Preview: SteamWorld Heist @ EGX 2015

Development studio Image & Form are looking to repeat the success of their 2013 release SteamWorld Dig with its sequel ; SteamWorld Heist. To help the hype become real they provided punters with a a playable demo at EGX15.

SteamWorld Heist is a 2D turn-based tactical shooter where you manage a team of steam-powered robot pirates flying through space looking for enemy ships to raid loot from. This is a marked difference from SteamWorld Dig, which was a traditional platformer set in the Wild West.

The SteamWorld Heist logo

The protagonist is called Captain Piper. You begin the game with her and her team searching on enemy ships for loot while fighting off enemies. Each character can be moved individually and can use barrels to take cover from enemy fire. In addition each character has a different weapon which can be useful against enemies in different ways. To give an example ; Piper’s gun has precise aim and can bounce off walls, whereas one of her crew has a shotgun with a high damage count but is imprecise and requires you to be close to your target.

Movement is controlled via the D-Pad. Being a tactical game you are somewhat restricted in movement ; you can either move a short distance and shoot or walk further yet forfeit your ability to shoot for that turn. Picking between the two can be vital for completing the mission. The Circle Pad is used to move the camera view around the room. The 3DS version also has a map on the bottom screen, making it easy to see where you have been already been and also shows you the items yet to be collected.

This new adventure takes place in a stellar new setting!

At the end of each mission players receive a star rating, which will encourage some to replay missions in order to receive the highest one. In addition ; characters will be able to level up, enabling them to access better weapons and armour.

I found the game to be difficult at times. The boss battle, for example, featured turrets shooting at my team so I had to work to keep them out of their ranges. This I had to coordinate with fixing myself into a position where I’d still be able to shoot at the boss and his henchmen. From the time I spent playing Heist I learnt it is best to take things slow and look around the surroundings to make sure you use the best strategy to complete the levels. I was told that in the full game there would be several difficulty settings so that veterans of this genre can play it in the most challenging way, whilst not punishing beginners.

The graphics are a noticeable step-up on that of the original

Image & Form have improved the graphics from Dig. At the same time there seems to be a darker vibe in the imagery taking it in line with the cosmic story. The character designs in Heist are especially unique and creative, helping characterise them in a way that distinguishes them.

I was told that the full game will take around 12-15 hours to complete, which is a deal longer than Dig (which took just 4-5 hours). While no price has been set we predict that it will be more expensive than Dig, which cost £7.99 on the eShop.
The game is set for late 2015 at earliest on the 3DS, while the other platforms (PS4, Wii U and PC) will be get it later. I am definitely looking forward to the full game myself.

Official website: http://steamworldgames.com/heist/

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Tags: 2D, 3ds, barrels, Captain Piper, Circle Pad, d-pad, EGX15, eshop, loot, platformer, precise, preview, protagonist, shooter, steamworld heist, tactical, target, traditional, turn-based, Wild West, £7.99

This post was written by Cyburn, posted on October 14, 2015 Wednesday at 9:10 am