It's time to dig back into another SteamWorld Adventure in our Indie Game Sequelpalooza 3

 Indie game reviews Sequelpalooza: 

Part 3- SteamWorld Dig 2

Written by JD Estrada

We’ve looked at two other sequels on this blog covering three ways in which to do a sequel. Cat Quest 2 was an exercise in mainly giving you more of what you enjoyed the first time around. Compare screenshots and gameplay and you’ll be forgiven if you can’t tell them apart. In part 2, we took a closer look at Guacamelee 2, which as sequels come builds on every single aspect of the first game giving you better graphics, amazing music, a deeper story, challenging new mechanics based on the original’s, and basically taking what makes Guacamelee 1 good and taking it into overdrive. 

For this third installment, we’re taking a look at Steamworld Dig 2 and there’s a reason why this is the third installment in this mini blog series: it’s because developers did a MASSIVE overhaul on every single aspect of the original Steamworld Dig, and takes it up to eleven. While Guacamelee 2 has several things that feel familiar and comfortable to pick up, the sheer upgrade of Steamworld Dig 2 is something to definitely tip your hat to. It reminded me of playing one game on a console and then the sequel on a next-gen console. It’s that big of a leap. 

How high a level can a game go?

Sprites and level design are so much more varied, detailed, colorful, and downright beautiful. Boss fights are challenging. Mechanics take the kind of bare-bones approach of the original (which worked wonderfully well) and crafts a whole subset of special moves and platforming dynamics that weren’t even hinted at in the first one. I’m talking about a super deep level of controls and everything flows and functions wonderfully. 

The Music is download worthy and even the SFX got a bump up in quality. Everything you wish any developer would do with a sequel, and they did it at a remarkable level to deliver a solid platform exploration adventure with a deeper storyline. If I have any gripe, it’s that the ending is kind of sudden and flat and it’s over. I say this not to deter you to play, but to show that even with this shortcoming, Steamworld Dig 2 delivers across the board a level of excellence that should be an example for all indie game developers. 

Some people coast, Image & Form dug DEEP and the rewards are varied. 

How much should you pay for this game?

I got this game at $5.99 but like Guacamelee 2, it’s worth the price of admission if you like Metroidvania games, especially those high on exploration and tricky platforming elements that challenge without making you lose sleep over it. 

YOU CAN GET IT ON GOG.COM HERE