Part RPG, part turned-based shooter, SteamWorld Heist is one of those games that you can play on easier modes just to have a good time, or harder modes for a real challenge. As advertised, luck plays only a slight element in making your moves (critical shots, for example). The rest is strategy and skill: picking the right bots and aiming your gun true. If I had to fault this game, it’s far too short. Even with New Game+, it’s nothing special: you keep all your hats and characters, but lose all your weapons and levels. If there’s one more thing I had to give it props for, it’s my ability to play with my son. We take turns with the characters and try to outdo each other in getting the best shot.
In being a monster, there’s not too many games out there that I can think of that lets you feel you aren’t handicapped while playing as the foul beast. CARRION is the first one that gives you the feeling that you are the monster and your goal is simple: kill them all. It’s a fairly straightforward game. With some light puzzle elements, you mostly go around killing humans and collecting new abilities to open new areas. The interesting part isn’t so much the gameplay, as there isn’t much to it. It’s the feeling of power. You are the horrific beast and, while not unstoppable, more than powerful enough to end any threat. My only real problem is in my hunt for some hidden power-ups, I’ve gotten myself lost and turned around, unable to remember the way forward. More flaw on me than the game, perhaps, but maybe a minimap or some other means of finding your way around would have been nice.
