Core Keeper (opens in new tab), the early entry survival sandbox, simply added a complete bunch of sand. The Desert of Beginnings replace is its greatest but, including a brand new desert biome, a magma-themed sub-biome, a number of new craftable gear, two bosses, and greatest but, a enjoyable new method to get round on the planet.
Oh, and there is a new bazooka, and this one would not shoot grubs. It shoots, like, precise explosives. That is a giant plus.
One thing I’ve all the time been impressed with is how Core Keeper, which takes place fully underground, nonetheless largely manages to keep away from feeling claustrophobic. I spend loads of time digging slim passages by means of rock and clay partitions, typically discovering horrible wriggly creatures buried deep within the darkness, however there are additionally a number of vast open areas that really feel they might simply as simply be outdoor with nothing however blue sky above. Particularly after I’m secure at my house base, with a crop of chunky greens rising close by and heat torchlight illuminating the cave, I really feel like I is likely to be in Stardew Valley reasonably than trapped deep beneath the earth’s crust.
I received to play a construct of the brand new replace this week, and I am joyful to say The Desert of Beginnings continues that development. Components of the desert are so huge and vast and well-lit that I do not really feel like I am underground in any respect, although there are nonetheless loads of rocky partitions and pockets of caverns that must be tunneled by means of. I did not have a lot time to admire my environment, although—even decked out in some sturdy new Galaxite armor I kinda received my ass kicked. The desert is house to some huge flying bugs and regardless of the desert model of cavelings are known as. They’re quick, they assault from vary, and so they pack a surprisingly huge wallop.
Fortunately there are new weapons to combat again with, my favourite being the Galaxite chakram, a metallic hoop I can fling like a lethal frisbee nearly thrice per second. There’s additionally the bazooka I discussed, known as a Burnzooka, that blows up enemies, rocks, partitions, and absolutely anything it hits. And you’ll construct stationary defenses, like Galaxite turrets, which can hearth power bolts at enemies supplied you have hooked them as much as a supply of electrical energy. Sadly they solely hearth in a single path, and take a second to register a goal has handed in entrance of them, so I believe they is likely to be greatest used as a part of a defensive construction at a base and never simply plopped down at random on the planet (which is how I used them).
Better of all, the replace has a enjoyable new method to get round. I’ve already received minecart tracks working all all through my world, able to fast journeys from my base to the outer reaches of the map, and the Sunken Sea replace added craftable boats to navigate the underground oceans. After I heard the desert replace would have new transportation choices, my uninformed guesses had been (on this order): Dune buggy? Sand sailboat? Worm-riding?
I used to be closest with my first guess (I nonetheless sorta need to experience a worm, although) as a result of gamers can construct a brand new workbench to assemble go-karts. I had a bit of test-drive of two of them, and so they’re fairly superior to get round om. One, the Speeder, is hot-rod pink and has the next high pace than the others, with the downside being it would not speed up as rapidly. The opposite, known as the Renegade, has higher dealing with and acceleration however a decrease high pace. They’re each an enormous quantity of enjoyable to drive, and actual hoot for avoiding or teasing your enemies.
You too can simply drive over stuff like vegetation and harvest their sources with out having to cease, although I used to be a bit of disenchanted that I could not appear to ram into monsters and kill them. You can also’t leap out whereas the automobile is shifting, so preserve that in thoughts when you’re spinning donuts within the desert and a mob begins charging you.
I will not say a lot in regards to the replace’s two new bosses, aside from I met each of them and I died moments later, earlier than I might even begun chipping away at their huge HP bars. One of many new bosses will not be a lot of a shock to veteran gamers—let’s simply say there is a specific Core Keeper boss archetype that has appeared a number of instances now, and this boss belongs to the identical household, although with a number of new methods up its sleeve.
The opposite boss, the huge boss, I barely even received a have a look at earlier than I perished with a yelp and left a tiny glowing headstone. You’ll be able to catch a glimpse of it about halfway by means of the launch trailer above, and I held out possibly two seconds longer than that clip. Fortunately, like a few of Core Keeper’s more durable bosses, it must be summoned in a really particular approach so you will not simply blunder into it. I might counsel, if potential, bringing some buddies alongside that will help you kill it. As many as you’ll be able to.
Core Keeper’s Desert of Beginnings replace is free, and if I’ve timed this story proper, it may be downloaded proper now on Steam (opens in new tab). Benefit from the warmth.