Sequels building off popular debuts always have their work cut out for them, and SteamWorld Heist II is no exception. The original release is one of my favorite games in recent years—I own it on the 3DS, Wii U (with all DLC), and physically on the Switch. With such high expectations, how does SteamWorld Heist II fare as a sequel?
Let me address this question early: SteamWorld Heist II, as a sequel, comes close to matching the greatness of its predecessor, but not quite in the long run. I stress long, as I’ve already sunk a couple of dozen hours into it at the time of publishing this review. While the game is rich in content, there were times when I missed the immediacy and balanced execution of the original. The sequel introduces many fresh elements, but some jarring difficulty spikes stem less from clever enemies and more from an overwhelming flood of lower-level threats. Even when enemies crumble in one hit, it matters little if half a dozen more get dumped out each turn. The moderate, more restrained approach shown in the first game seems to have been comparatively scrapped.
But presumably (and again, a point of credit), the team must’ve eventually realized they got carried away with enemy quantity. SteamWorld Heist II offers not only more difficulty options than the first game but also custom sliders to adjust individual elements of the challenge. And here is where I offer my public service tip, pointedly concerning what the game calls “Mission Urgency.”
I wasn’t initially having too much trouble with the challenge overall (enemy accuracy, damage, etc.) as I’ve beaten the original multiple times, alternating between “Regular” and “Veteran” difficulty. But the previously mentioned steady stream of spawning enemies eventually started taking too big a toll, as the devs seem to be veering from smitten to infatuated with this aspect. If you want to see fewer alarms triggering wave after wave of enemies, turn this slider up! Unlike the seven other sliders that you’d turn down for a reduced challenge, this one is the opposite, for reasons nonsensical. While I am impressed that I managed to scrape by as much as I did with max difficulty, adjusting it to a reasonable level allowed me to earn more stars on replay.
The game hits familiar notes as a water crisis quickly swells into a much weightier threat. You’ll recruit a crew of steambots and assemble the best team for each mission. It’s just as much fun here as in the first game, if not more so, for a few reasons. Noteworthy highlights are the means to have up to five active bots in select missions, the option for each bot to switch between jobs, and unrestricted inventory. Changing jobs has gotten the most marketing (perhaps because it seems curious, perhaps because experimenting with it offers depth and replay value). Still, the limitless inventory is my favorite, as it was painfully tiny in the first game.
I wondered how freely sailing the waters would fare compared to the more limited space navigation in the first game. While there were points I missed having bars in closer proximity, I had fun despite the slower pace. Naval combat (above and below the water) introduces a change of pace, with some welcomed variety, while not overshadowing the game’s lifeblood. The maps are enormous, and there’s a fair amount of navigation freedom for some non-linear enjoyment. Just make sure your sub is equipped appropriately with multiple upgrades.
If the new mechanics click with you and you choose to stick with the game, experiment, and explore, it can offer dozens of play hours. I’m nearing 35 at the time of publication and still replaying some missions in a quest for those last few elusive stars. It can feel like a tedious grind at select spikes, but stick with it. As you get leveled-up characters with top-line weaponry, progress will come.
SteamWorld Heist II has so many outstanding core elements that, even chasing new horizons at the expense of some balance, it’s still a recommended sequel. While quirks might make it run out of steam at points, don’t be surprised when it keeps you coming back for more. With a presentation polished as a pearl and some fun twists, this lengthy sequel should find a place in the Switch collections of those up for the challenge.
