Steel Ocean

About

Steel Ocean is a multiplayer simulation game. It was developed by Changyou.com Limited and was released on November 12, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Steel Ocean" is a naval warfare game that allows players to command and control a variety of warships from different nations in epic sea battles. The game features realistic ship models, weapons, and damage systems, as well as a variety of game modes including PvP and PvE battles. Players can form teams and strategize with other commanders to dominate the ocean.

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68%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,215 reviews

gameplay134 positive mentions

optimization13 negative mentions

Steel Ocean offers a unique naval warfare experience with submarines, which adds depth to gameplay not found in other naval games.
The game features a variety of warships, each with distinct roles and mechanics, allowing for strategic team play.
The combat mechanics are engaging, with manual control over all weapon systems, making for a more immersive experience.

The player base is very small, leading to long matchmaking times and often unbalanced matches.
The graphics and overall presentation are dated compared to competitors like World of Warships.
There are frequent server issues and bugs that disrupt gameplay, including crashes and connection problems.

gameplay
391 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
5%
The gameplay of "Steel Ocean" is generally regarded as solid and engaging, particularly for fans of naval combat, with many players appreciating its unique mechanics, including submarine warfare and a variety of ship types. While some reviews highlight issues such as poor graphics, matchmaking problems, and a dwindling player base, the game is often praised for its strategic depth and dynamic gameplay, which some consider superior to its main competitor, "World of Warships." However, the overall experience can be hampered by technical glitches and a lack of developer support, leading to mixed feelings about its long-term viability.
- “Steel Ocean is a real jewel in terms of gameplay and experience, and in my opinion gives World of Warships a run for its money.”
- “The gameplay is fun, and there's a bit of strategy and skill involved which makes it fun and challenging to master.”
- “The action is fast-paced and the new subs in the game add another layer of interesting gameplay.”
- “Matching takes forever and if you do get a match, the glitches are unreal and ruin gameplay.”
- “The gameplay feels a bit stiff and honestly it's just not fun.”
- “The gameplay is still clunky and the balance is still non-existent.”
graphics
351 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
45%
19%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are dated and not on par with competitors like World of Warships. While some appreciate the game's ability to run smoothly on lower-end PCs due to its simpler graphics, others find the visuals lacking and in need of significant improvement. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics may not be impressive, the gameplay experience compensates for their shortcomings.
- “The graphics and sound effects create an immersive atmosphere, making every battle feel intense and rewarding.”
- “Great graphics with realistic gameplay.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the ocean looks very realistic.”
- “The graphics are terribly ugly, but probably this allows you to run it even on a toaster.”
- “The graphics are absolute dog crap as well.”
- “Graphics are bad even at ultra for me.”
optimization
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
53%
29%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, low frame rates, and long loading times, even on lower graphics settings. While some appreciate the potential for improvement and the game's graphics, the overall consensus is that it currently struggles to run smoothly, especially compared to competitors like World of Warships. Players are hopeful for future updates that could enhance performance and address these issues.
- “This game has good performance and the graphics are okay.”
- “The graphics are better, the engine is properly optimized, and the updates are regular and large.”
- “Ship captains - these collectible captains allow you to customize your ship performance in a very enjoyable way.”
- “It takes forever to join a battle and it is barely optimized.”
- “Optimization is terrible right now and no word of when if ever they will work on it.”
- “Aside from that, and from what I've seen, it's very poorly optimized; the game takes ages to load (in my case it took roughly three times more than World of Warships) and, considering its graphics are far from impressive, that's such a massive drawback and it just doesn't make me want to even try it out.”
grinding
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
98%
Overall, players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game. While some find it less grindy and more enjoyable compared to similar titles like World of Warships, others note that it can become tedious, especially at higher tiers. Many appreciate the quicker progression and the fun gameplay, but there are concerns about the potential for pay-to-win mechanics and matchmaking issues that can affect the grinding experience.
- “It wasn't grindy at all despite what you heard.”
- “The grinding felt rewarding and kept me engaged throughout the game.”
- “I appreciated how the grind was balanced, making progress feel meaningful.”
- “The low number of players and the progressive difficulty of grinding causes the higher tiers (tier 6+) to have a piddling 4-8 players queue.”
- “Sure it's shiny, but compared with Steel Ocean, it's grindy, boring, and unsatisfying.”
- “Top 10 most grinding games of all time...”
monetization
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
31%
61%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for its reliance on microtransactions and a lack of advertising, which has contributed to a dwindling player base. While players can enjoy the game without spending money, the absence of promotional efforts and community engagement from the developers has led to perceptions of it being a cash grab. Overall, the game's potential is overshadowed by its poor marketing and limited updates, making it difficult for new players to join and thrive.
- “Nice game, even without any in-game purchases!”
- “The game is very well playable without going for the in-game purchases - so the 'free-to-play' really does apply.”
- “There are some microtransactions, but they aren't game changing.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is dead; stubborn Chinese owners let this game die without updates or any community engagement, so don't waste your time or money on the in-game purchases.”
- “The biggest problem with the game is that despite its superiority over similar games, there is little to no advertisement, so the player base is small.”
- “Feels like a cash grab from the developers, and a poor man's World of Warships.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
77%
14%
The game's story aspect is criticized for its lack of depth and engaging missions, with players noting a desire for a more structured narrative or story mode to enhance the experience. While the gameplay is praised for its mechanics and team coordination, the absence of NPC missions and a compelling storyline detracts from the overall immersion. Users express that the game feels more like a series of battles rather than a cohesive narrative experience.
- “Still a better love story than Twilight.”
- “Anyway, I find the gameplay better than WoWs, and when I say gameplay I do mean the actual battles... the rest is the same old story.”
- “However, the first mission felt like a shooter game with waves of enemies coming at me.”
- “Cons - lack of missions”
- “But because it's only 8.5 is because I think there should also be a story mode in this just to give it a really cool background.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
23%
18%
The music in the game is generally praised for its epic and immersive quality, effectively enhancing the war-like atmosphere and combat experience. While some players feel the soundtrack may not perfectly fit a naval battle context, many appreciate its artistic detail and the emotional engagement it brings during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, contributing positively to the game's ambiance despite some criticisms regarding its suitability for the genre.
- “This game was so well thought out with its detail including music, background, surroundings, and sound effects were amazing!”
- “The game's music is pretty good to listen to because it sort of puts you in the mood of a war-like environment - like many other war game music.”
- “You have not lived until you have listened to the epic in-battle music while you fought for your life.”
- “There's a lot of satisfaction in the combat and the music sounds like it's straight out of Gundam/Ace Combat.”
- “Though, I really don't think the music in-game is suitable for a battle game.”
- “Only gripe is that they rip off the battleship songs in the trailer.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
13%
The humor in the game is often highlighted as a standout feature, with players appreciating its quirky elements, such as the amusing chat censoring and the fast-paced gameplay that leads to funny moments. Comparisons to "World of Warships" reveal a community that finds humor in both the game's mechanics and the interactions among players, despite some criticisms regarding performance and monetization. Overall, the game is described as entertainingly funny, with a lighthearted community that embraces its comedic aspects.
- “Looks like World of Warships, but you can control subs, which is funny.”
- “Funny game! It's like World of Warships, but it also has submarines.”
- “But it's always hilarious to see 'fail' when you lose a match.”
- “I really suggest avoiding War of Ships because it is a clone and not funny. After that, you must spend more money to buy other options in the game.”
- “Lost of money, time, and not funny.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting persistent glitches, connection issues, and bugs that disrupt gameplay. While some players note improvements in stability since previous versions, the overall experience is marred by frequent disconnections, rendering problems, and a poorly optimized interface. Despite decent graphics and mechanics, the game's low player base and ongoing technical issues detract from its potential enjoyment.
- “Matching takes forever and if you do get a match the glitches are unreal and ruin gameplay.”
- “2.8 hours into the game and already disconnected from battle 3 times and let my team down, been team killed twice and witnessed countless bugs and glitches ranging from water that won't render, random crashes to desktop, and ships that float into the sky.”
- “The game's optimization is absolutely terrible; for some reason, there are specific moments when it freezes for several seconds (switching to depth charges and closing the scouting vision, just to name a few).”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Players highlight the game's strong replayability, particularly due to the inclusion of submarines as playable units, which adds depth and variety to gameplay. The ability to control various weapons and engage in anti-submarine combat further enhances the experience, making it appealing for repeated playthroughs. Overall, the game offers diverse nations and roles, contributing to its lasting appeal.
- “A shame, as it's a great game otherwise with lots of replay value.”
- “The game also expands the battlefield with another class of vessels; submarines are playable and introduce a new threat to battleships and lone carriers while expanding the duty of destroyers and cruisers to submarine warfare.”
- “On one hand, you can control your secondary weapons, anti-air guns, and even depth charges on destroyers for anti-submarine combat (yes, there are playable submarines).”
- “The game lacks significant replayability due to its limited content and repetitive gameplay.”
- “Once you've experienced the main storyline, there isn't much incentive to play through it again.”
- “The absence of diverse game modes makes it feel stale after a few sessions.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's graphics and sound effects effectively create an immersive and intense atmosphere during battles, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players contribute to a toxic community atmosphere, leading to a defeatist tone that detracts from the enjoyment. Overall, while the game excels in its immersive qualities, the community's negativity can undermine the atmosphere.
- “The graphics and sound effects create an immersive atmosphere, making every battle feel intense and rewarding.”
- “But the worst is some of the toxic atmosphere a few players bring.”
- “The community atmosphere is getting rather defeatist and grim.”
- “If you feel that the game lacks atmosphere and a bit of grit, then it is indeed lacking.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mixed emotional response to the game, with some feeling frustrated by a lack of developer support, which detracted from their experience. Conversely, others have found the game profoundly moving, even leading to tears of joy due to its impactful moments.
- “This game is the only game I have ever played that has made me cry tears of joy due to the sheer awesomeness.”