Wish you both nice birthdays
Neptonic &
Echoes (a belated one)
In other news, I finished a game! After what seemed like over half a year, I finally got around starting and finishing a whole game.
Last night, I started SteamWorld Dig. It was among the +100 games I have installed, so it was more like trying out something new quickly.
But I was instantly hooked! Played for about 3 hours in one sitting yesterday, and another 3 hours today, and finished the game. What a nice surprise this game was.
Mainly decided to play it, because I got fed up from replaying Spelunky all the dang time, and since SWD is also set in mines, I picked it.
Obviously, the game is nothing like Spelunky. Instead, we have a very well designed and balanced linear singleplayer campaign which is set in a charming, abandoned robot-wild west town. You play as the new arrival Rusty, the nephew of a missing resident called Joe.
There is an overarching story of you mining deeper and deeper to find out what happened to your uncle, but it's more like a backdrop to the actual gameplay. And how addicting it is. You immediately start entering the mines and all you have at that moment is a weak pickaxe. Digging blocks to carve you a path downwards, while also collecting gems. It's addictive!
With the collected gems, you can upgrade your gear, health or purchase usable items like dynamite, lanterns etc. Early on, your character feels lacking, whether it's the time needed to mine harder blocks or the constant journey back to the surface to unload your small pouch. But after a little while - and a few upgrades - the grind vanishes. Figuratively, since you'll be grinding in the mines for the entire campaign.
The real game changers are new tools you unlock in puzzle-caves. These work as new game mechanics, such as double-jump etc.. Oh man, once you're decked out with all gear, traversal and mining feels so good.
My playthrough took me 6-7 hours, so I definitely recommend SteamWorld Dig to everyone as a fun little game over the weekend.
