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Review: Steamworld Heist

By Dan McAlister

http://www.butternutape.com

Panel 1: A robot with a captain’s hat poses while holding a pistol, with text that says “Notorious outlaw Captain Piper Faraday has a plan…”

Panel 2: The scene depicts scaffolding, ladders, and metal barrels. Robots have taken cover amongst the barrels and are pointing weapons at each other, and some of the robots are labeled “Explosives,” “Sharpshooter”, and “Flanker.” The narration from the previous panel continues, saying: “…and a skilled team.”

Panel 3: The scene is the same, except the explosives expert missed her shot and struck Captain Piper instead. The narration says: “Thought their rickety, steam-powered builds make their aim unsteady at best.”

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Panel 1: Piper is now charred and smoking from the explosion. The narration says, “Steamworld Heist” is a side-scrolling, turn-based game of tactics and thievery. On each level you attempt a different crime, with varied objectives.

Panel 2: This panel shows different kinds of level objectives in the game: Theft (represented by a chest with a star), Assassination (represented by an enemy robot wearing a crown), Survival (represented by a robot carrying a briefcase as guns are pointed at him) and Sabotage (represented by a robot pointing a rocket launcher at a mysterious electrical device).

Panel 3: This panel displays two enemy robots, one carrying a shotgun and the other carrying a crowbar. Behind them is an automated turret hanging from the ceiling. The narration says, “Standing between you and your goal are the enemy ship’s crew and defense systems. You may not need to dispatch them to do your job, but they certainly make it harder while they’re around.”

Panel 4: A wheeled robot runs from gunfire while firing his own gun behind him at his attackers. The narration says, “Further, the longer you take, the more reinforcements arrive to stop you.”

Panel 5: The wheeled robot is now carrying a chest in the direction that the gunfire is coming from, and he looks distressed. The narration says, “And even once you’ve seized your prize, you still have to escape.”

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Panel 1: Captain Piper Faraday is shown aiming her gun as it sways, showing multiple trajectories for her bullet. The narration says, “Every crew member has an irregular sway to their aim.”

Panel 2: Piper is now shown to be aiming her gun in another level featuring scaffolding, metal barrels, and an enemy wearing a baseball cap hiding behind cover. Piper’s aim is still swaying, and the possible trajectories are shown to bounce off of environmental objects. Only one possible trajectory is shown to hit the enemy. Narration says, “A ricochet mechanic encourages trick-shots, but your timing must be dead on.”

Panel 3: A bullet is shown knocking the baseball cap off of the enemy robot. Narration says, “It’s a game of chance where you feel ownership over every missed shot. It’s tough!”

Panel 4: A bullet is now shown hitting the same robot in the back of the neck as he falls forward. Narration says, “Luckily, it also makes off-the-wall bullseyes much more rewarding.”

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Panel 1: The wheeled flanker robot is holding a chest, and the explosives robot is shouting and pointing off-panel. The narration says, “You never learn much about these outlaws, risking everything out in space.”

Panel 2: A door opens from the previous panel into this much larger panel. Scaffolding and ladders lead way from the first panel and toward an exit guarded from the opposite side by enemy robots carrying guns. Piper’s team is heading for the exit with their treasure while fending off the enemies. Narration says, “But you know their risks, in every shot fired and escape attempted.”

Panel 3: An escape pod ejects from a spaceship and blasts off into space. Narration says, “Every mission was a thrill and I enjoyed every chance I took.”