Steam World Robbery 2a sequel to Image and Form's 2016 sci-fi strategy game about bullets ricocheting into rickety robots, is coming to PC on August 8th.
The surprise follow-up was announced during a recent Nintendo Direct, replacing the original motley crew of space pirates with regular water-based pirates. Assuming the role of the villainous Captain Leeway, you'll assemble your own crew of cyberpunks while exploring a Caribbean-like ocean called the Great Sea.
The setting also makes up what appears to be the game's main new feature, an open (or off-world) world in which you can freely navigate in a mech, scavenging for loot and getting into scrapes with other ships in real-time naval combat. . This seems somewhat simplistic compared to the game's turn-based combat, though the reveal trailer only offers a small glimpse into the sequel's naval encounters.
Either way, the main focus remains on the series' signature turn-based combat, where you manually aim your crew's weapons to bounce projectiles off walls and objects. It's not just the bullets you'll be ricocheting, either. The trailer shows your crew pulling off trick shots with grenades, laser bolts, and even electrical charges. This appears to be just a taste of what the full game will offer, as the game's webpage includes “over 150 weapons, utilities, and charging equipment” that players will be able to play around with.
The original SteamWorld Heist is generally viewed as the high point of the SteamWorld series, with a “very positive” rating on steam From nearly 2,500 reviews.
The series also includes the platforming-focused (and similarly excellent) SteamWorld Dig, and last year's city builder SteamWorld. The latter was developed by a different team from previous games, and represented a slight drop from the hitherto consistent quality levels. “The central genre-mixing concept is a nice idea, but it doesn't feel as delightfully innovative and experimental as the Image & Form entries,” Rubin wrote in his review. “While it's a lot of fun and very clever in some ways, Build is the first SteamWorld game that I can't recommend without reservation.”
The trailer notes that SteamWorld Heist 2 is “from the creators” of the original game, though they now operate under the name Thunderful Development. According to the Steam World website websiteThere will be “a lot of news and ideas to share” between now and the game's August release date.
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