From Metroidvanias to metropolis builders, the SteamWorld franchise has taken many various types over time, and although there’s a case to be made for the last word supremacy of every of these, its turn-based tactical RPG choices with the unique SteamWorld Heist stand to this present day as a number of the greatest content material the sequence has ever delivered. Now, it’s coming again with a protracted overdue however extremely welcome sequel, and based mostly on the reception it has loved since its launch final week, SteamWorld Heist 2 has efficiently managed to not solely replicate its predecessor’s strengths, however in some ways, even construct upon them. To be taught extra concerning the sport, its improvement, and the way it iterates on the unique Heist, we not too long ago reached out to its builders with a few of our most burning questions. Beneath, you’ll be able to learn our interview with lead sport designer Ulf Hartelius.
NOTE: This interview was carried out previous to the sport’s launch.
“To set a sequel on the excessive seas was really deliberate for already after we made the primary sport. Nicely, it’s really extra of a giant lake because it’s all set on one of many shards of the shattered Earth.”
SteamWorld Heist was a terrific entry within the SteamWorld sequence, and followers have been ready for a direct observe up for fairly a while. What led to the lengthy hole between releases?
We’ve been busy making different video games! However ever since making the primary sport we’ve been speaking about how a lot enjoyable it was and the way a lot we’d love to do one other one, so it’s been simmering all this time. We additionally don’t wish to make a sequel simply to make extra of the identical; we wish to make it possible for it incorporates sufficient new nice stuff to make each us and everybody else, whether or not followers of the primary sport or newcomers, enthusiastic about it.
What prompted the change from the house setting of the primary sport to the naval setting right here?
To set a sequel on the excessive seas was really deliberate for already after we made the primary sport. Nicely, it’s really extra of a giant lake because it’s all set on one of many shards of the shattered Earth. We cherished the shattered Earth setting that was established in SteamWorld Heist and SteamWorld Dig 2, and we knew we needed to make video games that had been set on the precise shards as effectively as a substitute of simply taking a look at them from afar.
In addition to that narrative purpose, we additionally needed to tremendously develop on the exploration between missions. Having it set in a grounded atmosphere, slightly than the vacancy of house, offered a way more attention-grabbing world to discover. The plush Caribbean-like setting additionally match the temper we had been searching for.
The unique Steamworld Heist had lots of procedurally generated ranges, whereas Steamworld Heist 2 appears to be going for handcrafted environments and characters. Are we to imagine that this sport won’t have procedurally generated ranges anymore, or will there nonetheless be some degree of procedural era concerned?
There may be nonetheless some procedural era, but it surely’s extra managed and primarily serves to make it enjoyable to replay the identical hand-crafted missions by altering issues round simply sufficient that you just don’t know precisely what’s going to occur. So I wouldn’t name the degrees procedurally generated, however they (and another components of the sport) have rigorously tweaked procedural components. In actual fact, that is just like SteamWorld Dig 2 which additionally has some procedural stuff in it; one thing I’d assume most gamers have no idea. As a result of in spite of everything, procedural system doesn’t really feel procedural.
“There may be nonetheless some procedural era, but it surely’s extra managed and primarily serves to make it enjoyable to replay the identical hand-crafted missions by altering issues round simply sufficient that you just don’t know precisely what’s going to occur.”
The unique Steamworld Heist was made for the Nintendo 3DS initially. How has the scope of the sport been impacted by the truth that even the weakest system of those that the sequel is focusing on is a number of instances extra highly effective than the 3DS was?
The 4K graphics could be the best factor to level to, however the graphical constancy has been raised on all fronts: a extremely dynamic lighting system that actually makes the 2D come alive, beautiful particle results, extra superior animations and rather more. There are additionally plenty of gameplay modifications with extra issues happening on the similar time, particularly with the naval exploration and fight on the world map, extra superior enemies and skills, extra and larger bosses, and so forth. Then there’s additionally the truth that we may now design the interface for a single widescreen from the beginning, as a substitute of getting to adapt the 3DS’ twin display screen setup into one thing utterly completely different for the opposite platforms; in order that’s been a aid for improvement and it has allowed us to make a extra cohesive and thought-through interface.
I needed to speak concerning the job system. That’s all the time one in all my favourite issues in an RPG. You’ve launched that to SteamWorld Heist 2, and in addition overhauled the gear system to go along with that. Are you able to elaborate on the form of character customization which may result in?
We love job techniques too! We’ve taken what we’ve appreciated in different video games, together with our personal (you would possibly acknowledge the cogs from SteamWorld Dig 2), and brought our personal spin on it to greatest swimsuit Heist. For gamers new to the idea, it must be simple to know and use and it’s best to be capable of play the sport on the decrease problem ranges with out partaking a lot with it for the primary half of the sport to permit anybody to be taught the sport’s many options regularly. However when you do begin to make use of it, it’s best to uncover an incredible quantity of depth; which you have to to grasp if you wish to conquer the upper problem ranges. Our objective has been that there must be as a lot synergy as doable between the talents from completely different jobs, in addition to with varied items of kit; any time you marvel in the event you would possibly be capable of mix potential X with potential Y, the reply must be sure.
Let me give two easy examples: Give the Sniper’s good goal potential to a Boomer who makes use of rockets; and all of a sudden you get to preview not simply the trail the rocket will take but in addition the scale of the explosion to assist you to actually finetune your capturing angle for max impact. One other instance is the hammer-wielding Brawler job that has a capability that lets it transfer after making a kill. That is helpful to allow them to get out of hurt’s means after exposing themselves to make a melee assault. However then give them the Reaper’s “additional assault after making a kill” potential, and now the Brawler can transfer and assault after every kill; many times and once more.
“For many gamers we’ve seen a mean of 35 hours, with extra if you wish to really full every part. And for these searching for much more, I can advocate replaying the sport on the upper problem ranges and utilizing a distinct set of characters as you’ll doubtless end up having fun with the sport in new methods.”
Roughly how lengthy will a mean playthrough of the story mode be?
For many gamers we’ve seen a mean of 35 hours, with extra if you wish to really full every part. And for these searching for much more, I can advocate replaying the sport on the upper problem ranges and utilizing a distinct set of characters as you’ll doubtless end up having fun with the sport in new methods. I’ve misplaced depend of how a lot we’ve performed the sport on the studio however the some ways you’ll be able to play it and customise your characters have stored it feeling recent for us all this time, so I’m actually wanting ahead to seeing everybody’s playthroughs.
