When comparing SteamWorld Dig vs Mark of the Old Ones, the Slant community recommends SteamWorld Dig for most people. In the question“What are the best metroidvania-style platformers on Linux with great art style?” SteamWorld Dig is ranked 4th while Mark of the Old Ones is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose SteamWorld Dig is:
As you dig deeper, you receive new items that make progressing increasingly more fun, until you hit the end.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Fun, steady progression
As you dig deeper, you receive new items that make progressing increasingly more fun, until you hit the end.
Pro Lovely art style
Pro World is permanently altered as you play through it
To navigate through the world of SteamWorld Dig, you need to dig through the earth, shaping out the tunnels and paths you need to pass through, requiring you to think twice about how to dig so you can get through the tunnel efficiently, and escape when you need to before you run out of power.
Pro Unlimited replayability with a procedurally generated world
Through the use of random generation the game is able to create a different experience not only for each person that plays it but for each time one restarts the game. Which lends to a bunch of replayability.
Pro Unique, inverse kinematics-based control scheme that allows rarely seen freedom of control
By utilizing an inverse kinematics-based control scheme there is zero need for pre rendered animations for the character. It is animated real time.
Pro Immersive, HP Lovecraft-inspired aesthetic
Mark of the Old Ones has a HP Lovecraft inspired aesthetics and graphics with the protagonist being a tendril laden creature who traverse landscapes that look fitting for any lovecraftian themed title.
Pro Free of restrictive DRM
Without having DRM loaded into the game users can not only play the game without an internet connection but also play it on as many of their compatible devices as they like. On top of this it can also be shared with friends, just as one would have back before DRM existed.
Cons
Con Nice digger, but not really metroidvania
It has stuff to unlock - but you buy most of those options, unlike a metroidvania game.
Also, down is always correct, unlike metroidvania.
Con Beginning of the game is somewhat tedious
Until a few upgrades are acquired and teleporters placed around the map for faster travel, it requires a bit of monotonous mining.
Con Boring
Con Combat mechanics are basic
Combat consists of hitting an enemy with ones pick or drill, which is time consuming and not really satisfying. It is much easier to just go around opponents, even if it takes more time.
Con Limited architecture support
Mark of the Old Ones has no plans to create or support a 32bit version of the game which will limited people who are still using older 32bit systems.