LBR received a Steam review code from RetroStyle Games to play the Demo for Codename: Ocean Keeper early. This review refers to the Demo and not a complete game.
Indie developer and publisher RetroStyle Games has just released a public demo for its action roguelike Codename: Ocean Keeper. It is available on PC via Steam, where you can wishlist the game now.
In Codename: Ocean Keeper, players pilot a mech to explore an underwater world that changes with each run. You’ll need to swiftly mine for resources in order to upgrade your hero and mech. These help you survive increasing waves of attacks from various sea creatures.
At this time, there is no concrete release date for Codename: Ocean Keeper. RetroStyle Games revealed a trailer for the demo last month:
Demos need to be graded on a very different metric than complete games, since they’re innately prone to bugs and limited content.
I did in fact encounter some frustrating bugs, such as crashes or resources failing to register. The tutorial also had frequent trouble progressing. But again, these will likely be cleaned up by launch.
Surprisingly, the Ocean Keeper demo already includes a decent amount of content. There are plenty of enemies and upgrades to discover. These generally shake up the meta enough to justify another run.
There will definitely be comparisons to Wall World and Dome Keeper. That’s unfortunate, since Ocean Keeper doesn’t seem quite as inspired thus far.
Its upgrades and distinctly aquatic enemies are interesting enough. But the gameplay doesn’t particularly excite me just yet, with familiar mechanics and ideas. I hope the full game includes more lore, especially since the Steam page hints at “the lost remnants of civilization.”
The run itself may not have enough novelty for fans who played similar games. Fortunately, the underwater setting is an excellent choice and ripe for content.
I did enjoy the combat and the level of control Ocean Keeper gives you. Your position matters very much. You do not want to get surrounded, or trapped in a choke point.
You’ll also want to plan for the ideal cave dive, based on its position and your remaining time before the next attack. I’d love to see different terrain in this underwater world that further encourages strategic movement.
Finally, I was also delighted by the visuals. Its isometric, watery world is refined and pretty, full of unique environmental details that build atmosphere.
I am impressed by the colorful, deeply polished imagery and animation. The movement looks smooth, capturing the personality of the ocean and its characters as you explore, mine, and battle.
Final Thoughts
The Codename: Ocean Keeper demo is a promising start, with gorgeous visuals and plenty of content. Its isometric world has its own stride. But the current gameplay may not surprise or intrigue fans of the genre. Aside from some obligatory bugs, the demo is solid. But I hope the full launch truly stands out.
Demo Score: 7/10
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