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Steel Assault

In many ways, Steel Assault is the best current example of a true arcade-style experience I’ve played. It’s full of action, style and is challenging enough for fans old and new. It even made me fondly recall games like Contra Hard Corps and Blazing Chrome. My biggest quibble with the game is that it’s shockingly short, which makes the price tag a bit hard to justify. That said, any fan of arcade games and the 16-bit era owes it to themselves to check this out. I’m pleased by this first outing by Zenovia Interactive, and hope their next title is just bigger and better. Especially since the ending sets up a Steel Assault sequel so very well!
Steel Assault Game Cover
74%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
grinding, monetization
76% User Score Based on 288 reviews
Critic Score 68%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Mac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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Steel Assault Game Cover

About

Steel Assault is a single player arcade platformer game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Zenovia Interactive and was released on September 28, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Steel Assault" is a 16-bit styled action platformer set in a post-apocalyptic America. Play as Taro Takahashi, a resistance soldier seeking revenge, in fast-paced side scrolling combat with unique zipline action. Experience a hand-crafted stage-based game with a classic challenging arcade style, offering both easy and 1-credit-clear Arcade Mode.

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Steel Assault screenshot
Steel Assault screenshot
Steel Assault screenshot
Steel Assault screenshot
Steel Assault screenshot
Steel Assault screenshot
Steel Assault screenshot
Steel Assault screenshot
Steel Assault screenshot
Steel Assault screenshot
Steel Assault screenshot
+3
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76%
Audience ScoreBased on 288 reviews
gameplay49 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack that evokes nostalgia for classic 16-bit games.
  • Gameplay is fast-paced and challenging, with a unique grappling hook mechanic that adds depth to platforming.
  • Boss fights are engaging and require players to learn patterns, providing a satisfying sense of achievement upon victory.
  • The game is very short, with a playtime of around an hour, which may not justify the price for some players.
  • Difficulty spikes can feel unfair, with some sections relying on trial-and-error rather than skill, leading to frustration.
  • Unskippable cutscenes before boss fights can disrupt the flow of gameplay, especially after multiple attempts.
  • gameplay
    138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Steel Assault is a mixed bag, featuring tight controls and a unique zipline mechanic that adds a fresh twist to classic action-platforming elements reminiscent of titles like Castlevania and Contra. However, many players find the difficulty to be frustratingly uneven, with poorly designed enemy placements and boss encounters that can feel unfair, detracting from the overall experience. While the game boasts impressive visuals and a strong soundtrack, its short length and inconsistent mechanics leave some players feeling that it lacks depth and polish.

    • “The gameplay is most similar to the traditional Castlevania titles with shades of Contra, Metal Slug, and Mega Man X.”
    • “Fast-paced, tight controls, fun mechanics, great enemy variety (and placement), amazing art, and a ripping OST.”
    • “From smooth gameplay to great level designs complemented perfectly with an amazing soundtrack and beautiful pixel art, Steel Assault is an overall enjoyable game for fans of the genre who will enjoy the call-backs to other famous games while experiencing a unique take on a classic formula.”
    • “The game appears 'difficult', and one might say that it is extremely hard, but it's really more annoying than anything else, featuring a bizarre mishmash of classic Castlevania gameplay with Contra-style enemy spawns.”
    • “The game could actually be pretty fun, but the imbalanced placement of health pickups in expert mode and their nonexistence in later stages of arcade mode makes it a terrible game design. The bosses' placement is also uneven in terms of difficulty.”
    • “To play arcade mode without mastering boss patterns is a death sentence of frustration and not worth it on top of all the inconsistency in gameplay.”
  • music
    128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and nostalgic qualities, often likening it to classic soundtracks from the 16-bit era. While some found the soundtrack derivative or forgettable, the majority highlighted its ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with standout tracks that evoke a sense of excitement and nostalgia. Overall, the combination of impressive pixel art and a killer soundtrack has been noted as a significant strength of the game, contributing to its appeal despite some gameplay criticisms.

    • “The music is banging, and sets the tone perfectly for the adventure ahead.”
    • “The beautiful pixel art combined with a fast-paced, heart-pumping soundtrack created the perfect feel for a classic, side-scrolling, arcade game.”
    • “Among the sea of 'roguelite' 'metroidvania' convoluted narrative indie trash, Steel Assault ironically stands out as a traditional arcade-style platformer with some of the best visuals, the best soundtrack in the business (with 2 versions, both of them fantastic) and not a single unenjoyable level or boss fight.”
    • “The soundtrack is forgettable and extremely derivative.”
    • “Great graphics, animations, and music completely ruined by balance issues.”
    • “The presentation and music and design is top-notch, but the actual moment-to-moment gameplay absolutely sucks.”
  • graphics
    87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their nostalgic 16-bit aesthetic, reminiscent of classic titles from the GBA and SNES eras, with vibrant colors and detailed pixel art that evoke a strong sense of nostalgia. Many reviewers highlighted the beautiful visuals and animations, describing them as stunning and a joy to behold, although some noted that the visuals can occasionally be cluttered or confusing. Overall, the art style and presentation are considered top-notch, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The graphics speak for themselves and the animation looks great.”
    • “So then the likes, well the graphics are really good, very beautiful with an incredible use of color, detail, character designs and backgrounds that feels like a homage to traditional side scrollers like Contra: Hard Corps, and it’s an absolute joy to behold.”
    • “The visuals and music are top notch and emulate the feel of the GBA perfectly.”
    • “The visuals can be very noisy.”
    • “Visuals are decent; however, at the same time, a chunk of it is also really messy and doesn't convey background/foreground very well.”
    • “Steel Assault has this weirdness with its graphics where you never know where the grappling hook will stick or not; it's visually confusing.”
  • story
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in Steel Assault is generally viewed as simplistic and short, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While it features classic revenge themes and retro-style elements reminiscent of 16-bit games, many reviewers express a desire for deeper character development and a longer narrative. Overall, the story is considered decent but lacks significant depth, making it feel secondary to the game's fast-paced action and nostalgic aesthetics.

    • “The art, gameplay, and story are all great.”
    • “Taro becomes a member of the Daybreak Resistance movement and by early 2046, just as Pierce is deploying old nuclear, military, and robotic tech, Taro embarks on a mission to investigate the cities they now occupy and to get his own personal revenge on the man that killed his parents.”
    • “The story is also very simple, fitting in with the classic 16-bit style.”
    • “The game is short and the story and characters are lightly written in retro style.”
    • “There's a 'story' but there really shouldn't be in a game like this.”
    • “The story is a play on a lot of games from its inspiration era; there’s a big baddie that threatens the world, go alone to stop him battling your way through bosses with little to no personality.”
  • replayability
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the challenge of higher difficulty levels and find enjoyment in the gameplay, others criticize the limited number of levels and lack of additional content, such as multiplayer or branching paths. Overall, it offers some replay value, particularly for those seeking a challenge, but many feel it falls short compared to other titles in the genre.

    • “Good feeling controls, lots of replayability in the sense that you get your butt beat all the time, and a good soundtrack.”
    • “The game isn't very long, but it feels right for the genre and there is replayability in trying higher difficulties.”
    • “Incredible replay value.”
    • “There's only 5 levels in the entire game and absolutely no replayability at all.”
    • “I don't see much replay value in the game besides harder difficulties; if it were multiplayer or had secret branching sections, then I would consider that it did.”
    • “Granted, there's some replay value, but I really hope there will be some DLCs later on.”
  • grinding
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game; while some players find the process of mastering difficult arcade levels rewarding and satisfying, others criticize it as tedious and frustrating due to forced repetition and punishing mechanics. The game's short length is often extended by this grind, leading to a sense of monotony, especially on harder difficulties. Overall, the grinding aspect can be both a source of achievement and a chore, depending on the player's skill level and patience.

    • “Cheap bullshit that's tedious to get through.”
    • “On top of this, the game actively punishes the player by forcing repetition of multiple sections of a stage (or an entire stage) all over again, making this a tedious chore to complete (made even worse with arcade mode since there are no continues).”
    • “The only real downsides to this game are that it is incredibly short and the length is padded by repetition on harder difficulties, which can make the game tedious and frustrating.”
  • character development
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is criticized for lacking depth, as while the character designs are visually appealing and showcase impressive art and detail, the developers have not invested enough in fleshing out the characters' stories. Overall, the aesthetic elements are praised, but the narrative aspect of character development falls short.

    • “So then the graphics are really good, very beautiful with an incredible use of color, detail, character designs, and backgrounds that feel like a homage to traditional side scrollers like Contra: Hard Corps, and it's an absolute joy to behold.”
    • “The character designs are really cool, but the devs didn't take the time to tell their stories further.”
    • “Art style, character design, and OST are all superb.”
    • “The character designs are beyond uninspired.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth.”
    • “I found the characters to be one-dimensional and forgettable.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, feeling nostalgic as it evokes memories of classic arcade experiences from the 1990s. The blend of gameplay elements reminiscent of titles like Contra, Metal Slug, and Castlevania enhances this emotional resonance, despite occasional frustrations with hit detection. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of retro gaming while delivering an engaging experience.

    • “Everything about the game made me feel like I time traveled back to 1994 and played this on a coin-op arcade.”
    • “Touching on the theme, this is like Contra, Metal Slug, and Castlevania adopted a baby, and it is well executed for the most part.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game features integrated advertisements and functional elements like TVs and lights, reflecting a capitalistic environment within the gameplay.

    • “The game is riddled with microtransactions that feel exploitative.”
    • “It's frustrating to see that progress is often locked behind a paywall.”
    • “The monetization strategy detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is marred by several bugs, including freezing when switching scenarios and occasional soft lock glitches, which can disrupt gameplay.

    • “The only problem I had with the game was some bugs; for instance, when switching scenarios, if you go outside the screen, the game just freezes.”
    • “I also encountered a couple of soft lock glitches.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly across various platforms, including the deck, with users praising its excellent performance.

    • “Runs smoothly in general and on the deck.”
    • “Performance: excellent.”
  • atmosphere
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is immersive and thought-provoking, drawing players into its narrative and enhancing the overall experience.

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68%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Steel Assault is a arcade platformer game with fantasy theme.

Steel Assault is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Steel Assault was released on September 28, 2021.

Steel Assault was developed by Zenovia Interactive.

Steel Assault has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Steel Assault is a single player game.

Similar games include Blazing Chrome, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, Cyber Shadow, Oniken, Primal Light and others.