Let's get this out of the way early. I like SteamWorld Dig: A Fist Full of Dirt. I like it a lot. What is, in essence, a very simple concept of digging your way deeper and deeper into an old mine shaft becomes strangely addictive and the sci-fi inspired story, however bare-bones and flimsy, provides enough intrigue to make you want to keep on tunnelling until you finally uncover the truth about the old mines which your Uncle Joe once inhabited.

You play as heroic steambot Rusty, a no nonsense looking robot who has a whiff of Clint Eastwood about him, silent with an under current of menace beneath his metallic hood. Straight away the game throws you, after a very brief cut scene setting up the premise, in at the deep end, and Image and Form should be applauded for this lack of hand holding. Too many times in recent games, Nintendo games especially, you are always prompted with a solution to what ever puzzle or conundrum stands in your way, if somehow you forgot the moves you have been learning on the way. You get one basic tutorial for all the different moves and pieces of equipment you acquire in SteamWorld, and then you're on your own, fit to use these abilities in which ever way you want to move deeper into, or climb back up, the mine.

The mining you do is permanent, in that your burrowing stays burrowed and your route through the mine is always saved and the same. That's not to say you can't advance on initial digging, far from it in fact as you can take any route you want or do any re routing you want to pick up the many treasures held below the earth. And it's that which is the main focus of the game, digging to find treasures which can then be redeemed to level up your town, giving you access to better armour, tools and weapons, which in turn allow you to dig deeper and continue exploring. Considering this is the main focus of the game, surprisingly it never felt repetitive; the opening of a new area of the mine coming just at the right time to keep it feeling fresh. The only slight guiding comes in the form of a red dot popping up to point you in the direction of the next room you need to find in order to level up or find the latest bit of kit. There are a few unmarked rooms which yield more treasures and orbs to level up quickly, but these are optional and on my initial play through I only came across a few and it didn't hinder me levelling up or completing the game.

So, at the start I said I really liked this game, and I really do. The game play is fun and rewarding, challenging at times and you get a real sense of satisfaction from upgrading Rusty into a bigger and badder robot, especially towards the end when you are required to go back through some of the early mining sections. Is there a (Ro)but though? Yes there is, but it has nothing to do with game play or design. Call me old fashioned but £7.99 for a game which lasted me just over 4 hours doesn't represent good value, even if it is an eShop game. Mutant Mudds was similarly priced and lasted me awhile longer, whereas something like Splash or Crash was £2.99 and gave me about 2 hours of game play, which was a fair trade off.

If you have the money to spend on this gem of a title then absolutely pick it up and you will have a blast for the 4 or so hours it takes to complete, but if you have to be more considered with your budget then I would recommend waiting until this title is cheaper or in an eShop sale.

Overall this game is well worth a look, and if it wasn't for the price I would urge everyone to download this title ASAP as yet another eShop must have game.