SteamWorld Heist 2 Review: High Seas Strategies

I’m an enormous fan of the SteamWorld sequence, however the authentic SteamWorld Heist was not my favourite. I actually wished to love it. Not simply because I really like SteamWorld, however as a result of it had such a novel tackle tactical technique; an RPG-flavored evolution of Worms with a Area Western theme that checked numerous bins for me.

Sadly, the execution left me dissatisfied. The partaking technique it provided simply couldn’t make up for the shortage of character customization, grindy gameplay, and randomly generated maps that each one felt the identical. I jumped off SteamWorld Heist earlier than the top and handled myself to a run by SteamWorld Dig 2 to remind myself what I really like about this world within the first place.

I first noticed SteamWorld Heist 2 at Summer time Recreation Fest earlier this yr and it appeared just like the workforce at Thunderful Improvement had addressed numerous my issues. The sequel builds out the core RPG techniques of the unique in some essential methods to enhance the team-building and character customization options that have been underdeveloped within the authentic. With hand-crafted maps and a brand new emphasis on gear, it appeared like SteamWorld Heist 2 was fixing all of its predecessor’s large issues. However after 15 hours, my related emotions about SteamWorld Heist haven’t actually modified.

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SteamWorld Heist 2 Is So A lot Meatier Than The Authentic

Between the brand new job system and all the brand new handmade content material, SteamWorldd Heist 2 appears like a real sequel.

Whereas it is true that there are new techniques in place that handle the prior shortcomings, these new techniques additionally add flaws of their very own. Heist 2 introduces a job system that lets you assign your characters to any class based mostly on their outfitted weapon and over time develop them into fully customizable cross-class fighters. It’s a cool approach to strategy ability timber that provides you numerous freedom to construct your characters with the precise expertise you need – however provided that you’re keen to grind for it.

I wished to unlock skills from completely different courses to fine-tune my heroes, however as a way to do this, you must restart the leveling course of for every new class. I discovered that even with good gear my characters simply weren’t sturdy sufficient to maintain up if I attempted to coach them in a brand new class whereas pushing the story ahead. I wanted to coach them up in simpler missions I’d already accomplished, or decrease the problem, however each choices felt dangerous.

The opposite downside is that some courses have skills which are so highly effective, you simply wish to have them obtainable on each character. Flankers get extremely helpful motion skills which are important to have, particularly in the direction of the top of the sport when the maps are large and take a number of turns to traverse, so I discovered myself leveling up all of my characters as flankers. Not solely did this considerably flatten the composition of my workforce, however it additionally added extra grind. I like that Heist 2 provides you extra freedom to construct your characters, however it would possibly offer you an excessive amount of freedom.

And whereas I recognize that every degree is hand made (with some randomization for selection) there’s nonetheless solely a lot you’ll be able to with a 2D map. Each degree is a sequence of interconnected rooms with obstacles to cover behind and bizarre angles to ricochet bullets off of, however they do are likely to all mix collectively after some time, similar to the primary recreation. There’s positively extra selection within the enemies, hazards, and format of ranges, however I finally felt the identical fatigue in Heist 2 that I felt within the first recreation.

My dedication was actually challenged in the previous couple of hours, when the mission instances prolonged to 20-Half-hour every. One incorrect alternative about the place to maneuver a personality or purpose a shot can snowball into an irresolvable state of affairs, forcing you to restart all the mission from the start. A few missions I bought caught on took me 5 or 6 makes an attempt and a number of hours to get by thanks to at least one or two dangerous photographs and unfortunate spawns I couldn’t bounce again from, and have been I not reviewing, I in all probability would have simply given up.

I really like the world of SteamWorld. Heist 2 is as flavorful as ever, with nice characters, humorous writing, and an amazing soundtrack by Steam Powered Giraffe. The overworld exploration is charming too, with its personal pirate ship development system and easy naval fight. I actually wish to like SteamWorld Heist 2, however I can’t get previous the extra tedious facets of the grind, or the lengthy, punishing missions within the late recreation. It’s an enchancment over the unique to make sure, however I’ll have to attend patiently for SteamWorld Heist 3 to see if this sequence can lastly attain its full potential.