Web game clone or serious upgrade?



SteamWorld Dig is an interesting game. You play as a robot miner named Rusty, and you are looking for your missing uncle in a mine. Rusty runs across his uncle's corpse, and then your first goal is to mine some ore. The story and the objectives change as you progress through the game.

You start out with just a pickaxe, but eventually you will unlock boots that you can run faster in, dynamite you can throw, and more. Some of these take up a water meter, which you can refill by jumping in water. Make sure your lantern has fuel in it, if your light goes out you can’t see ore!

The game doesn’t really tell you the controls, so I’ll explain them.

D-pad/Circle Pad: Move Rusty (it’s a 2-D game so D-pad works best)
B: Jump
L: Switch primary tool
A: use primary tool
R: switch secondary tool
X: use secondary tool
Y: dash (once speed boots are unlocked)

Rusty learns more moves throughout the game, but there are hints on how to use them. How do you go back up? Wall jump of course.



After you mine ore, bring it up to the surface and sell it. As you sell more ore, more tools and power-ups will be unlocked to buy from stores, as well as finding certain items in caves. The power-ups range from increasing your max health, max water, upgraded pickaxe or drill, and more. Some items require orbs to buy; some don’t cost money but only costs orbs. Keep an eye on your orb count, as orbs are more rare than ore.

Does this game sound familiar? Well then you must have played the web game Motherload. SteamWorld Dig is basically an upgraded, portable version of Motherload. Is it worth paying for? SteamWorld Dig has more of a platformer feel, and if you like Motherload, you will love this game.

Graphically it looks good for an indie game, although nothing seriously impressive. I usually don't care about graphics, but I wish the 3D was used more. The 3D is used only a little more than, say, New Super Mario Bros. 2. Music wise? It was calming, but the sound effects are so much louder than the music that sometimes it's hard to enjoy the music



Lets talk about the enemies. I may have bad-mouthed the graphics and sound, but the enemies make up for it. At first the only enemies you will face are small bugs that just walk left and right, but it goes to enemies that will throw dynamite, enemies that will chase after you and explode, and more. There is even a final boss, and it is pretty hard. The enemies are tough to fight sometimes, as you can lose health fast. I died quite a few times on the final boss alone. Overall I thought the enemies made the game, as if there were no enemies the game wouldn’t be as much fun.

It only took me just under 6 hours to beat SteamWorld Dig, but it was a lot of fun. I completed it in only two play sessions; it was addicting enough to play for 3 hours at a time. Yes the graphics and sound aren't the best, but the gameplay is great. Is it worth paying about $10 for a game based on a free web game? Maybe, it depends on how much you want to spend, but if you like Motherload and want it on the go this is the game to get.

Main Pros: fun and addictive gameplay, various tools and abilities keep it interesting

Main Cons: graphics and sound not the best, very short game, simpler version is available as a free web game

Score: 8/10