytelling over building a personal narrative through exploration.

SteamWorld Dig 2 opens with Dorothy McCrank, a Steambot and mere NPC in the first game. This time ’round, she’s the shero of the day. She’s searching for her missing friend Rusty in a wild wild west stylized desert. On her way to the mines of El Machino, she tumbles into the legend of a hidden temple and meets a digital sprite entity called Fen, who despite his appetite for violence aids Dorothy on her adventure.

Dorothy also runs afoul of some rogues cultists worshiping machines of destruction and prophesying about the end of the world. Besides for finding Rusty and discovering what happened to him after the events of the first Dig, she’ll also help the well-meaning but bumbling citizens of El Machino and face off against the Cult of the Destroyer and the Shiners (the nemeses of robotkind with whom they share a long-running history of strife).

Dig 2’s world is interesting and unusual: not indulgently steampunk, not a straight Western, and not merely self-serious or kiddie sci-fi. The game comes off as a combination of stereotypes (the Old West, robot society cartoons, Metroidvania gameplay) but each of these contribute to a universe which at times feels familiar yet remains distinct. Distinctiveness, that elusive quality among entertainment these days.

Click here for the full review... https://thewellredmage.com/2017/09/24/steamworld-dig-2/