Core Keeper (opens in new tab), the early entry survival sandbox, simply added an entire bunch of sand. The Desert of Beginnings replace is its largest but, including a brand new desert biome, a magma-themed sub-biome, plenty of new craftable gear, two bosses, and greatest but, a enjoyable new solution to get round on this planet.
Oh, and there is a new bazooka, and this one does not shoot grubs. It shoots, like, precise explosives. That is an enormous plus.
One thing I’ve at all times been impressed with is how Core Keeper, which takes place completely underground, nonetheless principally manages to keep away from feeling claustrophobic. I spend loads of time digging slim passages via rock and clay partitions, typically discovering horrible wriggly creatures buried deep within the darkness, however there are additionally plenty of huge open areas that really feel they might simply as simply be outside with nothing however blue sky above. Particularly after I’m protected at my dwelling 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 relatively than trapped deep beneath the earth’s crust.
I acquired to play a construct of the brand new replace this week, and I am blissful to say The Desert of Beginnings continues that development. Elements of the desert are so huge and huge 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 via. I did not have a lot time to admire my environment, although—even decked out in some sturdy new Galaxite armor I kinda acquired my ass kicked. The desert is dwelling to some huge flying bugs and regardless of the desert model of cavelings are referred to as. They’re quick, they assault from vary, they usually pack a surprisingly huge wallop.
Fortunately there are new weapons to battle again with, my favourite being the Galaxite chakram, a steel hoop I can fling like a lethal frisbee virtually 3 times per second. There’s additionally the bazooka I discussed, referred to as a Burnzooka, that blows up enemies, rocks, partitions, and absolutely anything it hits. And you’ll construct stationary defenses, like Galaxite turrets, which is able to fireplace vitality bolts at enemies supplied you’ve got hooked them as much as a supply of electrical energy. Sadly they solely fireplace in a single route, 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 this planet (which is how I used them).
Better of all, the replace has a enjoyable new solution to get round. I’ve already acquired minecart tracks operating 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 journey a worm, although) as a result of gamers can construct a brand new workbench to assemble go-karts. I had a little bit test-drive of two of them, they usually’re fairly superior to get round om. One, the Speeder, is hot-rod pink and has a better high pace than the others, with the disadvantage being it does not speed up as shortly. The opposite, referred to 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 may as well simply drive over stuff like crops and harvest their assets with out having to cease, although I used to be a little bit disenchanted that I could not appear to ram into monsters and kill them. You can also’t bounce out whereas the automotive is shifting, so hold that in thoughts whilst you’re spinning donuts within the desert and a mob begins charging you.
I will not say a lot concerning the replace’s two new bosses, apart from I met each of them and I died moments later, earlier than I would 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 just a few occasions now, and this boss belongs to the identical household, although with just a few new methods up its sleeve.
The opposite boss, the huge boss, I barely even acquired a take a look at earlier than I perished with a yelp and left a tiny glowing headstone. You possibly can catch a glimpse of it about halfway via the launch trailer above, and I held out perhaps two seconds longer than that clip. Fortunately, like a few of Core Keeper’s harder bosses, it needs to be summoned in a really particular method so you will not simply blunder into it. I would counsel, if potential, bringing some pals alongside that will help you kill it. As many as you may.
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.
