TouchArcade Rating: A masterful blend of distinct gameplay styles! Ocean Keeper seamlessly integrates side-scrolling mining with top-down mech combat, creating a compelling and endlessly replayable experience. Think Blaster Master meets Dave the Diver, but underwater!
In Ocean Keeper, you crash-land your mech on an alien underwater planet. Your mission: delve into subterranean caves to collect resources before waves of hostile creatures attack your base. The side-scrolling mining sections require strategic excavation to unearth valuable resources and artifacts, earning you in-game currency. Time is of the essence, as enemy waves trigger a shift to top-down twin-stick shooter action, where you defend your mech using light tower defense strategies against a diverse range of bizarre sea creatures.
Earned resources fuel upgrades for both your mining equipment and your mech, branching skill trees offering diverse customization options. The roguelike nature means death resets your progress within a run, but persistent upgrades between runs ensure steady, satisfying advancement. Expect varied overworld and cave layouts for each playthrough.
Ocean Keeper may start slowly, with some initially frustrating runs. However, persevere! As upgrades unlock and skills improve, the gameplay loop becomes incredibly rewarding. Experimenting with different weapon and upgrade combinations is a core element of the fun. The game's initial slow pace gives way to addictive, fast-paced action. Initially hesitant, I now find it difficult to put Ocean Keeper down.
