Heroes of Steel RPG
- April 23, 2014
- Trese Brothers
- 30h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple StoreHeroes of Steel RPG is a turn-based tactical game with strategic combat and role-playing elements. Lead a group of four heroes through a dark and desperate world, making decisions that affect the story and building party members' skills and abilities. Explore dungeons, cities, and the wilderness, battling enemies and completing quests in this challenging and immersive adventure.
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Reviews
- Engaging story with well-written dialogues and character interactions.
- Deep tactical combat system that allows for various character builds and strategies.
- Frequent updates and responsive developers who actively engage with the community.
- Clunky user interface that can hinder gameplay and navigation.
- Repetitive combat encounters that can become tedious over time.
- Graphics and sound design feel dated and may not appeal to all players.
- story152 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "Heroes of Steel" is generally well-received, with many players finding it engaging and rich in character development, despite some noting it follows familiar fantasy tropes. While the narrative is compelling and features meaningful choices, it can be overshadowed by lengthy combat sequences that may disrupt pacing. Overall, the game offers a satisfying blend of story and tactical gameplay, appealing to fans of classic RPGs.
“The story is surprisingly good - there aren't many dialogue choices or complex interactions, it's just an enjoyable narrative between your characters (and those you meet) to flesh the world out a bit.”
“The real strength of Heroes of Steel is its story, which is amazing, quite funny in places in a low-key way, sometimes surprisingly affecting in others, and with actual character arcs.”
“The story is excellent, though skippable if that's not your thing.”
“The story is really well told; the problem is you have to go through countless laborious battles to find out what happens next.”
“You have pretty much no freedom in where to go; there is no open world for you to explore, there are no storyline options for you, just go through the motions with a mediocre story and no freedom.”
“Around an hour into the game, battles began to be nothing more than an annoying nuisance preventing me from exploring the areas and advancing the story.”
- gameplay52 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by turn-based squad tactics that can be both addictive and challenging, particularly on higher difficulties. While some players appreciate the depth and mechanics, others criticize the game's randomness, grindiness, and interface issues, which can lead to frustration. Overall, the experience is enhanced by a strong story and ongoing developer support, but it may not appeal to everyone, especially those seeking polished mechanics and a smoother gameplay experience.
“The evolution of character abilities is incredible; the gameplay is addictive.”
“Battles are hard, but not broken - the player is gradually introduced to tactics and gameplay is smooth.”
“The gameplay revolves around turn-by-turn tactical combat at the squad level, based on a square grid.”
“I just can't recommend this to the target audience (fans of the gold box series or Shining Force) due to the randomness, the pace, and the seemingly intentional time-wasting mechanics implemented into the game.”
“Since 2014, people have been complaining about repetitive battles, tedious UI, and the grindy gameplay.”
“This game really needs several rounds of polish - not just of the UI (which is extremely rough) but also of the tactical gameplay on which the game rests its name.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered simple and somewhat dated, reflecting its indie origins, with hand-drawn aesthetics that appeal to a niche audience. While some players find the visuals charming and fitting for the gameplay, others criticize them as mediocre or unattractive, noting that they do not detract significantly from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are functional and serve the game's atmosphere, but they may not satisfy those seeking modern visual standards.
“Graphically, I have fallen in love with the pastel look of the game.”
“The art style even looks like the original monster manual—hand drawn, folksy—which is good.”
“For this genre, the visuals are just perfect.”
“Bad graphics and awkward interface.”
“Ugly graphics, a bizarre interface, and boring combat.”
“Dated graphics.”
- music25 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and basic, often opting to turn it off or replace it with their own background tracks. While some appreciate the atmospheric quality of the soundtrack and its fit with the game's theme, others criticize the limited variety and short loops, particularly during combat. Overall, the music is seen as a weak point, but it does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“The soundtrack doesn't consist of many tracks, but is atmospheric and fits the theme of the game perfectly.”
“Its quite a scary moment whenever your party is all of a sudden thrust into combat with dramatic music playing and a sense of life and death as they were discovered sneaking about in stealth mode picking locks and or exploring an area.”
“Music is fantastic and me being a lover of 1970s and 80s b-movie I was in music nirvana as I felt that world to explore and discover rush from movie warriors of old such as Ator the Iron Warrior, Death Stalker and Conan the Barbarian.”
“The music does get repetitive after a while, so I suggest putting your own choice of creepy music on in the background instead - I usually go for Cryo Chamber, Altrusian Grace Media, or Atrium Carceri.”
“I can't listen to an 8-second loop of the same battle tune non-stop for 8 hours!”
“The art is weak, the music is monotonous, and the gameplay has nothing new.”
- grinding20 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and repetitive, with many noting the lack of enemy respawns and the necessity of frequent backtracking to campsites after battles. The combat is often criticized for being unengaging and overly reliant on repetitive mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from overall enjoyment. Despite some redeeming qualities, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding nature of the gameplay makes it feel laborious and unfulfilling.
“The enemies don't respawn, so don't think about grinding.”
“Great, another tedious long battle for 30 XP; now you just need to do another 20 battles like that and you might get another level.”
“And I give up, this game is no fun any longer, and everything that made it tolerable (it was never truly great) evaporated long ago in the sea of grinding, boring battles where you face pretty much the same group of enemies over and over and over again.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting the ability to mix and match characters, try different difficulty modes, and explore various story segments. Many reviews note that the tight design and extensive content contribute to a high replay value, making it enjoyable for multiple playthroughs. Overall, the game offers endless opportunities for varied experiences, ensuring players can return for new challenges.
“Tons of replayability, tons of content.”
“The replay value with Heroes of Steel RPG is endless with the ability to create new parties different from the one you had in your previous group and seeing how they fare against the rules and mechanics of the game world.”
“The choice of characters to play also gives this game lots of replay value.”
“Replay value is high due to the ability to mix and match characters.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its complexity and variety, particularly in the medium difficulty settings, making it appealing for casual RPG players seeking a rich narrative. However, some users noted a decline in interest and depth across subsequent episodes, suggesting inconsistency in the development experience. Overall, it offers a solid foundation for team-building and storytelling akin to classic RPGs like Baldur's Gate.
“Character development is complex and has a healthy variety of synergy, with many options on the medium difficulties.”
“All in all, I strongly recommend this to anyone wanting a relatively casual fantasy RPG with a fantastic story and good, flexible character development.”
“Similar to Baldur's Gate, build and lead your team of 4 through a story-driven tale, with combat, big dungeons, towns, side missions, and character development.”
“Character development also was okay for the first episode, but grew stale in episode 2 and became completely uninteresting in episode 3.”
“Character development lacks depth and fails to engage the player as the story progresses.”
“The character development feels rushed and superficial, leaving little room for meaningful growth.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive quality, reminiscent of classic titles, and is enhanced by a fitting soundtrack that complements the theme. Players appreciate the engaging gameplay mechanics, where even simple choices lead to meaningful character interactions, contributing to a rich overall experience. Graphics take a backseat to the well-crafted atmosphere, which is central to the game's appeal.
“The soundtrack doesn't consist of many tracks, but is atmospheric and fits the theme of the game perfectly.”
“In an atmosphere like this, even picking a path is great, especially as taking the dangerous one also triggers nice dialogues between your characters.”
“As a gamer, that's how I like my games; graphics are secondary if the gameplay and atmosphere are well put.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that would draw players in.”
“I found the atmosphere to be dull and lifeless, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“Despite the potential, the atmosphere fails to create any sense of immersion or excitement.”
- stability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game runs well on systems like the iMac with Big Sur, though some users report minor bugs and a lack of clarity in explanations. While not entirely bug-free, the developers' responsiveness to issues and willingness to improve stability is appreciated by players.
“Runs great on my iMac with Big Sur.”
“Virtually no game is completely bug-free upon release, and willingness to tweak display and fix minor issues is a mark of developers who care about the quality of their work.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
“There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Heroes of Steel" is characterized by its low-key, subtle wit that complements the engaging story and character arcs, providing moments of genuine amusement and emotional impact. Players appreciate the blend of humor with the game's narrative depth, typical of many indie RPGs.
“The real strength of Heroes of Steel is its story, which is amazing, quite funny in places in a low-key way, sometimes surprisingly affecting in others, and with actual character arcs.”
“I don't demand mind-blowing graphics, but this is just something that I've always found kind of funny with a lot of indie RPGs.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the optimization system, noting that even when maximizing relevant stats, they struggle to achieve desired combat effectiveness. However, they appreciate recent performance and UI improvements, which enhance the overall experience and storytelling elements of the game.
“Recent performance and UI improvements, along with further strengthening of the story and storyline interactions, are simply delicious icing on this game.”
“You won't know why you don't hit the enemy even when you think you optimized your character by maximizing the supposedly relevant stats (weapon skill + strength, for example).”
“You won't know why you don't hit enemies even when you think you optimized your character by maximizing the supposedly relevant stats (weapon skill + strength, for example).”
“The optimization in this game feels incomplete, as many players struggle to see the effects of their stat choices.”
“Despite trying various builds, the lack of clear feedback on optimization leaves players frustrated and confused.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's monetization approach is praised for avoiding excessive micro-transactions, which is seen as a refreshing change in an industry often dominated by cash-grab tactics.
“I'm sure they have enough knowledge to turn any of their games into a microtransaction-riddled mobile cash grab, but they don't, which is refreshing.”
