Steam World Heist II sneaked out in early August last year and didn't make as much of a splash in its quirky robot universe as some of the other genre spin-offs. That's a shame, because the bones of this tactical RPG are some of the strongest around, even if the surrounding fluff can get in the way at times.
A sequel to Image & Form's 2015 3DS game. Steam World Heist II trades in the science fiction setting of its predecessor pirates of the Caribbean-infused version of the high seas, but otherwise most of it still revolves around turn-based encounters in side-scrolling 2D maps where shots ricochet and grenades blast cover to spark memorably chaotic combat.
You're still looting procedurally generated levels and trying to escape as bullets and lasers fly past your crew's mechanical heads, but there's a big difference Steam World Heist II. Unlike the first game, where characters were each rooted in specific class archetypes, the sequel lets you give each crew member any weapon you want and then start building their loadout around it. Equip a sniper rifle and you become a sniper specializing in dealing critical damage from a distance. Wield a hammer and become a brawler, gaining extra rounds and other bonuses when smashing enemies at close range.
This offers a lot of flexibility and freedom, but Steam World Heist II takes it a step further and allows characters to mix and match skills from different classes once they've unlocked them. This rewards experimentation and encourages the search for synergies that break down the game and help you take no prisoners as you break into powerful high-security bases in search of treasure. It's basically the opposite of that Final Fantasy Tactics Job system where skill trees were linked to classes rather than weapons. The result is a refreshing change that's slimmer without losing too much depth.
I finished the game last summer on Switch (it's also available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC) and loved every minute of analyzing bullet trajectories, explosion radii and the chances of success when sacrificing a character. to cover the rest the tactical retreat of the crew. Even on procedurally generated maps, where every time you take a lollipop you'll quickly be overrun by enemy forces, Steam World Heist IIThe ingredients form an excellent recipe for exciting moments, analytical showdowns and hectic escapes. It cleverly takes the best elements of the first game and makes them even more robust and entertaining.
The only downside Steam World Heist II is that it lacks the concise 12-hour running time of the first game. It's almost twice as long, with the extra hours used for some later grinding and a new overworld exploration system in which you, as a submarine, shoot down enemy ships in real time for small rewards that quickly become unrewarding. Like the rest Steam World Heist IIThe shoot-'em-up sections are intelligently designed and control well, but ultimately feel like an unnecessary waste of time and a frustrating distraction from the excellent 2D tactical combat at the game's core.
Ultimately, Steam World Heist II is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with an extra piece of bread in the middle. Still tasty, but at some point a lot more than you want to eat. I still finished the game because it was 2D XCOM-style gunfights are good enough to make it worth wading through the abundance. Steam World Heist II is a great tactical RPG that genre acolytes will find hard to miss.
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