Developer: Mebius Publisher: Teyon Release: 09/13/18 Genre: Shooter
Steel Empire carved a niche for itself among the Genesis shooter library thanks to its steampunk setting. In a genre that almost prides itself on going to the space well over and over the retro future aesthetic helped the game stand out and its gameplay backed it up. It made a strong impression and was re-released on the Gameboy Advance in 2004. The creators’ soft spot for this long forgotten gem helped it receive a remake for the 3DS ten years later in 2014. This PC port increases the resolution but is otherwise the same. As a game it is still brilliant. But as a remake I expected a little more.
The story and setting of Steel Empire play an integral role in the game. The game takes place in an alternate world where the steam power is dominant and powers everything. In this Age of Steel the Motorhead Empire rules the majority of the planet with an iron fist. One small country, the Republic of Silverhead, resists their rule with their more advanced cold fusion power. With this they arm their small fleet with advanced weaponry to bring about the Motorhead Empire’s downfall.
The battle between the two empires plays out like one long war campaign. The mission briefings sell this idea perfectly as it frames each level like a crucial battle in a campaign. You are systematically disabling the Motorhead Empire little by little, retaking key cities and destroying their supply lines. Although the mission briefings are more detailed I do miss the film grain filter that gave them the look of an old film reel. In fact I miss that look in general.
Remake on top, Genesis below.
The 3DS/PC version of Steel Empire is based on the Gameboy Advance game which features a notably brighter color palette. Some of the art was redesigned and there were instances of additional parallax scrolling. In general the remake looks fantastic on its own merits. With a higher resolution comes far more detail than was previously available. You can see the intricate workings of the mechanical designs and the steampunk setting lends the game a unique aesthetic. Not every redesign is for the better in my opinion. Many of the massive bosses are simpler in comparison but as a whole they have done a good job. Many of the effects are new and the game has none of the slowdown present in the original. The soundtrack has seen a similar upgrade over the FM synth of the Genesis with better instruments and sampling.
Yet in spite of the cleaned up art and higher resolution I still prefer the look of the Sega game. Steel Empire was designed around the Genesis’ limited color palette. As such they used very specific greys, browns, and hues to evoke its war torn vibe and steampunk setting. It absolutely nails it and still looks stunning today. The new art looks good but loses that in the process. Steel Empire was more than just its setting however and the gameplay remains just as good as before.
The game places you in the controls of either the nimble Striker which excels at ground to air combat or the Z-01 Zeppelin which is slower but sturdier and the choice for air sorties. The mission briefings offer clues as to which ship is best for each level. It is still fun to use the less optimal pick. With its life bar, long levels, and durable enemies Steel Empire has more in common with European shooters like Xenon 2 or Firepower 2000. It is less punishing since you can take multiple hits and novices will level up their weapons and become better. The mix of omnidirectional scrolling with smaller enemy waves and massive battleships has been preserved with a few adjustments making an already great game more accessible.
Steel Empire was not a particularly difficult game on the Genesis. The generously long life bar as well as persistent power-up system meant the only challenging parts of the game were its early levels since your weapons are under-powered. The remake is considerably easier for a number of reasons. Enemy patterns and density are rebalanced as they are based on the GBA game. There are more life restoring hearts and you take less damage when hit. Power-ups are also far more common and you can max out your weapons by stage five. The bosses are easier as well. This only applies to the normal setting. Hard raises the stakes and beating the game unlocks difficult mode which lives up to its name. The challenge is there if you seek it.
Those looking for extras are in for disappointment. The game allows you to save between levels which is convenient but not necessary as there are only seven levels. There is a training mode that lets you practice the levels you clear with max firepower to learn there ins and outs. Lastly there is a simple achievement system that incentivizes multiple runs. You can knock out most of the achievements in a single run. But to get most of the final ones you must beat the game on the hardest setting without continuing or even finishing without leveling your weapons. That last one I just mentioned….yikes. Some of the bosses are already bullet sponges at max level but at level 1? Prepare for epic battles every time. While I wish there was new content what is here is good enough for the asking price.
In Closing
Steel Empire was a great game in 1992 and remains so today. The modern graphics and features make it one of the most accessible shooters in terms of difficulty as well. While I prefer the original this remake remains a good purchase today and a worthwhile endeavor for fans of the genre.
