Whistle While You Work.
As much I hate the word, SteamWorld Dig is very much a Metroidvania style game. And it’s a beautiful blend of the genre with great mechanics from other indie games like Terraria and Speklunky. Exploration is the theme of SteamWorld Dig as well as it’s primary motivation. Instead of making the player build and create, you’re enticed to explore and find the world for yourself rather than build it. SteamWorld lends itself perfectly to the 3DS handheld by being easy to just pick up and play. Dig sits comfortable beside the best of the best on the 3DS eShop.
In the western mining town of Tumbleton your character, Rusty, is given the deed to an old mine by his recently deceased uncle. Tumbleton is desperate. With a population of 3 they need gems and minerals from the mine to prosper and survive. That’s where you come in.
Going down into the mine you quickly begin making pathways and finding your way. Littered throughout are precious metals and gems to collect and bring back to base. Of course, there are plenty of enemies along the way for you to fight as well as many other perils. You will spend almost the entire game inside the mines hallowing it out and making it your own.
The maps are huge and seemingly endless. Traversing them is a real undertaking. This is especially true at the very start when you have nothing but your basic pickaxe. Over time while building pathways challenge rooms will be made aware to you on the map. Completing these sections unlock new items and abilities to greatly enhance your exploration.
New jumps, new digging tools, power-ups will be unlocked making your long dig that much easier. Along with upgrades you find buried in the mines, there are also items and gear to be purchased with the gold you make. Being prepared can make or break a run through the mines. Not having enough dynamite or a teleporter when needed can really set you back.
The idea of a MetroidVania based solely around digging instead of combat, on paper, sounds mundane. What you end up with is a fever, an obsession, not unlike that of Terraria/Minecraft. It’s truly rewarding to be grinding away at a wall and finally uncover a hidden cave or cavern. The base gameplay is fun and gives you a desire for exploration that I haven’t felt in a game for quite a while. Every block you punch through is immensely satisfying fueling you to break the next one and the next and so on.
The town of Tumbleton is small. There are only a few NPCs to talk to and they don’t have much in the way of meaningful dialogue. They are, at the very least, lively and enjoyable to speak with, even if they are essentially just vending machines. There’s a place to trade in your minerals, a general store to buy items with and a saloon that serves no noticeable purpose. The more minerals you bring in, the more levels you gain. Leveling up unlocks new items and eventually new shops to populate the town.
My primary problem with StreamWorld Dig is the lack of town building and NPCs. Realistically it’s not a huge problem, the town does what it’s supposed to and gets you back into the mines. But I wanted more. I wanted to flesh the town out with my achievements and have it fuel me to dig deeper.
There is just enough steampunk to make the aesthetic charming rather than over doing it like steampunk tends to do. The 2D sprites and very crisp and well done. The 3D effects, though minimal are there. Even more impressive than the artwork would be the use of mood lighting. Lights will change colors and flicker and blend leading to a very atmospheric setting. It really gives life to the caverns that you make and lends a certain pop to areas that would otherwise be bland. The music and lighting help give SteamWorld a nice feeling of isolation. SteamWorld dig has made such a high quality, impressive atmosphere that you don’t traditionally see in a downloadable title.
Overall, I’m highly impressed. What I expected to be another run of the mill eShop game, became one of my most played titles. There is a wealth of content to be enjoyed and offers and fair amount of replayability. The mechanics are simple and clean. SteamWorld Dig’s presentation is solid, the 2D sprites blend perfectly with the steampunk aesthetic while the mood lighting makes for great atmosphere. It’s one of the best eShop games available and I recommend it with confidence.
Positive:
- Great mix of mechanics.
- Wonderful presentation.
- Accurate difficulty.
Negatives:
- Not enough town building.
- Limited water supply.