Deep Rock Galactic spinoff adds mining to Vampire Survivors, and it works

when i first sit down to play Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, I resolve to rotate the game for 20 minutes and then stop for a productive note-taking session. After three hours I realized that I was a fool. It’s one of those sticky games that can be played in a short amount of time, but I keep diving into new rounds, and I think about playing it again as soon as I close the client.

What is Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, and how has it taken possession of my mind so effectively? it’s a pastiche escape from vampiresA top-down auto-shooter, interpreted in the world of Deep Rock Galactic. on campus Survivor same as original deep rock galactic – Dwarves battle insects and beasts to mine valuable ore in the world’s most unsafe workplace. But whereas the original title is a four-player co-op game, in this new spin-off, I’m all alone.

I play a dwarf on a solo mission in the mines. It’s me, my friendly robot Bosco, and some simple guns. Bosco and I shoot at everything around us, and I can claw my way through rock and stone walls. Problem is, every monster in the mines is coming for me, and my starting weapons only dent their armies. Luckily, both ore and monsters drop experience, which I can use to upgrade my gear or buy new power-ups.

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Image: Funday Games/Ghost Ship Publishing

A race would start like this: I have some objective, like getting some specific mineral, or killing a number of insects. After some running, I find a powerful kinetic plasma gun that bounces off the terrain. Other times, I have to rely on the shotgun’s powerful knockback blasts. After I’ve completed a wave, I’ve gone deeper into the mines, and the danger has steadily increased over time. Soon, the screen fills up with horrible pesticides and yummylicious diamonds.

Deep Rock Galactic: SurvivorThe mining mechanic of adds a fun set of options. Mining is as automatic as firing; All I care about is choosing a path and driving my dwarf. But rock is slower than open ground, and ore is even more of an obstacle. Can I afford to mine a valuable gem when a wave of hungry beasts is overwhelming me? Should I make a way across the plains for it, or make a way through the stones to safe ground?

If I die, it is often because of my own arrogance that I can make a clever shortcut or quietly extract a large crystal. On the other hand, I can also find a way to trap enemies at chokepoints I’m firing plasma shots at, and I feel like a genius with a big brain. The ability to create your own battlefield by charging through boulders is a great addition to the auto-shooter formula.

Image: Funday Games/Ghost Ship Publishing

Dying doesn’t mean the campaign wasn’t worth it. I can upgrade my dwarves between rounds, increasing their speed, mining skills or weapon damage. Because Survivor It’s in beta right now, not all upgrades are available to me yet, and has a tempting Artifacts tab that’s currently inaccessible.

The game also needs some rebalancing. For example, on a call with Play Gamez, developer Funday Games shared that playtests showed that Bosco needs some buffs. I found myself longing for some of the more ridiculous, overpowered guns in later levels. The current upgrades have their quirks, but some of them are showstoppers with huge, exciting power spikes. But, even with a limited arsenal, I found myself waiting for the dopamine hit after a match to assess my assets and choose an upgrade.

Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor It has the advantage of being based on a hugely successful title and set in an established world. The game may not be re-inventing the wheel any more, but I’m not sure that’s a problem when it’s a really cool wheel. Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor It is currently in closed testing on Steam and is expected to launch in 2023.