SteamWorld Heist

2015 video game
2015 video game
  • WW: December 10, 2015
Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux
  • WW: June 7, 2016
PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
  • NA: June 7, 2016
  • EU: June 8, 2016
  • AU: June 8, 2016
Wii U
  • EU: September 30, 2016
  • AU: September 30, 2016
  • NA: October 20, 2016
iOS
  • WW: November 9, 2016
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: December 28, 2017
Stadia
  • WW: March 10, 2020
Amazon Luna
  • US: October 20, 2020
Genre(s)Turn-based tactics, action-adventureMode(s)Single-player

SteamWorld Heist is a turn-based tactics shooter video game developed and published by Image & Form. The third installment of the SteamWorld series and the sequel to SteamWorld Dig,[1] SteamWorld Heist has the player control Captain Piper Faraday, a smuggler and occasional pirate, as she recruits a ragtag team of robots and sets out on a space adventure. The objective of the game is for players to board, loot, and shoot their way through enemy spaceships.

SteamWorld Heist was released on the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS in Europe, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand on December 10, 2015. It was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, OS X and Linux through Steam on June 7, 2016, for the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation Vita via the PlayStation Store on June 7, 2016, in North America and on June 8, 2016, in Europe and Australia.[2] It was released both physically and digitally (through the Nintendo eShop) for the Wii U on September 30, 2016, in Europe and Australia and in North America on October 20, 2016. It was released worldwide on the iOS App store on November 9, 2016. On December 28, 2017, the game was released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch (via Nintendo eShop) under the subtitle Ultimate Edition.[3] It was released on Google's cloud gaming service Stadia on March 10, 2020, and on Amazon's cloud gaming service Luna on October 20, 2020.[4][5]

A sequel, SteamWorld Heist II, was revealed in a Nintendo Indie World presentation on April 17, 2024 and will be released on August 8, 2024.

Gameplay

SteamWorld Heist is a side-scrolling strategy game with focus on skill rather than chance. The core gameplay consists of recruiting a team of steam-driven robots, boarding enemy spaceships and taking down rivaling robot factions in turn-based shootouts. A majority of the game's levels are procedurally generated.[6]

In battle, the player controls the aiming of all firearms and can bounce bullets off the environment for ricocheting trick shots. As the game progresses, players can upgrade and customize their robot crew with different consumables, equipment, weapons, and hats. Some weapons are equipped with laser sights to assist the player with the free aiming.[7]

The game has over 100 different weapons and almost 100 hats to collect.[8] These can be found as treasure during missions or bought in designated shops. Hats are primarily obtained by shooting them off opponents' heads and collecting them.[7]

After finishing the game, players have the option to start the game again with New Game+.[9]

Development

The Xbox One version is on hold in favour of future projects from Image & Form.[10]

Soundtrack

The game's soundtrack, Music From SteamWorld Heist, is composed and recorded by the steampunk band Steam Powered Giraffe. The band members appear as robots in different bars (such as The Spine at Lola's bar before it got shut down) throughout the game while performing songs from the soundtrack.[11]

Downloadable content

The first downloadable content pack, called The Outsider, was showcased at the Penny Arcade Expo in early April 2016[12] and was released on April 28, 2016, for the Nintendo 3DS.[13] When Image & Form announced the release date of SteamWorld Heist for the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation Vita, the company confirmed that The Outsider would release for those systems on the same date as the full game.[14] It was also available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux on release. The Outsider was included on disc in the Wii U and PS4 retail editions of the game. The Outsider was included within the Nintendo Switch's Ultimate Edition port of the game.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic3DS: 86/100[15]
PC: 81/100[16]
PS4: 83/100[17]
VITA: 90/100[18]
WIIU: 87/100[19]
iOS: 90/100[20]
NS: 91/100[21]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid8.5/10
Hardcore Gamer4/5
IGN8.8/10
Nintendo Life9/10
Nintendo World Report9.5/10
TouchArcadeiOS: [22]
Daily Mirror

SteamWorld Heist has received positive reviews on all platforms, with current scores ranging from 81 to 91 on Metacritic.[15]

Dave Rudden of IGN praised the game's depth, addictive combat and charming characters, though he lamented the lack of utilization of 3D effects in the 3DS version.[23] Mitch Vogel of Nintendo Life praised the game's design and gameplay and considered the Nintendo Switch version the best version to play it.[24]

Notes

References

  1. ^ Image & Form (September 10, 2015), The SteamWorld Timeline – The Engine Room #1, retrieved February 2, 2016
  2. ^ "SteamWorld Heist Hits Steam and PS4/Vita on June 7th". Image & Form. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  3. ^ Olney, Alex (December 12, 2017). "SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition Storms onto Nintendo Switch This Year". Nintendo Life. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  4. ^ Aguilos, Pia (March 4, 2020). "Two SteamWorld Games Are Now Available On Stadia". whatoplay. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  5. ^ Gartenberg, Chaim (October 20, 2020). "Hands-on with Amazon's Luna game streaming service". The Verge. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  6. ^ "Hands On: Reaching the Depths of Space in SteamWorld Heist". Nintendo Life. September 27, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Video: Check Out This Explanation of How Steamworld Heist Plays". Nintendo Life. December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  8. ^ "SteamWorld Heist Will Have Over 100 Weapons and Nearly 100 Hats". Nintendo Life. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "SteamWorld Heist – Official Website | Image & Form Games". Image & Form Games. Archived from the original on December 13, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  10. ^ "What's next for Image & Form?". Image & Form. November 23, 2016. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  11. ^ "Steam Powered Giraffe | Official Website of Steam Powered Giraffe". steampoweredgiraffe.com. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  12. ^ Guldbog, Julius. "Unveiling SteamWorld Heist HD & DLC At Pax East". Image & Form. Archived from the original on April 12, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  13. ^ Brian. "SteamWorld Heist The Outsider DLC Launches Next Week". Nintendo Everything. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  14. ^ Guldbog, Julius. "SteamWorld Heist Hits PS4 & PS Vita On May 31 + Giveaway". Image & Form. Archived from the original on May 18, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  15. ^ a b "SteamWorld Heist for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  16. ^ "SteamWorld Heist for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  17. ^ "SteamWorld Heist for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  18. ^ "SteamWorld Heist for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  19. ^ "SteamWorld Heist for Wii U Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  20. ^ "SteamWorld Heist for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  21. ^ "SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  22. ^ Musgrave, Shaun (November 10, 2016). "'SteamWorld Heist' Review – Stealing Hearts and Minds Around the Galaxy". TouchArcade. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  23. ^ Rudden, Dave (December 16, 2015). "SteamWorld Heist Review". IGN. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  24. ^ Life, Nintendo (December 27, 2017). "Review: SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved May 17, 2024.

External links

  • Official website