SteamWorld Dig 2

First rate platforming/digging game with some tight controls and plenty of story, I could have played for twice as long and still enjoyed every minute of it.

I was expecting more of a resource-management game, but SWD2 is very limited in this regard. Mining is really simplistic, and you can't really focus on it, since important tools are hidden away in platforming challenge caves. Not to mention, it's pretty jarring that you can't dig diagonally or in mid-air. There's no way to create footholds when digging straight up, either; not until you get a late-game unlock. The same restrictions apply to combat, and it's terrible. Only tolerable thanks to sticky bombs, but definitely not enjoyable. You'll take a lot of unavoidable damage in cramped corridors and on narrow platforms. However, movement is AMAZING. It's smooth, fast, precise, there are wall jumps, and the hook, despite being locked to a single axis, is immensely fun to use. Not to mention, usable for minor sequence breaks. I'd just get rid of the jetpack altogether and design the levels around grapple boosting.

This game is ok. 3.5/5 if we compare it with first. That's it. Maybe you want to read review "Bigger, Bolder, Beautiful-er, and Dumber" - because I don't want to repeat what's already said. If you can get it free, for a dollar, two - it's ok.

As a casual gamer, I liked playing this game, it is not frustrating - just dig more and upgrade :) Recommended to everyone! :)

It wasn't that easy to sell a sequel to Steamworld Dig to me. While I liked the predecessor, I loved Steamworld Heist. Cowboy miner robot digs to the bottom of the world? Yeah, OK, can do. But turn-based Space Opera robot rebels fuck up the universe? Hells yeah. But Image & Form still delivered here, in their first day one release on GOG. And their excellent gameplay philosophy pervades throughout this game as well. They really thought hard about what kind of obstacles SD2 is supposed to throw in your way as opposed to the original. Sometimes, they took a knife to the predecessor: The total amount of money you get is no longer limited, so even if you die a lot, you can still get all the equipment in the game; and you won't have to spend time and money getting health and water replenished in town. Farming is now possible by hunting monsters, but in no way necessary – the "play it like you want to" philosophy shines once more. There are, of course, new and devious ways to get yourself killed. On the whole, Steamworld Dig 2 plays more like a Metroidvania game than the original. There's still a whole lot of digging involved, but there's now also chase sequences, experience points, more varied puzzle gameplay, and I&F even flirts with the occasional boss fight (not more than a flirt though). Some of the equipment you get will change gameplay fundamentally; and I kind of wish I would have known about that last piece of equipment earlier so I wouldn't have had to grind my teeth trying some of the challenge caves for the umpteenth time. It's all marginal points of criticism in a thoroughly enjoyable game of course. The only thing I was rather meh about was the "reward" for finding all artifacts (another cave with next to impossible "challenges". Oh joy, who thought that was a good idea?). Thumbs up for the rest and thanks a lot for a thoroughly enjoyable game. Don't forget to make Steamworld Heist 2 next though. Anticipation levels are steady on the rise.