50
Steel Assault does what it does well, although at the end of the day I can’t help but feel that it lacks a unique hook. After rolling credits, there’s little to say about it other than that it’s another one of the many, many retro action games currently available. Players looking for a tough, retro-inspired romp will find it, but there’s not much else to it.
80
I can't say how long every game should be, but I can tell you that Steel Assault made me think about arcade-era design in a whole new way, and I was glued to my screen for the full 90 minutes it took me to see it through from start to finish. [Issue #56 – November/December 2021, p. 18]
70
I feel like I say this with a lot of games, but I really enjoyed Steel Assault until I didn’t anymore. Up to that point, it was really fun, and I have to commend Zenovia Interactive on their effective graphical filters, which are a big part of the appeal.
6
Poor game, feels like it was designed by a pixel artist who has no concept of game design. Foreground and background elements often blend together. It's often unclear when you can use your signature grappling hook ability because these all blend together. Enemy placement and level design seems mostly random and unconsidered. Mechanics aren't explained well, even with the tutorial. It's a crime this game scored *only* 2 pts lower than Vengeful Moon Guardian, which is in the same genre and a MUCH better, much more well-designed game, released at roughly the same time. I'm pretty forgiving of bad games, but I gave this one up. Edit: I went back and played this game and was able to finish it. The first two stages are unfortunately the worst in the game, as the game does a poor job of pacing and explaining mechanics. If you can suffer through some strange design choices, especially in the second stage, you can get a better feel for the game and get some enjoyment out of it. Raised score to 6 from 4.
10
Excelente forma de traer al presente las sensaciones que vivimos en los noventa.
8
Run-and-gun shooters were absolutely a consistent staple in the arcades and on consoles back in the day, and that puts a certain amount of pressure on developers in the current day to do anything that feels new and exciting. What’s great is that sometimes just small things can really make a difference and the grapple in Steel Assault quickly became the star of the show for me. Giving the game a feeling that sits somewhere between a classic shooter like Contra and the beloved Bionic Commando, there’s just something refreshing about the flow of this game that’s very satisfying. That’s not to say that, by any means, it’ll be an easy run. You can expect to crash and burn quite a bit, with the expectation being that you’re really on top of how best to use your grapple quickly and effectively even while under fire, and that can sometimes require some diligence to get through tough spots. I think the challenge is also exacerbated a little by checkpoints that sometimes feel a little spread out, though conceptually they usually make sense and some areas are simply bigger and tougher than others. While in terms of raw content the game technically isn’t a very long one, getting to the point where you’ve got the skill and experience to be able to blow through it all will take some time, making this a great challenge for classic arcade fans. ****/2021/09/mini-reviews-september-30th-edition.html
Steel Assault
Released On:
Sep 28, 2021
Metascore
Generally Favorable
75
User score
Generally Favorable
7.9
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
75
60% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
40% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Sep 28, 2021
90
A fantastic effort that was well and truly worth the wait, and deserves the full attention of action platform fans young and old.
Oct 5, 2021
80
Steel Assault is a beautiful retro-inspired treasure. Despite its short length, its fluid mechanics, tight controls, and challenging gameplay provided a fun arcade experience while adding in various options and ways to tackle gameplay. So if you’re looking to get swept away in the nostalgia of a classic action platformer, look no further than Steel Assault.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.9
60% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
40% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Dec 26, 2022
10
Excelente forma de traer al presente las sensaciones que vivimos en los noventa.
Oct 1, 2021
9
The overall style of Steel Assault is insanely appealing and does a good job in delivering that in the gameplay. Steel Assault was one of those games which I randomly saw a trailer for and instantly knew I wanted to buy. Now, after playing through the game, I can say that this is a very good high speed action platformer. If you're into anything of that nature, you need to try Steel Assault. My only complaint is that the game is way too short. Because of the appealing style of Steel Assault, I couldn't help but want more after I finished the game in my approximately 45 minute playthrough. I would be happy to see a future Steel Assault game that includes hours of gameplay and extras to keep me playing this truly exciting 16-bit retro style platformer.
Sep 30, 2021
80
Steel Assault is a hell of a lot of fun while it lasts, but unfortunately that’s not likely to be long. After that, there’s not much else to do but play through it again on a harder difficulty or try to tackle arcade mode, but that doesn’t really offer anything new. At least it looks and sounds great while it has you in its grasp. And its price is fairly reasonable.
Sep 28, 2021
80
Steel Assault is like a bite of an extremely delicious, well-seasoned steak. Just one bite. It lingers in your mind and makes you wish for more, yet in some respects, that’s much better than if you were given the whole thing and took it for granted. If you liked the snappy action and ridiculous difficulty of may old arcade classics, then Steel Assault is absolutely something you should look into. It’s absurd, it’s fun, it’s hard. And it’s short. It doesn’t offer up much more once you've reached the end, but what’s here is intensely well-executed, and we’d definitely recommend you give it a go.
Oct 2, 2021
72
Steel Assault is an incredible retro-inspired game but unfortunately, its credits will roll once you really start vibing with its action-packed campaign. It's a prime example of how sometimes; great gameplay alone isn't quite enough.
Sep 30, 2021
70
Steel Assault nails its presentation, and I’m impressed more than enough that I’ll keep an eye out for Zenovia Interactive’s next release. It does need to look closer at the retro arcade classics of yesteryear that it aims to honor, though. Trading in the 1-life setup for co-op would be a wise start, as would be the addition of scoring. This gorgeous game might be better on sale, but it’s an accomplished title that does many things with skill.
Nov 17, 2021
50
Steel Assault does what it does well, although at the end of the day I can’t help but feel that it lacks a unique hook. After rolling credits, there’s little to say about it other than that it’s another one of the many, many retro action games currently available. Players looking for a tough, retro-inspired romp will find it, but there’s not much else to it.
Dec 17, 2021
8
Run-and-gun shooters were absolutely a consistent staple in the arcades and on consoles back in the day, and that puts a certain amount of pressure on developers in the current day to do anything that feels new and exciting. What’s great is that sometimes just small things can really make a difference and the grapple in Steel Assault quickly became the star of the show for me. Giving the game a feeling that sits somewhere between a classic shooter like Contra and the beloved Bionic Commando, there’s just something refreshing about the flow of this game that’s very satisfying. That’s not to say that, by any means, it’ll be an easy run. You can expect to crash and burn quite a bit, with the expectation being that you’re really on top of how best to use your grapple quickly and effectively even while under fire, and that can sometimes require some diligence to get through tough spots. I think the challenge is also exacerbated a little by checkpoints that sometimes feel a little spread out, though conceptually they usually make sense and some areas are simply bigger and tougher than others. While in terms of raw content the game technically isn’t a very long one, getting to the point where you’ve got the skill and experience to be able to blow through it all will take some time, making this a great challenge for classic arcade fans. ****/2021/09/mini-reviews-september-30th-edition.html
Jan 9, 2025
6
Poor game, feels like it was designed by a pixel artist who has no concept of game design. Foreground and background elements often blend together. It's often unclear when you can use your signature grappling hook ability because these all blend together. Enemy placement and level design seems mostly random and unconsidered. Mechanics aren't explained well, even with the tutorial. It's a crime this game scored *only* 2 pts lower than Vengeful Moon Guardian, which is in the same genre and a MUCH better, much more well-designed game, released at roughly the same time. I'm pretty forgiving of bad games, but I gave this one up. Edit: I went back and played this game and was able to finish it. The first two stages are unfortunately the worst in the game, as the game does a poor job of pacing and explaining mechanics. If you can suffer through some strange design choices, especially in the second stage, you can get a better feel for the game and get some enjoyment out of it. Raised score to 6 from 4.
SummaryPunch, whip, and zipline your way through a post-apocalyptic America in this 16-bit retro-style action platformer! Play as Taro Takahashi, a resistance soldier on a revenge mission against the dictator who lords over the ashes.
Rated E +10for Everyone +10
Platforms:
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
- Xbox One
- PlayStation 4
Initial Release Date:Sep 28, 2021
Developer:
- Zenovia
Publisher:
