TouchArcade Rating: A winning formula emerges when a game seamlessly integrates disparate gameplay styles. Think Blaster Master's blend of side-scrolling platforming and top-down shooter sequences, or the recent hit Dave the Diver, which masterfully combines roguelike diving with restaurant management. Ocean Keeper, from RetroStyle Games, follows this successful model, creating an addictive gameplay loop and upgrade system that keeps players engaged.
In Ocean Keeper, you crash-land your mech on a mysterious underwater planet. Your mission: delve into underwater caves to mine resources. However, time is of the essence; waves of enemies are constantly approaching, demanding you pilot your mech to defend against their attacks. The mining sections unfold in a side-scrolling perspective, requiring you to excavate rocks for resources and artifacts, earning you in-game currency. This mining phase is time-limited, forcing a strategic balance between resource gathering and defense preparation. Once back in your mech, the game shifts to a top-down twin-stick shooter with light tower defense mechanics, as you fend off multiple waves of bizarre aquatic creatures.
Resources fuel upgrades for both your mining equipment and your mech, with extensive branching skill trees for each. The roguelike nature means death during combat resets your progress for that run. However, persistent upgrades and customizations unlockable between runs ensure continuous advancement, even after setbacks. Expect varied overworld and cave layouts with each playthrough.
Ocean Keeper begins slowly, with initial runs potentially challenging. Persistence is key; as upgrades accumulate and skills improve, the game's flow becomes clearer, transforming you into a formidable underwater force. The synergy between weapons and upgrades is the game's core strength, encouraging experimentation with diverse builds and strategies. While initially uncertain, Ocean Keeper's engaging gameplay loop and satisfying progression make it difficult to put down once it picks up momentum.
