Rock and Stone!! A Look at Deep Rock Galactic

“Congratulations, [NEW DWARVEN EMPLOYEE]! By signing up with DEEP ROCK GALACTIC, you have just taken your first step towards becoming an essential gear in the machine of the MOST TENACIOUS space mining corporation in the known galaxy!”

There are a lot of co-op games out there. More than any single person or group of persons could ever hope to play. And so because of this games need to distinguish themselves to draw in players. It’s an endless struggle between studios to release content that can attract an avid player base and keep it for an extended period of time. And with that kind of battleground, having a unique and intriguing idea can make all the difference between success and failure.

Deep Rock Galactic is one such success. I recently stumbled across the game as a result of a friends recommendation, and I fell in love almost immediately. Deep Rock Galactic is a procedurally generated first person co-op shooter for up to 4 players. In Deep Rock Galactic it, you play as dwarven space miners working for the mining company Deep Rock Galactic, sent on missions to gather ores and precious materials from deep below the surface of the planed Hoxas IV. However, things are never so easy, as the planet is home to a variety of subterranean flora and fauna, and many of them pose a great threat to those who step foot beneath the surface. It’s up to the players to both accomplish their objectives given my the companies management, and staving off the swarms of alien hordes. This is both engaging and difficult, but equally enjoyable

The game stands out in not only gameplay, but also in terms of style and atmosphere. For lack of a better term, the game looks a bit chunky. But this is no insult, and is deliberate and only in the art style (graphically, the game looks great). The games art style utilizes a lot of large, bulky shapes in the design of a lot of aspects, which perfectly mimics and accentuates the people you play as: Dwarves, the stout and sturdy folk who are seen through ought fantasy and the occasional sci-fi. As for atmosphere, the game balances the serious with the whimsical. Before missions the game can take on a light hearted tone, with players getting to explore and mess around in the orbital space station that they call home, doing such enjoyable activities as heavy drinking, dancing to jukebox tunes, throwing barrels into important station machinery, turning off the gravity, and so on. But once a mission starts and players move down to the surface, its all business. The atmosphere shifts to a silent, almost eerie feeling, as players navigate in the near pitch darkness of underground caverns with only dim headlights and short lived flares to light their way. Only when swarms of enemies descend upon the players does this tone shift, in this case becoming tense and action packed, assisted by the absolutely killer musical score, featuring heavy synth and fantastic beats. The music elevates combat to the next level, and really makes you feel like giving your all in each encounter.

To get into to the nitty gritty of the game, a good place to start is how to play the game. As previously stated, this is a co-op game, and to help distinguish players within the game missions there are a few different classes to choose from, four to be exact. The classes are Scout, Gunner, Driller and Engineer. These classes all behave slightly differently and each serves a different role, but  when combined form a solidly coordinated team. The Gunner is the simplest to explain; it is designed to mow through hordes of enemies with ease, taking the heat off of others players as they finish the mission. The Driller is the best choice for getting through solid rock and clearing obstacles, as they come equipped with twin titanium power drills that make short work of anything within range. The Scout is the most mobile of the classes, and works best be utilizing their grappling hook to zip through the cave systems and reach high up areas, directing team mates to objectives. Last but certainly not least there is the Engineer, who serves as the support unit of the team. They have access to deadly sentry guns that can be placed in advantageous positions, allowing for better defensive capabilities when staving off hordes of aliens.

Deep Rock Galactic is a very special game. It manages to carve out its own niche within the co-op scene, and has received raging reviews ever since it was released in 2020. The game also sees continual updates from the development team, adding more content to the game with each update. The most recent update has added rival factions to the system, giving players dangerous competition in the deep deep dark. It’s an exiting ride from start to  finish, I can guarantee I’ll be sticking around until the end. As the dwarves are always happy to shout: Rock and Stone!

“DEEP ROCK GALACTIC will succeed. DEEP ROCK GALACTIC is not in the business of failing. MANAGEMENT BIDS YOU WELCOME, NEW MINER. WELCOME ABOARD.”