Review: UnderMine (Switch)

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch (Reviewed), PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Developer:  Thorium
• Publisher: Thorium
• Release Date: February 11th, 2021 (Switch Version)

Ever since the inception of Nintendo Switch, the Roguelike genre has absolutely thrived on the hybrid console. The pickup-and-play nature of the Switch coupled with the short-run structure of a Roguelike is a perfect marriage, and one that could only get stronger when you take inspiration from one of Nintendo’s most storied franchises. That’s exactly what Thorium’s UnderMine does, taking heavy inspiration from the classic Legend of Zelda formula and mixing in enough of their own twists and mechanics to give it a feel of its own.

In UnderMine you take on the role of an infinite army of mining peasants who are sent on a mission to investigate a mine that is plagued by tremors and earthquakes. One by one the miners march to their doom as you explore, descend, and die (a lot), with the next man up ready and willing to fill their deceased predecessor’s shoes and carry on the adventure.

As soon as you dive down the mine shaft for your first run in UnderMine, you’ll instantly feel the influences from classic Legend of Zelda titles like A Link to the Past. To get an idea of what the level design of the game is like, think traditional Zelda dungeons, but without the puzzle-solving. The randomized mine floors are laid out as a grid of rooms, most of which will have the door slam shut behind you until you clear out the enemies that await to ambush you. You’ll also spend a lot of time scouring for keys and bombs to unlock rooms with special loot or blow up the wall to reveal a secret passageway. Even some of the boss designs and mechanics are a clear tip of the cap to some of Link’s most memorable foes.

The combat of UnderMine is pretty straightforward and simplistic, with your primary weapon being a pickaxe which you can both swing and throw like a boomerang. Bombs are a secondary weapon that are used in both combat and exploration which can be found scattered, sometimes sparsely, through the mine. The lack of variety in the choice of weaponry definitely hurts the combat system overall, but the relics you find with random buffs and effects throughout your runs alleviate the issue for the most part. There are plenty of purchasable upgrades for your pickaxe, bombs, and miner, which are bought using the gold ore collected during each run, so you’ll always feel like you’re progressing and getting stronger the more you play.

The main gripe to be had with combat and character control is the lack of a dodge roll or dash to really give you that extra fighting chance, especially in some of the more hectic rooms you’ll come across when the RNG gods are feeling unforgiving. There is a jump mechanic which can be useful for dodging attacks, however it doesn’t quite give you the same maneuverability and control that a roll would.

The Switch is no stranger to games with pixel art visuals, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a game that looks as good as UnderMine. Everything from the character and enemy designs to the shadows and lighting all look very pleasing to the eye. The soundtrack is also very good, with some nice ambient tracks that blend right into the gameplay and visuals without sounding overpowering.

The key to any Roguelike is walking that fine line and balancing the difficulty with luck. You don’t want the game to be a cakewalk, but at the same time you don’t want to spend hours spinning your tires and feeling like you’re not making any progress. UnderMine balances this pretty well, however you’ll have to avoid using shortcuts in order to really make the most out of your runs. Once you’ve taken down a boss you’ll have the option to bypass the levels leading up to it and continue on to the new area you’ve unlocked, but you’ll miss out on collecting keys, bombs, relics, and the precious gold you’ll need to buy upgrades. Taking the long route and replaying levels you’ve already cleared becomes almost a necessity, especially when the upgrade costs get into the thousands. Because of this, UnderMine can be a bit of a slow burn, but the upgrades you’ll purchase that will help push you to the next level will make that next boss encounter that much easier.

In the sea of pixel art dungeon crawling roguelikes UnderMine is easily one of the most recommendable. The combat is sorely missing a dodge roll and the progression may be a bit too much of a slow burn for some players, but the addictive “just one more run” quality that a roguelike needs in order to have any staying power is definitely there with UnderMine. Whether you’re looking for something to pick up and play on the go or something to sink dozens of hours into, UnderMine’s excellent pixel art, engaging exploration, and bevy of secrets will keep you coming back for more.

A Nintendo Switch review code for UnderMine was provided by Thorium