- Improved sequel with more content overall
- Strategic, skill-based combat is a highlight
- Extensive options for difficulty customization
- Deep class customization provides flexibility
- Repetitive gameplay and enemy spam issues
- Inconsistent difficulty can feel unbalanced
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 92% · Negative 8%. Score: 8 / 100
Positives:
- The game is a successful and worthwhile sequel that improves upon nearly every aspect of its predecessor. It retains the core gameplay while introducing enhancements, new features, and more content. Many reviewers highlight that fans of the first game will enjoy this one even more.
- The game features engaging and strategic turn-based combat with a unique aiming system. Players manually aim shots, often utilizing ricochets, which adds a layer of skill and tactical depth. This system makes combat feel rewarding and less reliant on RNG.
- The game offers highly customizable difficulty settings, allowing players to tailor the challenge to their preferences. This includes options to adjust enemy health, damage, mission timers, and even rewind turns. The flexibility ensures an enjoyable experience for both casual and hardcore players.
- The game features a deep and flexible class system that allows for extensive character customization. Players can combine skills from different classes to create unique and powerful builds. This system encourages experimentation and adds replayability.
- The game features a large and explorable world map with secrets and hidden areas. The addition of open-world exploration enhances the experience, providing a sense of freedom and discovery. Reviewers enjoyed exploring the world and finding new content.
Negatives:
- The game suffers from repetitive gameplay loops due to constant enemy spawns, recycled level design, and an over-reliance on timed missions. This diminishes strategic options and makes the game feel like a grind, especially in later stages. Many reviewers expressed that the game overstays its welcome.
- Reviewers reported inconsistent and unbalanced difficulty, with some missions being too easy while others are frustratingly hard. This unevenness necessitates frequent difficulty adjustments and can lead to a grindy experience, undermining the strategic gameplay.
- The open class system and gear mechanics lead to characters feeling homogeneous and less unique, diminishing their individual identities. The need to grind for specific skills and equipment further exacerbates this issue, making character progression feel tedious and unrewarding.
- Many reviewers found the game's story, dialogue, and cutscenes to be tedious, unengaging, and disruptive to the pacing. Some reviewers skipped the story elements entirely to focus on the gameplay. Some reviewers also found the game to be too short, while others found it to be too long.
- The lack of fast travel and a functional map makes navigating the large world map tedious and time-consuming. This issue is compounded by the absence of a zoom feature and clear map markers, hindering strategic planning and exploration.
Gameplay:
- The game incorporates a dual gameplay loop with overworld exploration via submarine and real-time naval combat. Players navigate the world map, engage in ship battles for resources, and upgrade their submarine. This adds variety and a sense of progression beyond the turn-based missions.
- Missions feature diverse objectives, enemy types, and map designs, encouraging strategic decision-making and adaptation. Many missions include timers or increasing enemy spawns, rewarding aggressive play. Players earn rewards and resources to upgrade their crew and submarine.
- The core gameplay remains largely unchanged from the first game in the series. While new mechanics and features have been added, the fundamental turn-based combat and strategic elements are familiar to returning players. Some reviewers found this to be a positive, while others felt it lacked innovation.
- The game features an overworld map for exploration, providing a break between intense missions. While some reviewers found it enjoyable and immersive, others felt it became repetitive or lacked depth. The exploration involves navigating the sea, which can become challenging.
- The game features a bounty/fatigue system that encourages players to utilize their entire roster of characters. Characters become exhausted after missions and require rest, incentivizing the use of different team members. This promotes experimentation and prevents players from relying on a single team.
Performance:
- The game is well-optimized and runs smoothly on a variety of hardware, including the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and even laptops. Many players report excellent performance, even at higher resolutions like 4K, with some specifically noting locked 90FPS on Steam Deck OLED.
- Many reviewers have reported a relatively bug-free experience, with few or no crashes or noticeable bugs encountered during their playthroughs. Some reviewers mentioned minor, non-critical bugs.
- The game generally features short loading times on PC, with some reviewers noting exceptionally fast startup times. However, one reviewer experienced a significantly longer loading screen, indicating potential inconsistency.
- The game has fantastic controller support and optimization, eliminating the need for manual file re-editing. This provides a seamless and user-friendly experience for controller users.
- The game's audio is generally considered to be of good quality. This point is vague and lacks specifics.
Recommendations:
- Many reviewers recommend the game, especially to fans of the first game or the SteamWorld series, citing improvements and expanded content. Some suggest trying the first game to see if you like the series. A few found the first game better or the sequel a re-skin.
- Reviewers recommend the game for fans of turn-based tactics, strategy, and RPGs, citing unique gameplay and accessibility. Some suggest it's a good entry point to the genre. The game is also praised for its story, atmosphere, music, and charm.
- Many reviewers express overwhelmingly positive sentiment, calling the game excellent, a masterpiece, and a Game of the Year contender. They praise the overall experience and recommend it highly. Some reviewers consider the price perfect.
- Some reviewers report gameplay issues, feeling the game is unfinished or boring. They criticize the level design, character building system, and performance. Some suggest waiting for patches or buying at a discount.
- The game is reported to run well on the Steam Deck, making it a great option for playing on the go.
Miscellaneous:
- The game expands upon the established SteamWorld universe with a new maritime setting, characters, and story focused on a water crisis. It maintains the series' charm and quirky tone while introducing new themes and steampunk elements. Previous knowledge of the series is not required to enjoy the game.
- The game features a notable soundtrack, with significant contributions from Steam Powered Giraffe. The music enhances the game's atmosphere and is a highlight for many players. Some reviewers noted that the music is a series gimmick.
- The game has a charming and high-quality animation style and art direction. The shift from space to a sail world is well-received, contributing to the game's lighthearted tone.
- The game features a recurring hat theme, with hats being cosmetic items obtainable throughout the game. Some reviewers found the focus on hats to be odd or excessive.
- The game explores themes such as unrealized expectation, charismatic despotism, blind zealotry, and the importance of crew and family.
