Given only a cursory glance, Kingdom: New Lands would appear to be a fairly standard retro strategy game, but closer inspection reveals much more, and a truly rewarding experience to match. Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android, iOS, PC, Raw Fury, cert 7 ★★★★ Kingdom: New Lands: ‘A rare gem, with hidden depths that belie first impressions.’ Photograph: Raw Fury Kingdom: New Lands A huge amount of fun with craft and creativity oozing from every dark cave waiting to be discovered. Whether new to the SteamWorld games or already a fan, SteamWorld Dig 2 is not to be missed. Balancing upgrade choices and finding every last treasure can quickly become an obsession. The 3DS original’s procedurally generated mines are replaced with hand-crafted levels, creating a Swiss watch of puzzles, alongside the action, where every boulder matters.ĭon’t be fooled by the slow first hour: things soon accelerate with ingenious new weapons, tools and set-piece caves. The elements are impressively balanced, accompanied by a joyous menagerie of steam-powered robots, and at 10 hours or so, this sequel is bigger than the first outing. Hard to label then, but its diverse influences come together to make an exceptional whole. It combines Boulder Dash’s tactical mining, Terraria’s huge labyrinths and even Zelda’s intricately designed dungeons. Like other imaginative titles from publisher Image & Form, SteamWorld Dig 2 is tricky to categorise. Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, PS Vita, Image & Form International, no cert ★★★★★ SteamWorld Dig 2: ‘Finding every last treasure can quickly become an obsession.’ Photograph: Image and Form International AB SteamWorld Dig 2 Beyond what is a lacklustre presentation then, MvCI offers an expertly crafted tool set, for playing with real imagination and creativity. The six selectable Infinity Stones introduce wild effects, giving real latitude for imaginative team synergy, and the active switch allows for meter-free character swaps at any time. Thankfully these shortfalls can be forgiven because the game engine is one of the most ingeniously inspired systems Capcom has ever built. All compounded by a conservative character roster, with just six relatively uninspired newcomers – not to mention a lack of X-Men. It has the user interface of a free mobile game, face models that vary from competent to horrifying, and Marvel Cinematic Universe-focused art direction that lacks the vibrant flair of the comics. Aesthetically, however, it is also uncharacteristically weak. After what can best be described as a skeletal launch for Street Fighter V, Capcom have at least ensured that this game ships with all the essentials – a cinematic storyline, a robust online outing and even an arcade mode.
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