3DS Critic Reviews

Whether or not you're willing to pay for some extra features, Steel Diver: Sub Wars features a highly enjoyable online multiplayer mode; that's something, perhaps, that the 3DS has missed so far. Since it's free, you have no excuse not to check it out — perhaps you'll even like it so much that you'll spend some money.

Its measured pace is precisely what makes it such a fresh twist on the shooter. [Apr 2014, p.82]

Better and more focused than its precursor. The slow, calculated multiplayer matches afford plenty of opportunity for strategic fun, though the single-player mode is more a tutorial than a substantial component.

Steel Diver: Sub Wars is an interesting underwater FPS, and it also proposes an intelligent use of free to play mechanics.

Steel Diver: Sub Wars is a great follow-up to game that had potential, but just wasn’t meaty enough to meet expectations. Sub Wars’ addition of multiplayer more than makes up for the past game’s brevity. When it works, it’s a blast to play; however, you may see more error messages than subs.

Steel Diver: Sub Wars is a well made arcade shooter with some tactical gameplay. Its single player is rich and satisfying, and the online multiplayer is engaging and addictive. However, its main point is the free-to-play model Nintendo has chosen to adopt: it's really sincere and consumer-friendly, and all gamers should wish more and more producers to adopt it.

After few experiments with Wii Sports Club and Wii Karaoke U, Nintendo understands how free-to-play should be done, and publish a good multiplayer game with his own peculiar pace. Unfortunately there are too few maps and options.

A great improvement over its predecessor, Steel Diver: Sub Wars is successful at putting the player in a submarine environment, recreating several aspects of these vessels within the boundaries set by the 3DS. The overall short length of its one player mode and the lack of options on multiplayer mode end up becoming obstacles on its route, but this is a title that will not disappoint.

Despite the minimalist design and a lack of game modes, the best of Sub Wars lies in the nature of strategic battles and the online that was not present in Steel Diver.

Quotation forthcoming.