SteamWorld Heist 2 Review: SteamWorld Heist 2, the long-awaited follow-up to the 2015 hit, has now landed, and it’s a game that series fans and turn-based tactics lovers shouldn’t miss.
Created by Image & Form Games, SteamWorld Heist 2 takes you on a fun sea journey packed with smart fighting interesting exploration, and a lovely group of characters.
A Change in Setting
SteamWorld Heist 2 brings a big change by swapping the original’s space setting for an ocean-themed one. This might sound weird for a sequel, but the game makers have embraced it building a world that feels both known and different.
The plot centres on Captain Leeway, whose dad “killed the Kraken.” He steers a sub through space oceans. The story, which takes about 20 hours to finish in normal mode, does a great job of upping the emotional ante as you build a team to face tougher and tougher bad guys.
Better Turn-Based Combat
SteamWorld Heist 2’s core revolves around its turn-based fights, which have seen improvements and additions from the first game. You lead a motley crew of Steamboat pirates, each bringing their class, perks and gadgets to the table.
The turn-based setup pushes you to think ahead as you guide your team across ever-shifting battle zones and figure out how to land the coolest trick shots.
SteamWorld Heist 2’s combat stands out because of its adaptability. Players can assign different jobs to each character unlocking various perks. This lets them customize their squad to match how they want to play.
The game offers a range of levels too. In one mission, players face an enemy base set to blow up. They must choose: grab the prize and go, or take a chance for extra loot.
Overworld Exploration
Between missions, players guide their submarine across the overworld map. This real-time exploring breaks up the turn-based fights. It gives players a chance to cruise the seas, improve their sub, and sometimes battle enemy ships.
The naval fights aren’t as fun as the turn-based missions, but they have their good parts. You can upgrade your subs to change how they fire, and sometimes your ship is just faster than the enemy’s. This lets you sail around and keep your direction.
The map of the world is big, with lots of extra challenges to try. You can navigate currents or run obstacle courses. These side activities might not be as deep as the main game, but they still create tense moments. You have to be careful not to sink and lose all your hard-earned stuff.
Presentation and Audio
SteamWorld Heist 2 keeps the appealing art style that series fans adore. The game’s lively visuals and crisp expressive character designs build a world that feels both playful and lovable.
The music, which Steam Powered Giraffe composed again, stands out as a game highlight. Light easy jazz plays while you sail around the overworld map. This music changes into thrilling fight tunes during missions matching the action.
Progression and Replayability
SteamWorld Heist 2 has a progression system that hooks players. By finishing missions and boosting their crew’s levels, players get access to new weapons, and equipment, and even bring on extra team members.
This growth and ability to customize give players a real sense of satisfaction, as they can shape their squad to match how they like to play.
The game keeps players coming back for more by making them balance their crew’s levels. Each robot can do one mission per day, so players need to switch up their squad to keep everyone ready for combat.
This pushes players to try out different team setups and take on missions they might have skipped in earlier playthroughs.
Conclusion
SteamWorld Heist 2 rocks. It builds on what made the first game great and adds new stuff that makes it even better. The turn-based fights are still the best part, with smart use of angles and cool trick shots.
The sea setting feels fresh, and exploring the world map, while not as deep as the main game, gives you a nice break between missions.
This game looks great, sounds awesome, and keeps you hooked with its progress system. If you liked the other games in the series, you’ll love this one.
And if you’re new to it, it’s a perfect place to start. Whether you’re into strategy games or just want a fun adventure, SteamWorld Heist 2 will put a grin on your face.