Developer: Thunderful Group, Thunderful Development
Publisher: Thunderful Group, Thunderful Publishing
Release date: August 8, 2024
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S (reviewed on the S)
A sequel to the 2015 game, SteamWorld Heist II puts you in the shoes of Captain Leeway, who needs to guide his submarine and crew to solve a water crisis and deal with a conflict between the Navy and the Rattlers. The story and its characters make for a whimsical adventure, with plenty of customization for both your sub and your crew. The large map unfolds as you disperse the fog of war, and a playthrough can easily run 40 hours or more.
PROS
Whimsical story and characters
Colorful environments
Turn based combat with manual aiming
Failure in a mission isn’t punishing but helps re-evaluate your strategy
Good amount of customization for both crew and your sub
CONS
Manual aiming can be finicky
No spoken dialogue, all speech is read via speech bubbles
Some difficulty spikes
Can get repetitive in spots
Upgrades can be expensive
In all, SteamWorld Heist II is an enjoyable RPG with plenty of customization and a good amount of content. There are some difficulty spikes, but failure isn’t punishing, instead making you re-evaluate your strategy and loadouts. Upgrades can take some time, leading to some repetitive gameplay. The turn based movement and combat works mostly, though the manual aiming can be finicky at times. An easy purchase if you’re a fan of the SteamWorld series.
8/10 stars
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