DIG - Deep In Galaxies Review (PC)

Rapid gunfire hits one big red crate, launching an explosion that engulfs two bats and one exploding slime, which in turn eliminates a few other nearby enemies. I continue firing as I move towards those that remain, trying to make sure that I hit the ones that can pose the bigger challenge.

A big rock golem starts throwing rocks, which is a problem while I am in transit. But once my character is on solid ground he can throw those right back at the attacker using melee strikes, which is a great way of killing him. A few more blob enemies move toward me and I continue whacking them while they split into more enemies.

I finally deal with the entire group, gather up the coins they drop, and also pick up a few pieces of fruit to replenish my health. I’m a little unsure of where to go next so I start digging down as quickly as I can. I reach a big cave pretty quickly, filled with fire salamanders that move fast and seem determined to end my adventure. But once they are dead, I open a chest and get a new chest piece with some interesting stats.

DIG - Deep In Galaxies is developed by Molton Studio and published by Raiser Games. I played on the PC using Steam. The title offers a lot of mobility and combat freedom, with a decent rogue structure to keep players engaged.

+4more

The narrative is inspired by space operas from the last 50 years, with a lot of vocabulary that seems to directly reference Star Wars. There’s an evil Overlord that wants to control the entire galaxy, with rebels ready to stand in his way.

The game features a range of avatars to unlock and the universe has some interesting narrative elements to discover. Don’t expect a deep story but the revolutionary campaign offers clear motivation for progress as players move from planetoid to planetoid in search of missions, although the various characters have little depth.

Gameplay in DIG - Deep In Galaxies is centered on freedom of exploration and digging. Regardless of chosen avatar, players can always use a double jump and a rope to enhance their fact movement. Two weapons are carried at all times alongside a special ability. Levels are procedurally generated and a lot of the titles can be destroyed to reveal new areas and even new ways to deal with the tactical puzzles.

The player character can use his melee weapons to destroy the tiles that make up the world. You’ll mostly dig down but the system also makes it easy to create environmental staircases. There are times when I dug too hungrily and too deep, but the mix of rope and double jump means it is easy to return to higher-up locations.

Each of the biomes has a range of opponents and traps to deal with, ranging from easy-to-deal-with rats to ninja warriors that serve the Overlord and rock giants that employ boulder throwing with solid aim. The best approach is to move as fast as possible and make sure that their attacks do not hit, employing the double jump and rope to cover ground. Use the melee attack at all times to eliminate as many opponents as possible.

Play Video

Because the ranged weapon has limited ammo, I mostly use it for the bigger enemies and to destroy anything that seems like it might blow up (chain explosions are great for opening up new areas). Don’t forget that the character can hit projectiles with a melee attack to knock them back at the attacker. Both close-quarter and ranged weapons can be picked up from chests strewn around the levels.

Gameplay variety in DIG is enhanced by the addition of special powers, items, and potions. There are a ton of combinations to discover, all fun to use as the player tries to master combat, explore new environments, and strike more blows for the rebellion.

The game is challenging, especially when groups of enemies coordinate their attacks. It’s also easy to lose big chinks of health to unfortunate falls or traps that are hard to spot. But the game never feels unfair, which is crucial for this kind of experience.

I like the sense of freedom that I feel when landing in a new biome, trying to work out what kinds of opponents are coming, and hoping for new weapons or potion options. And I always look forward to digging my way through as much of the world as possible, looking for surprises.

DIG also features local multiplayer for up to four players. It allows players to try and liberate the galaxy from the Overlord by working together but also gives them the option of only focusing on one level. A Battle Mode is also offered. It’s unclear whether the developers plan to also introduce an option to play over the Internet with other people.

DIG - Deep In Galaxies uses a familiar pixel-driven look, designed to offer as much variety as possible while making it easy to focus on the gameplay. There are times when the screen is visually overloaded and it gets a little hard to deal with enemies or avoid traps. I would have liked a little more weirdness for the opponent design and the levels themselves. The soundtrack is good, enhancing the feeling of freedom and speed, but it could use a few more tracks.

+4more

The Good

The Bad

Conclusion