Shovel Knight and SteamWorld Dig

This Christmas I decided that after shunning gaming in favour of university work for the past six months that I should treat myself for the holidays. So I hit the 3DS' Nintendo e-shop and bought myself a couple of indie games and set aside Christmas day and Boxing day as work free relaxation days. During which time I ploughed through SteamWorld Dig and part way through Shovel Knight. Both of which I have been eyeing up for a while.

SteamWorld Dig is a steampunk western exploration game that is very similar to Minecraft or Terreria. The focus isn't on levels or storyline and instead it is about digging your way down and discovering the hidden treasures beneath the surface.

Image from Steam Store

You play as a mining robot who has come upon a small town built upon a treasure-rich abandoned mine. There are legends around town about a famous miner who disappeared in the depths below and you head off to seek the treasure he sought. As far as plots go it isn't that detailed, but believe me, you don't need much else.

Despite lacking a strong antagonist or reason beyond go explore little robot there is not much else to prompt you along. Unless if you are like me you are quite content to just keep exploring in an OCD like fashion determined to find all the possible items you can. Well if it has worked for the likes of Minecraft, Pokemon and various other collection games it may as well work with this one.

Indeed I found myself rather obsessed with the game and couldn't quite put it down. It is rather addictive and I found myself becoming rather thorough in my tunneling. Like Minecraft I found myself loathing having to trudge back up to the surface. It seems there is an innate desire in me to burrow myself away if I am given the chance. Going to the surface when I had a full inventory brought the chance to upgrade myself and the town before heading back below.

The graphics are not amazing in a realism type of way. If you are looking for a photogenic steampunk robot game then this isn't for you (perhaps next year's Call of Duty will be better for you). Instead it chooses a 2D cartoon type art style which compliments the old west theme perfectly. Characters are cute but not sugary and remind me of the film Robots.

Technically there really is nothing that productive in the game. You dig to find minerals which pay for new upgrades which allow you to dig further. This mindless cycle was just what my overloaded brain needed right now. Something I could dribble over for a few hours whilst someone shoveled mince pies into me.

I love how distinct each character seems

Speaking of shoveled: Shovel Knights a game which has already found a lot of praise piled onto it. Another 2D, graphically simple game but one which has a complex background. This game has received a lot of recognition due to its retro feel. Not just in its 8-bit art style, but also because it is making a name for itself to being rather challenging and one of those games that you learn to master slowly.

You play as the titular Shovel Knight an adventurer who once was known throughout the land for his escapades. His companion Shield Knight was forever at his side until one fateful day when the tower she was in disappeared. Shovel Knight in his grief turns to farming, what else? Until the day the tower returns. With its return an evil enchantress also follows and her army of evil knights.

As Shovel Knight, the player must visit many levels and rid them of the evil knight that plagues them until he reaches the tower and the enchantress herself. Gameplay is very much like the games I would watch my brother play on the NES or Sega Mastersystem. It reminds me mostly of Castlevania in its setting, villains and gameplay. You move left to right platform jumping and sleighing enemies (or should that be shoveling) until you reach the boss of the level.

These bosses are one of my highlights as each are rather individual and very recognisable. In fact what attracted me to the game originally was the Plague Knight; who I have yet to face. The reason for this is despite sounding simple the game is rather tricky and there is a lot to explore beneath its surface. Whilst it can be completed quickly it would take a few playthroughs, and a bit of an obsession to do so.

This is Plague Knight, he's my favourite.

Both of these games are really good in there own right and for the prices asked, great value for money. SteamWorld Dig is about £8, and Shovel Knight about £13. Which compared to most modern games isn't bad considering both can be played multiple times through.

Overall they were a brilliant distraction from work for a couple of days. Small enough that they can be picked up and trawled through in a few hardcore hours. Or you can play bits at a time as neither have plots that are hard to follow. I loved every second I got with both and cherished the precious moments I got between my girlfriend snatching away my 3DS. This wasn't in a bid to force me to spend quality time together, but for her to play Mario Kart 7. Time she spent swearing like a sailor at the screen and making me fear for my limited edition 3DS' life.

Shovel Knights image from SoundonSight, Plague knight image from Planet Minecraft

Merry Christmas 2014

I think it is a tad to late to say it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. To be honest it has started to look this way since late September.

Regardless I have held out from doing a Christmas blog post until this week. A week that began with a new tradition, but will also include all the old ones too. A perfect time to reflect on my own personal festive traditions.

We didn't decorate ours, just placed one in the fireplace.

Firstly, the new tradition that I added to my list this year was the burning of a Yule log. This is a pagan tradition, one which I took part in because of a agreement between Amy and myself. I won't go into detail on this agreement yet, however, I'm sure you will hear more about it in the year ahead.

The burning of the yule log represents the end of the old year and encouraging a prosperous year ahead. It is performed around the Winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year (this year the 21st December). I fear I may have simplified that tradition a bit, but that is how I viewed it.

As I watched the log burn I thought about the year ahead and what I wanted from it. I thought of prosperity, renewal and restoration. I also thought that to achieve these I would need to sacrifice things in return, whether that be through time money or effort. We must always put in something to see a return.

As for returning traditions there are the obvious, like watching The Muppet's Christmas Carol, The Nightmare Before Christmas and perhaps some sitcoms too (or Adventure Time). Also I have already begun the tradition of listening to festive music as I work. Last year I found myself in the bottom floor of my University library, reading legal cases from the eighteenth century to the sound of Wombling Merry Christmas. Not the oddest way a law student has coped with studying the law, believe me.

I have also eaten rather a lot of junk food. My personal favourite so far has been some home-made shortbread.

Part of the food celebration will include the traditional eating of Astronaut ice-cream on Christmas eve (it's a long story).

I spent last Christmas around my brothers Christmas tree,
Pretty isn't it?

Of course soon on Christmas day will be the usual gift-giving and then on Boxing day comes eating left over food and opening a tree present.

This year marks the first that I won't be spending with my family and instead with my girlfriend and her parents. I will be seeing my own family on New Years a nice compromise, that has the side effect of two festive celebrations.

How are you all spending the festive period? Let me know below in the comments.

Yule log image from Kappaphi,