The Swindle

[Hendo]

This is out on pretty much everything right now, bar the 360 I think.

It's a bit of a Rogue-like (or lite) 2D platformer so a bit like Spelunky. But also stealthy so a bit like Mark of the Ninja.

You have 100 days to build up your abilities to pull off the final heist. Each heist makes a day tick down, each time you die another burglar takes their place and also takes a day off. When that burglar does, the abilities and money banked remains but money collected in the run gone wrong will get lost.

It's good fun so far (I've got about 20 or 30 days in) but I've had some horrendous runs where I've fucked up badly about 10 times in a row so will probably start from scratch a few times before I see the 100th day.

I was struggling at first until I watched this video with the developer:

What I learned is that the basic hacking is the first thing you can afford, and you should buy that rather than try and save up for other things first.

The money needed for most upgrades is obscene at first but you start off only able to rob from poor people and so the money you get out will be low to begin with. But on the other hand, security in the poor areas is quite basic so it's easier to rinse them out. Until the game recognises you're doing well and starts throwing more stuff your way, like mines, tougher enemies, etc.

The best thing I learnt for myself when I was playing yesterday was to shut the doors rather than leave them open, so you can control where the enemies will go better.

The art style is pretty great and the procedurally generated Victorian style names are superb.

[Craymen Edge]

I'm finding it hard at the moment, but it's really good. I was getting frustrated last session at dying repeatedly and losing thousands of pounds each time. But it was always down to me rushing in and playing stupidly.

I restarted a couple of time from the beginning after about 20 days, to apply what I'd learned from the start.

I'm at at a level where levels in the slums are pretty easy once I've got double jump (I got through to the next district with the starting guy this time), I need to stop dying on the next area so I can save enough money to move on from the Warehouse District. I'm not going to reach the last stage in the 100 days this time round.

[Hendo]

I got to the 100th day and it was game over.

I've restarted quite a few times now.

My last (or current, but I'm not sure whether I'll see it through) run I've got the furthest. Fast hacking, double jump, bombs, can hack security, more cash out of computers and got as far as the third level.

Still, most of the upgrades seem far too out of reach, especially adding in the cost of buying the levels.

I'd say you need to be out of the slums as soon as possible - maybe day 95 or so?

[Craymen Edge]

Yeah, I think so. The money you get in the slums is tiny compared to the next level. I got to the third district on the last run, but it was a bit too tough so I had to go back.

I've noticed that staying alive and completing multiple days with the same thief gives you a multiplier on the amount of cash you grab. I haven't worked out how the aptitude bonus is decided.

Did you notice Big Ben chimes the hour in real time? That's quite a nice little touch.

[Hendo]

I noticed Big Ben chime and I remember hearing something about it but never but it together that it was chiming in real time, that's pretty cool.

[Hendo]

I never thought I'd get good advice from Dan Rykert but the bug is the way to go. I'm making an obscene amount of money.

http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/quick-look-the-swindle/2300-10551/

[Craymen Edge]

I should go for that earlier next time, I kept passing it over for other seemingly more immediately useful upgrades, especially since it seems so expensive early in the game.

The money it brings in, its probably worth not buying anything for the 6+ successful heists it'll take and saving the cash. Of course, when those 6+ successful heists take 12-14 days in game due to fuck-ups, the pressure to upgrade something it pretty hard to resist.

The upgrade that lets you burst through doors and windows has probably caused me more deaths through irresponsible use, but it's too fun not to do it. It is quite handy for breaking into rooms from the outside when there's a guard next to the window.

[Hendo]

Put it this way, I got to day 50 and had all the upgrades, plus made a stab at the last level.

[Craymen Edge]

There was a patch today that lowered the cost of a couple of entry level upgrades, and greys out ones you can't afford on the upgrade screen. Both are very welcome updates.

[Hendo]

Doesn't look like that patch has come to PS4, unless it installed without me realising it, but I haven't noticed any price drops.

[Craymen Edge]

Done it!

It's been tough, there's been a lot of swearing, but I've really enjoyed the game. Just loading it and heading into a random house and playing around with my abilities is a lot of fun.

By the end there, I was finding the final swindle easier than the regular heists on the previous level. The previous attempt I disabled all the security stations, then died due to a stupid mistake (fall damage) just before picking up the Devil's Basilisk. I was gutted.

I may give it another go to do it within the 100 days (i.e. without using the hackstation to buy more time), but not yet.

[Craymen Edge]

I believe the PS4 version had been updated to be in line with the PC one.

That includes the patch from August that lowered the cost of some early-game upgrades, and greys out upgrades you can't afford.

It should also include other PC patches:

-Cash in computers doesn't count towards percentage complete in a heist if you don't have hacking yet.

-There should now be enough cash available in the first house to afford the first upgrade.

Walking towards a ledge while holding down the sneak button will automatically transition to a wall grab.