Ocean Keeper: TouchArcade's Game of the Week

One thing I absolutely adore in gaming is the seamless fusion of two distinct gameplay styles into a single, captivating experience. Think of classics like the *Blaster Master* series, which brilliantly merges vehicle-based side-scrolling platforming with engaging top-down on-foot sequences. Or consider a more recent gem like *Dave the Diver*, which skillfully blends roguelike diving with restaurant management. *Ocean Keeper* from RetroStyle Games is yet another title that masterfully combines two contrasting mechanics, drawing players back time and again with its compelling gameplay loop and rewarding upgrade system.

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 waves of enemies are on their way. You'll need to switch back to your mech to fend them off. The mining sections are viewed from the side, where you'll dig through rocks to uncover various resources and special artifacts. Interestingly, mining also earns you coins. However, you have only a limited time to mine before the enemies arrive. Once back in your mech, the game shifts to a top-down twin-stick shooter with elements of tower defense as you tackle multiple waves of diverse underwater creatures.

All the resources you gather are used to upgrade both your miner and your mech, with an abundance of branching skill trees to explore for both. As a roguelike, if you perish during an enemy encounter, your run ends, and you lose any upgrades or abilities gained during that session. However, there are persistent upgrades and customizations available between runs, ensuring you always feel like you're making progress, even after a few tough runs. The layouts of the overworld and caves change with each playthrough, adding variety and challenge.

It's worth noting that *Ocean Keeper* starts off somewhat slowly, and you may encounter some challenging runs at the beginning. Persevere, though, and soon the upgrades will start rolling in, your skills will sharpen, and you'll master the game's rhythm. Before you know it, you'll transform into an unstoppable underwater mech of destruction. The interplay between weapons and upgrades is at the core of the game, making it endlessly enjoyable to experiment with different builds and strategies. Initially, I was uncertain about *Ocean Keeper* due to its slow start, but once it picks up momentum, it's become incredibly hard to switch to any other game.