Steam / GOG Downloads #8

SteamWorld Dig A Fistful of Dirt (2013)
By: Image & Form Genre: Platform/Arcade Adventure Players: 1 Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Featured Version: PC
Also Available For: PS4, Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Switch

Anyone who visited my little page back around the turn of last year may recall a post I made wherein my good friend Luke had given me five game recommendations which I had then vowed to play before the end of the following year. Well, it took me over half of said year but I finally got around to playing the first of his choices, and it has taken me even longer to review it, but it was... SteamWorld Dig! It was among the more popular indie titles of its day so I'm definitely late to the party but due to such high praise from Luke I was keen to get stuck in. Near enough straight away, however, I found that it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I kind of had the impression it was a fairly standard platformer, just set underground. Maybe something like Spelunky. But it's actually more like a much slower-paced, somewhat more complicated Mr Driller. Well, kind of anyway.

Of course, I imagine most of you have known this for many moons already but it was bit of a surprise to me, though not necessarily an unwelcome one. It turns out the game is actually part of a whole 'SteamWorld' series which are set in a post-apocalyptic steampunk-inspired world populated by robots. This particular entry in the series casts you as a clanker known as Rusty who, thanks to the recent passing of his long-lost uncle (perhaps the necessary spare parts needed for repair were no longer available?), is the recipient of the deed to a mine in a dusty old town called Tumbleton. I suppose Rusty could've just tucked the deed away at the bottom of his junk drawer and returned to his blackjack and hookers, but he instead finds himself arriving in Tumbleton ready to explore.

I guess that means Rusty is not a lazy oaf but his uncle apparently was, for the mine is almost entirely unexcavated! Rusty's first job, therefore, is to find a pickaxe and get digging. As you might expect, the portion of planetary crust that makes up the mine consists of a series of blocks arranged in grids which are made of a few different materials and found in varying densities. Soft earth can be pickaxed into non-existence with one hit, for example, but predictably there isn't too much of that. Solid rocks, on the other hand, offer only a loud clanging sound if you try to smack them up. Most of the ground is somewhere in between these two extremes though, and can be smashed accordingly, with the number of 'picks' necessary to shatter them into nothingness dependent on which of the many different axes you have. Time to raid those savings!

Indeed, for the surface of the mine is seemingly right in the middle of Tumbleton, and there are several amenities available should you wish to partake. A female clanker who should've been called Doris runs the saloon, for example, which apparently has the ungodly job of respawning Rusty upon his demise. There is also a chirpy lass who I would've called Bess who will buy any loot you find beneath the surface, and equally usefully, there are also three very helpful clankers known as Cranky, Biff and Dandy who provide many fine wares and valuable equipment to aid your subterranean tomfoolery - for a price, naturally. How many riches you amass and how many extras you can buy, however, depends entirely on how thoroughly you excavate the ground below which the town is standing.

Only Cranky is in town at the start though, as Biff and Dandy don't arrive on the scene until reaching the second and third of the game's three main areas respectively. The first of these is known as Archaea and seems exactly like you would expect a stereotypical mine to be. Dig deep enough, however, and you'll eventually reach Old World. This is a dirty, polluted area full of harmful green liquid, radioactive waste, and of course harder ground including rocks. Make it to the bottom of this extensive and dangerous area and you'll reach Vectron which, as you might guess by its name, is a mysterious, futuristic world of metal and remarkable technology. Get through this cold, zappy world and... who knows what glory awaits? It's a long and difficult challenge in any case.

Indeed, for while chipping away at earth and rocks is the main focus of the game, there is a little more to it than that. There are harmful creatures in all areas of the game for one thing. In the first area, they come in the form of trilobites and turtles, while in the second area it's mostly humans you have to look out for (they're the ones who made it all polluted, obviously). These bipedal oafs come in two varieties, both equally unpleasant - one looks like a dim-witted old codger and is usually asleep until you or something else wakes him/them, and they are often carrying sticks of dynamite too. The other kind are big burly oafs who repeatedly throw bottles at you. The last area has a couple of robotic enemies but more dangerous here are the automated defences such as lightning turrets and laser boxes which will drain Rusty's energy (or power cells?) quickly.

These terrible creatures/people are not easy to despatch either, really. The pickaxe can be used but it's obviously a very short-range form of attack, although you can also lob sticks of dynamite, assuming you bought any from the shop-bots on the surface. It's generally easier to avoid the subterranean cretins but they aren't the only things that can hinder you. Falling too far can drain energy, you can be crushed by rocks Boulder Dash-stylee if you dig underneath them, and there are also dangers like the aforementioned green liquid as well as unstable barrels of TNT which will blow you to kingdom come if you get too close. It will also be handy to be able to see what you're doing. The mines are pretty well illuminated when you first enter but the level of light gradually diminishes until it goes out.

The only way to replenish your light reserve it to return to the surface, but you'll need to do this regularly anyway to sell the ores and gems you've unearthed. There are lots of different examples of these found randomly in the ground and you can only carry so much. Returning to the surface to sell what you've gathered is the best option as this brings you cash reserves which can be spent on all sorts of gadgets and upgrades. As mentioned, there are increasingly tough pickaxes available as well as drills (for tougher ground), bigger pouches (so you can carry more), extra lamps, ladders, armour (to protect from the beasties), water tanks, and all manner of other things, many of which are locked to start with. Luckily you can also buy more health/power too, which is ultra-handy.

It's a good idea too, as you'll need to pay hefty repairs costs if you run out of energy underground. Quick escapes are possible though, as you can even buy teleporters to position at will so you don't have to climb all the way back up every time. That said, it isn't a massive hardship if you have to climb up as control of Rusty is exceptional. He moves around quite quickly and his jump is well-weighted. He can even climb up vertical walls, although he can't get past any overhangs. Indeed, because of that and his limited jump height, it is possible for Rusty to get stuck which might necessitate a suicide unless you remembered to buy any ladders. New abilities can be obtained by getting through the few 'caves' that are found in each area too, although these are usually more puzzley in nature. They can be very tricky but you can tackle them whenever you want.

It's not an especially taxing game overall though, and if you enjoy it, it's worth returning as the mines and contents are random each time you start. It's difficult to imagine someone not enjoying this game too. The graphics are excellent in all areas. The sprites have a lot of character and the scenery, while not varying hugely, is detailed, well defined and atmospheric, and the lighting is fantastic. The sound is a bit weaker, with excellent effects and a nice title screen tune but no in-game music at all. It doesn't seem to matter though as it's an ultra addictive game. It's one of those that doesn't sound that appealing when you describe it to others but it's just so enjoyable to play. You can play at whatever pace you like but however you approach it, it's never less than relaxing and engrossing in equal measure. Thanks Luke, for finally pushing me to play it!

RKS Score: 9/10