TouchArcade Rating: A masterful blend of distinct gameplay styles is a rare and rewarding feat, and Ocean Keeper from RetroStyle Games achieves just that. This game seamlessly integrates side-scrolling mining with top-down mech combat, creating a compelling and replayable experience.
The core loop revolves around exploring underwater caves in your mech to gather resources. The side-scrolling mining segments require you to excavate rocks for valuable materials and artifacts, earning you in-game currency along the way. However, your mining time is limited; waves of enemies will soon attack, forcing you to return to your mech and defend against them in top-down twin-stick shooter encounters with light tower defense elements.
Resources fuel upgrades for both your mining equipment and your mech, with extensive branching skill trees offering diverse customization options. The roguelike nature means death ends your run, resetting progress within that session. However, persistent upgrades unlockable between runs ensure continuous advancement, even after setbacks. Procedurally generated overworld and cave layouts add to the replayability.
While the initial stages might feel slow and challenging, perseverance is key. As you accumulate upgrades and master the game's rhythm, Ocean Keeper transforms into an exhilarating experience. Experimenting with different weapon and upgrade combinations is a core part of the fun, encouraging varied strategies and builds. Though the slow start might initially deter some, the addictive gameplay loop and satisfying progression quickly make Ocean Keeper a hard game to put down.
