TouchArcade Rating: A masterful blend of distinct gameplay styles is a hallmark of truly great games. Think Blaster Master's seamless transition between side-scrolling platforming and top-down shooter sequences, or the recent hit Dave the Diver, which cleverly combines roguelike diving with restaurant management. Ocean Keeper from RetroStyle Games joins this elite group, successfully intertwining diverse mechanics within a compelling gameplay loop and rewarding upgrade system that keeps you coming back for more.
In Ocean Keeper, you're stranded on an alien underwater planet in your powerful mech. Your mission: delve into subterranean caves to gather resources. However, time is of the essence; waves of enemies are constantly approaching, demanding you pilot your mech to defend against their relentless attacks. The mining segments unfold from a side-scrolling perspective, requiring you to excavate rocks to uncover valuable resources and unique artifacts, earning you in-game currency along the way. This mining phase is time-limited, forcing you back to your mech before the enemy onslaught begins. The mech combat shifts to a top-down twin-stick shooter with light tower defense elements, challenging you to repel waves of bizarre underwater creatures.
All mined resources fuel upgrades for both your miner and your mech, with extensive branching skill trees for each. As a roguelike, death during the combat phases means losing your current run's progress. However, persistent upgrades and customizations unlockable between runs ensure consistent forward momentum, even after setbacks. The overworld and cave layouts also dynamically change with each playthrough.
It's worth noting that Ocean Keeper has a slow start, with early runs potentially feeling frustrating. However, persevere! As you accumulate upgrades, hone your skills, and grasp the game's rhythm, you'll transform into a formidable underwater force. The synergistic interplay between weapons and upgrades forms the game's core, offering endless experimentation with diverse builds and strategies. While my initial impressions were somewhat lukewarm due to the slow beginning, Ocean Keeper's captivating gameplay loop has since made it difficult to put down.
