Super Motherload (PSN)

Russian cosmonauts, Dig Dug, Resident Evil, and DOOM are some of the things that come to mind as I play "Super Motherload". As with those games, and subjects there's a lot of gameplay, and plot material included that seems oddly familiar. Whatever your take on this mining strategy game is though there's one thing for certain, and that is the fact that "Super Motherload" is one of the more interesting indie titles you'll experience this year. Xgen Studios, the developers behind this Dig Dug inspired strategy game will have you investing hours upon hours literally trying to get down to the bottom of things. With a chosen character, and a helicopter drilling machine you will be doing the bidding of a shady corporation as you try to strike it rich with the combination of minerals that you gather. The deeper you dig into the martian landscape that the game takes place on the closer you'll get to the bottom of it all, and in more ways than one.

The gameplay in "Super Motherload" is fairly basic. At the start menu you'll choose to play as one of several stereotypical cosmonauts who have each signed a contract with a shady corporation known as Solaris. Solaris simply asks that you keep on digging, and mining the natural resources that are found under the chosen planet's crust. In turn they'll pay you handsomely for your services, no questions asked. To aid you in this money making task you'll find that there is a tractor-like drilling rig provided by the corporation with which you can both dig, and fly back to the surface as needed. Of course the task of drilling the depths of the planet is not exactly a straightforward one though. You'll have to continually return to the surface to refuel, drop off gathered resources, and even repair your drilling apparatus from time to time, should it get damaged on the way up. As you return the goods to the surface's mining factory you will in turn earn payouts according to the types of metals, minerals, and gems that you have gathered during your excavation.

Along with the "Dig Dug" inspired gameplay mechanics comes a smeltering system which allows you to rack up more money, and create certain special material combinations by digging up one resource type with another. Like the other parts of your drilling machine (Drill, Fuel Tank, Propeller Speed, Radar ...) the smeltering capabilities can be upgraded for a price. As you upgrade the smeltering capabilities of the drilling machine more resource combinations will become available, and can in turn earn you quite the hefty reward if you are able to drill the required materials in the appropriate order. Smeltering, as it were is one of the main gameplay features that you'll utilize as you drill into the depths of Mars.

When it comes down to excavating the depths of the red planet the controls act very similar to that of "Dig Dug". By pressing down on the "Left Thumbstick" the excavator (Drilling Tractor) will descend through the red soil cutting through the dirt that is there. Once you are in you can drill left, and right using the appropriate "Left Thumbstick" directional inputs. In order to propel yourself back to the surface all you need to do is press "UP" on the "Left Thumbstick". Certain materials that you find scattered amongst the dirt, and rocks can be dug up, and collected by simply passing through them. Other more solid objects such as stone will have to be blasted using a certain type of bomb. As far as bombs go they can be purchased from the upgrade shop, or or found below the planet's surface. The only real difference between the bombs, other than their names (Dynamite, C4, T-Bomb ...) is their blast radius. Choosing the correct bomb to blast a path to hidden gems is a must if you don't wish to blast the the prized materials away as well. Once you've reached maximum storage capacity you'll need to head back up to the surface, or to a nearby mining station in order to cash in your finds. Once you do so you can get back to your excavating business.

Plot in this excavating based strategy game is a little odd in that you only get to see, and hear vague transmissions from Solaris, and other diggers who are deeper below, and higher above the surface than you are. Solaris for the most part will tell you to ignore the other distress calls, and will even pass them off as being old television signals from the past. The other miners though have their own side of the story which details a more sinister plot that's something along the lines of the infamous Umbrella Corporation's activities. It seems that Solaris's intentions are not as honest as they seem, and that your money making days might be over soon assuming you continue to brave the depths of the red planet that you find yourself on. Do you heed your fellow miner's warnings, or do you continue to do your job? That is the question that will either drive you forward, or have you propelling back to the surface like a man/woman who has just unearthed hell.

Now on to the verdict ...

While it is clear that XGen Studios opted to take inspiration from other gaming sources this indie strategy hybrid does something entirely new. By forcing the gamer to keep on top of things such as fuel, upgrades, and supplies the gameplay offered becomes a more involved, and challenging task. Even the smeltering combo system offers something engaging that will reward you handsomely for your efforts in trying to play it as it was meant to be played. As far as graphics, and sound quality go you'll find that the game looks impressive yet simple, and sounds amazing with it's eerily ambient soundtrack. It's the sort of relaxed yet engaging experience that will have the gamers investing hours into their playthrough before they even realized that they did. In fact the other day I got so lost in the digging aspect of "Super Motherload" that I ended up spending over two hours playing it in one sitting. It is truly an engaging experience.

For those of you looking for a well thought out, and relayed plot you won't find anything too impressive here. The static transmissions will only give you hints of what's going on at certain depths. As such the scarceness of these plot moving transmissions end up seeming more like repetitive warnings about Solaris's behind-the-scenes business than anything. It isn't until you actually reach the point where the plot meets reality that the !@#$% really hits the fan, and your current situation becomes a more dire one. At least the gameplay will keep you busy up to that point though.

Collectively my impressions of this game have swayed my opinion more to the point of a recommendation. I think $14.99 may be a little steep when it comes to an asking price though, but considering the quality the game is still a good value. If you want to wait it out for a price drop, or perhaps a PS+ deal then that might be your best bet. If you have the cash to spare though, and don't mind ponying up the dough then I'd say go for it at it's current cost. The game offers a bit of nostalgia that you don't see often. Fans of "Dig Dug", and strategy/RTS games will more than likely have fun with "Super Motherload". It offers simple, and engaging gameplay with much needed nostalgic nods.