Steamworld Heist Review

SteamWorld_Heist_Logo_2
Real time strategy is a tough nut to crack on portable platforms, but Steamworld Heist manages it very well indeed.
A couple of years ago, I reviewed a charming steampunk-inspired robot platformer called Steamworld Dig when it made its debut on the Nintendo 3DS. Since then it’s made appearances on multiple platforms, but it was built first and foremost for the 3DS, and it rather showed. It’s still, by the way, an excellent title that’s well worth your time chasing down.
To look at it, Steamworld Heist, the latest game from Image & Form games would appear to follow in the same vein, with robots, ladder and platforms aplenty. The difference is that where Dig was a classic platformer that borrowed from titles such as Boulderdash, Dig Dug and Mr Driller, Steamworld Heist is a real time strategy game instead.

It’s safe to say that RTS on mobile platforms doesn’t have a great history, thanks at least in part to the difficulty of getting controls that make contextual sense while still being “fun” to play. Far too many titles have tried to cram in the full RTS experience into systems that really didn’t suit it, with predictable results. As an entirely new title, Steamworld Heist approaches the problem from the other side by producing an RTS title built specifically around the features of the 3DS. That being said, like Steamworld Dig, they’re planning on PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Wii U and iOS releases.

Trick shots don't just look cool, but are essentially required for survival.
Trick shots don’t just look cool, but are essentially required for survival.

Steamworld Heist’s approach is to give you tools that look like they belong in a platform game — right down to platforms and ladders — and then layering it over with movement and shooting controls that lay out your strategic choices for every procedurally generated spaceship you come across.
While the levels follow a fun narrative structure, each ship is randomly generated anew, which gives the game a fair amount of flexibility. The same claim was made for Steamworld Dig, where it didn’t make that much difference thanks to the rather wider digging spaces you had to deal with, but in Steamworld Heist it can make serious difficulty changes. For those who want an easier run of things, you can play in purely casual modes.
Steamworld Heist follows the Dig visual style, with relatively minimalistic animation if that particularly matters to you. As a whole it hangs together well, but it’s perhaps not the prettiest title on the 3DS. Like many 3DS games, it also makes only passing use of 3D functionality, but then that’s nothing new.
Steamworld Heist takes the steampunk/cowbody setting of Dig and places it in space, putting you in control of a crew of robots scouring (mostly) derelict junk spacecraft for treasures to upgrade their ship, themselves, and sometimes just keep things running. Movement is handled via direct squares up and down that allow you to plot out movement and combat, with upgradeable weapons and new crew members to welcome on board if specific objectives are met.
Plus hats. Who doesn't like a new fancy hat?
Plus hats. Who doesn’t like a new fancy hat?

You’re graded at the end of each mission depending on which objectives you met and how many of your small crew survived. It’s a simple mechanic that encourages replay of earlier levels in order to allow your skills to mature, and the balance is reasonable enough to avoid becoming too much of a grind.
You know how you sometimes feel a game is judging you? This game totally is.
You know how you sometimes feel a game is judging you? This game totally is.

If you’re after a robot-themed game with platforms and shooting, Steamworld Heist would technically fit the bill, but the reality here is that unless you’re interested in and willing to learn the nuances of its particular strategic style you won’t get the full value out of it.
On the other hand, if you’ve been hanging out for a charming and fun 3DS strategy title with some really clever writing, it’s well recommended.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.