Ocean Keeper Captivates as TouchArcade's Game of the Week

TouchArcade Rating: A masterful blend of distinct gameplay styles is what makes Ocean Keeper shine. It seamlessly integrates side-scrolling mining with top-down mech combat, reminiscent of titles like the Blaster Master series or the recent hit, Dave the Diver. This dual-mechanic approach, coupled with a compelling upgrade system and rewarding gameplay loop, keeps players engaged run after run.

In Ocean Keeper, you're stranded on an alien underwater planet in your powerful mech. Your mission: descend into underwater caverns to gather resources. However, time is of the essence; waves of enemies are constantly approaching, demanding you defend your base in your mech. The side-scrolling mining segments focus on excavating resources and artifacts, earning you in-game currency. Once the mining window closes, the perspective shifts to a top-down twin-stick shooter, where you'll utilize light tower defense strategies to repel relentless waves of aquatic creatures.

Resources fuel upgrades for both your mining equipment and your mech, with extensive branching skill trees offering diverse customization options. The roguelike nature means death results in lost progress within a single run. However, persistent upgrades between runs ensure continuous advancement, even after setbacks. Expect varied overworld and cave layouts with each playthrough.

Ocean Keeper might feel slow initially, with some challenging early runs. However, perseverance is key. As upgrades accumulate and skills improve, the game's rhythm becomes apparent, transforming you into a formidable underwater force. The synergistic interplay between weapons and upgrades forms the game's core, encouraging experimentation with various builds and strategies. While the initial slow pace might be off-putting, the addictive gameplay that follows quickly makes Ocean Keeper a hard game to put down.