Operation STEEL

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Operation STEEL is a tactical first-person shooter that takes place in an alternate 1980s universe. Players can choose to be part of the Western Alliance or the Soviet Bloc, each with unique weapons and equipment. The game features objective-based multiplayer modes, where teamwork and strategy are essential to secure victory. Objectives vary from capturing bases to planting bombs, providing a variety of gameplay experiences.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 98 reviews

music16 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

Operation STEEL combines roguelike elements with traditional shmup gameplay, offering a unique and engaging experience with a variety of weapons and bosses.
The game features tight controls, fair bullet patterns, and a well-paced difficulty curve, making it accessible for both newcomers and experienced players.
Visually appealing with hand-drawn art and a catchy soundtrack, the game provides a satisfying and addictive gameplay loop that encourages replayability.

Some players find the aesthetics bland and reminiscent of older Flash games, lacking the visual flair of more polished titles.
The randomization of weapon drops can lead to frustrating runs where players feel stuck with ineffective loadouts, impacting overall enjoyment.
The game can be punishing for casual players, with some levels and bosses presenting a steep challenge that may deter those looking for a more relaxed experience.

music
40 mentions
40 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for being catchy, enjoyable, and well-suited to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience without becoming annoying. Many players highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with some even purchasing the OST for personal enjoyment. The combination of great music and stunning graphics contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a memorable experience for players.
- “Great shoot'em up with interesting procedural levels, great soundtrack, and very nice graphics.”
- “The graphics are simply stunning, the music bangs, and those two alone keep you playing wanting more.”
- “I had to pause to turn up the music my first run in the demo and am often killed because I'm too busy enjoying the BGM!”
- “Sound and music are okay.”
- “And the music?”
- “It's not Mega Man X, but unless God himself comes down to make another video game soundtrack, this is one of the closest things we can get.”
graphics
30 mentions
40 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the elegant and niche art style, while others find it somewhat bland or reminiscent of well-made flash games. Despite some critiques regarding repetitive backgrounds, the visuals are generally described as stunning and colorful, contributing positively to the overall experience. The combination of appealing graphics and a strong soundtrack enhances the game's atmosphere, making it enjoyable for players.
- “The graphics are simply stunning, the music bangs and those two alone keep you playing wanting more.”
- “The visuals and music are also pleasing to the eyes and ears.”
- “Difficulty feels just right (1cc'd normal mode in about 6 hours as a mediocre shmup player, but there's a hard mode for the experts) and the colourful visuals are a treat.”
- “The graphics remind me of well-made flash games.”
- “My only real critique of Operation Steel is that the aesthetics, while highly competent, are a bit bland.”
- “The only thing I don't like (other than the general art style, which is a personal preference) is that the backgrounds just loop over and over and aren't very interesting, but copious use of parallax makes it 'good enough.'”
gameplay
28 mentions
50 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its tight controls, engaging difficulty curve, and seamless integration of roguelike elements, which enhance the experience without feeling intrusive. Players appreciate the variety in boss mechanics, ship upgrades, and the unique coin-sucking mechanic that adds strategic depth. Overall, the game offers a solid and enjoyable experience, though some feel it lacks long-term replayability.
- “Also has roguelike elements (mostly determining what bosses you'll face and power-ups you'll find) that are incorporated seamlessly and don't feel intrusive to the overall gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is top notch, the difficulty curve is very fair and engaging, and the level design is fantastic.”
- “Tight gameplay, awesome weapons, and powerful perks.”
- “It just doesn't feel like there's enough meat on the bone of gameplay for me to keep coming back for that.”
- “As for the gameplay itself?”
- “It's a 7.5 gameplay wise.”
replayability
18 mentions
33 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its multiple branching paths, weapon upgrades, and the unlocking of new ships, which encourage players to explore different strategies and routes. Each playthrough introduces unique bosses and randomized encounters, enhancing the overall experience and making it addictive. Players appreciate the variety and challenge presented in each session, contributing to a strong replay value.
- “There are multiple branching level paths to choose from here, which adds a lot of replay value.”
- “This game has an addictive and highly replayable Darius-like loop of choosing your path at the end of each level and trying to find the best paths to take to net you the highest score.”
- “Operation Steel manages to squeeze a surprising amount of replayability out of its weapon variety and randomized encounters.”
- “Each playthrough (even those cut short by a game over) brings you closer to unlocking new ships and weapons, adding even more variety to an already replayable game!”
- “Having different routes really gives it some replay value, and I was happy to see so many unique bosses on each playthrough.”
optimization
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its smooth controls and performance, particularly when using an Xbox controller. Additionally, the shop mechanic is designed to be run-specific, allowing players to earn credits based on their performance without the need for grinding upgrades, which is seen as a positive aspect.
- “The shop mechanic is scoped to a run and the credits you earn are based on player performance - so there is no grinding up upgrades in this, which is good.”
- “💻 Smooth controls and performance (played on Xbox controller as recommended).”
story
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with indie games that focus heavily on the developers' personal stories rather than delivering engaging gameplay. Many prefer a straightforward experience centered on action rather than narrative depth.
- “One thing I absolutely cannot stand about a lot of indie games is when the developer gives some sob story about the creation of their game.”
- “I’m not interested in the story; I came to shoot things and dodge bullets.”
grinding
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game eliminates the need for grinding by tying upgrades directly to performance within each run, allowing for a more streamlined and engaging experience without repetitive tasks.
- “The shop mechanic is scoped to a run, and the credits you earn are based on player performance, so there is no grinding for upgrades in this, which is good.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartfelt messages and an overall sense of positivity, creating a warm and uplifting experience for players.
- “Just a nice, little heartfelt message with a sprinkle of positivity on it.”