SteamWorld Heist
Tue Nov 15 2016 syntheticvoidI wound up picking this up the minute I saw it, blindly, because of the developers previous RTS/TD game, Anthill. It was one of the first games I purchased all of the IAP for, and have been hoping they'd bring more titles over to the AppStore eventually. I'm just incredibly lucky it happened to be a title on many a gamer's GOTY lists a few years back. And all of the praise is very deserved.
5 difficulty levels, no IAP (ATM, dunno if the expansion will be free or not, either way, this is a PREMIUM title), redesigned for controller-less touch screens... The graphics and production values are outstanding, and there's tons of attention paid to little details everywhere throughout the game. Loads of loot to collect, quite a few pirates to hire, replay able levels, difficulty that can be changed before every stage...
And once you get about an hour in, the difficulty hits a nice spot and keeps good pace (so long as you don't go back and grind too much), and the NG+ is always a nice addition.
I really can not recommend this game enough. It's not gonna knock anything off my own GOTY list, but I try to keep any ports over a year old off my lists. But I can definitely see why it wound up on so many game of the year lists...
Turn Based Action Strategy RPG
Wed Nov 16 2016 AmesMooreTaking cues from games like XCom and Borderlands, Steamworld Heist is a sure winner. The developers were able to take what we love from from these influences and simplified the gameplay. Beloved characters who die in missions come back when you return to your ship, weapons have special abilities (which provides for more angles on strategy), and there is loot, loot, and more loot in the form of treasure, hats, and perk-like items that gives your favorite character an edge on baddies. Missions become evermore challenging and when the game is completed, you are offered another go around with the plus mode (allowing you to keep what you've earned on your previous journey). The game is flawless, which makes it absurd for me to possibly ask for more without feeling guilty. However, I would GLADLY pay more money to see the DLC's ported to IOS! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! PS- I would also purchase Steamworld Dig in a heartbeat if was available on this platform. If you love games, strategy, or just a fan of developers who will actually listen, you'll want to follow Image and Form Games. Check out Steam if you're like me and just CANNOT wait for more!
This game is a gem.
Sun Oct 29 2017 E=ME2This game definitely is one of the best games in App Store. The experience is great, I judge that by if I would play a game through nonstop. I spent seven hours to finish the game, nonstop.
It reminds me Jagged Alliance a lot. They are all great turn based tactical games. But compare to JA, Steamworld Heist’s system is much less sophisticated. For one thing the dev chose side view, it makes the game completely 2 dimensional. And since units can not stay at ladders, the game space is shrunken too much. But JA uses 30 degree view, and units can go up to roofs, that makes JA 3 dimensional. So strategy part is much wider.
JA also uses a well designed motion point system. In this system, shooting costs motion points just like walking and other actions. Spending more points makes aiming more accurate. This is greatest system I’ve ever seen. But STeamworld Heist uses an oversimplified system, which makes the strategy much less variable.
I don’t know if there are certain reasons why iOS games could not reach the same height of PC games. I just don’t want to give any iOS game 5 stars. They are not worth it yet.
I wish I bought this a long time ago
Tue Apr 25 2017 FaithorThe price always drove me away. There was no way I would pay $9.99 for an iPhone game. I even have a hard time considering $4.99 for a mobile game. Mainly because the games these days are such lower quality than the early 2000s. Now days it's common to pay $40 for a game that is only entertaining for a couple days. Where-as console games back in the day like Nintendo 64, GameCube, ps2 would last for months, sometimes years. Anyway, it wasn't until I lost the use of my left hand due to cancer that I needed to find one handed games. And when this went on sale I just got desperate for a game so I bought it & surprisingly, if I knew how much fun this game was I would have gladly paid full price a long time ago for it. I've been playing for days and it keeps getting better. Now I'm just hoping it lasts a long time because I dont want it to end. But yea, if you are debating to get it based on price, it's totally worth it. High quality, no bugs, really fun.
Completely Addicting!
Mon Oct 05 2020 Fanty & MingoDon’t let the 2-D scrolling platform dissuade you: This is a rich and fun turn-based romp thru a robot-space-pirate-steam-punk world with an awesome soundtrack (available on Apple Music: Yay!). Procedurally generated levels, reactive enemy AI, and a seemingly endless loot table of “rare” weapons and gear make it infinitely replayable. And then there’s the hats. When a rare, as yet uncollected hat adorns the head of an enemy, you will risk everything to spend a turn shooting it off rather than deliver max damage. I’ve played thru on “experienced” “veteran” and “elite” difficulties, and still want more. Elite is ruthless. But in a good way.
There are just enough RPG elements to let you invest your imagination without option paralysis. The shared inventory size doesn’t allow for nostalgia over your early gear. While loading-out for a mission, each crew member gets to equip only 4 things. Each has their own ability progression, but no choices to leave you pondering options. The variety comes from which members you develop by taking them on missions.
The only technical glitch I’ve encountered is that sometimes after playing a good while (an hour or 3), the sound effects track goes silent. Restarting the app restores it. Otherwise rock-solid.
Can’t wait for the sequel!
[Devs: Please please PLEASE port the “Outsider” DLC to iOS!]
Beautiful.
Sun Nov 27 2016 xXGamerXx05The game boasts a very in-depth fun tactical side scrolling turn based shooter! Gameplay is like X-com but sideways with its own little twists. There's one thing that some games these days I feel lack, and it's style. The game feels and looks wonderful, runs very smoothly on my iPhone 6s. (no battery draining here, doesn't feel like it anyways). Last but not least the music is great, it weaves everything together and really immerses you into the world. The game has released on most consoles already, and has been greatly reviewed by multiple sites, so to have a taste of this gem on mobile is quite the treat. Support the developers! We don't get premium games like this often with our oversaturated f2p games. Here's to hoping they port the dlc content somehow, would gladly pay more for that should it come around! 🍺
My I-phone GOTY
Thu Jun 15 2017 Silent SuzieThis game has been seamlessly designed to stylishly inhabit an app niche and feed on-the-go cravings for quality game play that can be satisfying for a few minutes or a few hours.
I never wanted to be a space cowboy, but I love being a space cowbot. The tone of the game is somewhat whimsical like any good RPG, but has an understated comical flavor all of its own.
I'm a sucker for good turn-based strategy, especially when it comes to apps, since you're rarely free from distractions when stealing away to play on your phone a moment. The difficulty level was so well balanced that I never had to grind, yet always felt challenged. When failure happened, I was torn about whether to replay the mission or run a couple easier ones and come back with better guns. On all occasions but one, I was able to refine my strategy and succeed, which was an incredibly rewarding experience.
Different members of your team get different weapons and skills. Realizing their strengths and weaknesses is key to identifying the niche they fill and creating a cohesive team.
If you're hesitating to risk the money, ask yourself if you want to waste your time playing another IAP shitshow, or do you want to enjoy your free time?
Worth the money. A quality game
Mon Jun 10 2019 DonB1The game is fun. Stage 1 is fun because you have to learn the mechanics of trick shots. Stage 2 is tough because the enemies are far tougher. After that is gets very easy because the characters you play with are fully buffed with abilities. But the enemies are more varied and you find more crew.
I also like that at any level you can change the games difficulty level. How nice is that!
Cons are the replay value is “why bother?”. You do not get any areas new to explore or new abilities / stages to unlock after winning the game.
There are 5 difficulty levels as I mentioned, so a bit more on that now...
The “experienced” is the standard medium. Anything less challenging and the game is too easy and goes too quick. “Veteran” is like a hard mode. “Elite” is a I am a glutton for punishment and abuse mode, especially in the beginning of the game. But as stated, the replay factor is not there so after the first run through you likely will not want to invest the hours to play again so my suggestion is try the hardest level first and scale back if it’s too difficult. You lose nothing this way during first play through.
Pay once and play perfection
Tue Apr 11 2017 Robert Douglas McMillanAmazing pay once and play game, one of very few in the App Store. Most of the games on here are pay to win, and that just kills it. This game costs money, but you will have so much more fun on here than any other game. I would love to see a second game to the series, or maybe even some more work for the developers. Great work, I would love to see a multiplayer aspect possibly as well. A turn system similar to the way the game works would be perfect. Either live or else payed over an extended period of time.
10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for a fun game to play that you can just enjoy without consistent annoying ads telling you to buy things.
Well done, look forward to your next game.
Ok so...
Wed Mar 25 2020 bluefivejiveI know there have to be people like me, who find 99% of mobile games (even some very popular ones) woefully shallow, basic, boring, and generally aimed at kids. At least half of them are just a veneer for micro-transactions, many are ports of games that are much better experienced the way they were intended, and the ones that you can tell are from original creative developers that LOOK SO GOOD in the trailers often just feel incomplete and underwhelming after about an hour. If you love mobile games, that’s great, I’m glad for you.
My entire point is that if you are like me and you keep finding disappointment in this medium, this is one of those 7 or 8 diamonds in the rough games on iOS. It’s fun for a mobile game, it’s fun for a game just in general—the game is just a lot of fun. Play it on veteran difficulty, get a scoped pistol as soon as possible, and have a blast ricocheting bullets into robot skulls, with light but well done RPG mechanics. Worth 5 bucks.
PS If you do happen to read this, happen to feel similar to me, and buy the game and happen to enjoy it, go buy the Banner Saga trilogy too.
Thanks
