TouchArcade Rating: A masterful blend of distinct gameplay styles is what makes Ocean Keeper shine. It successfully merges side-scrolling mining with top-down mech combat, creating a compelling and consistently engaging experience reminiscent of titles like Blaster Master and Dave the Diver.
In Ocean Keeper, players pilot a mech on a peculiar underwater planet. The core loop involves descending into underwater caves to mine resources, a side-scrolling endeavor where players excavate rocks to uncover valuable materials and artifacts, earning in-game currency in the process. However, this mining phase is time-limited; waves of enemies soon approach, demanding a swift return to the mech for a top-down twin-stick shooter defense against a variety of bizarre sea creatures. This segment incorporates light tower defense elements, adding another layer of strategic depth.
Resources gathered during mining fuel upgrades for both the mining equipment and the mech itself. Extensive branching skill trees offer diverse customization options for both. The roguelike nature means death ends a run, resetting progress within that session. However, persistent upgrades between runs ensure continuous advancement, even after setbacks. Procedurally generated overworld and cave layouts guarantee replayability.
While Ocean Keeper initially presents a somewhat slow pace and challenging early game, perseverance is rewarded. As upgrades accumulate and skills improve, the gameplay loop accelerates, transforming the player into a formidable underwater force. The synergistic interplay between weapons and upgrades forms the game's core, encouraging experimentation with various builds and strategies. Despite a slow start, Ocean Keeper's addictive gameplay loop and satisfying progression make it incredibly hard to put down once it picks up momentum.
