TouchArcade Game of the Week: ‘Ocean Keeper’

One aspect I truly appreciate in gaming is when developers manage to seamlessly blend two distinct gameplay styles into a single, cohesive experience. Think about classics like the *Blaster Master* series, where you switch between vehicle-based side-scrolling action and engaging top-down segments on foot. Or consider recent hits like *Dave the Diver*, which mixes roguelike underwater exploration with restaurant management. *Ocean Keeper* by RetroStyle Games is another standout title that masterfully combines two different mechanics, creating a gameplay loop and upgrade system that keeps players coming back for more.

In *Ocean Keeper*, you find yourself crash-landed on a mysterious underwater planet, piloting a formidable mech. Your mission involves diving into underwater caves to harvest resources, but time is of the essence as enemy waves are approaching, forcing you to return to your mech for defense. The mining segments are viewed from a side perspective, where you dig through rocks to uncover various resources and special artifacts. Interestingly, mining also rewards you with coins. The time window for mining is limited before the enemies arrive, adding urgency to your actions. Once back in your mech, the gameplay shifts to a top-down twin-stick shooter infused with light tower defense elements, challenging you to fend off waves of bizarre underwater creatures.

The resources you gather are crucial for upgrading both your miner and mech, and you'll find no shortage of branching skill trees to explore for each. As a roguelike, if you perish during an enemy encounter, your current run ends, and you lose any upgrades or abilities gained during that session. However, the game offers persistent upgrades and customizations between runs, ensuring you feel a sense of progress even after less successful attempts. Additionally, the layouts of the overworld and caves change with each playthrough, keeping the experience fresh and engaging.

It's worth noting that *Ocean Keeper* starts off at a slow pace, and initial runs can feel frustrating. But persistence pays off. As you progress, the flow of upgrades accelerates, your skills sharpen, and you gain a better understanding of the game's dynamics. Before you know it, you're transformed into a formidable underwater mech warrior. The synergy between different weapons and upgrades forms the core of the game, making it immensely enjoyable to experiment with various builds and strategies. Although I had my doubts when starting *Ocean Keeper* due to its slow start, once the game gains momentum, it becomes incredibly difficult to switch to anything else.