TouchArcade Game of the Week: ‘Ocean Keeper’

TouchArcade Rating:

I adore games that seamlessly blend disparate gameplay styles into a cohesive whole. Think Blaster Master's blend of side-scrolling platforming and top-down shooting, or the recent hit Dave the Diver, which masterfully combines roguelike diving with restaurant management. Ocean Keeper from RetroStyle Games joins this elite club, successfully merging distinct mechanics within a compelling loop and rewarding upgrade path that keeps you coming back for more.

In Ocean Keeper, you crash-land your awesome mech onto a bizarre underwater planet. Your mission: delve into underwater caves to harvest resources. But time is of the essence; waves of enemies are constantly approaching, demanding you defend your base in your mech. The mining segments unfold in a side-scrolling perspective, requiring you to excavate rocks for resources and artifacts, earning you coins along the way. You have a limited window to mine before the enemy onslaught begins. Once back in your mech, the game shifts to a top-down twin-stick shooter with light tower defense elements, as you repel waves of bizarre underwater creatures.

Resources fuel upgrades for both your miner and your mech, with extensive branching skill trees for each. This is a roguelike, meaning death during the enemy encounters means losing your run's upgrades and abilities. However, persistent upgrades and customizations unlockable between runs ensure consistent progress, even after setbacks. Expect varied overworld and cave layouts with each playthrough.

Ocean Keeper starts slowly; early runs can be challenging. Persevere! As upgrades flow and skills improve, you’ll master the game's rhythm, transforming into an underwater mech-wrecking machine. The synergy between weapons and upgrades is the game's core; experimenting with different builds and tactics is endlessly engaging. Initially hesitant, I found myself captivated once Ocean Keeper truly took off. It's become my go-to game.