3DS Critic Reviews

If the idea of a steam-powered side-scrolling shoot-‘em-up gets your motor running, get ready to party like it’s 1992 — Steel Empire is a blast.

For all the 3DS owners out there who, like me, are sick of seeing the deluge of kiddie-focused games appearing in the Nintendo eShop, Steel Empire is a very welcome respite. Outside of the Sega 3D Classics, range this is the best thing to appear on the 3DS in recent memory and is a must-have purchase for any 3DS owner.

The 3D effects and dual-screen interface simply aren't enough to warrant a full $20 upgrade, but the fact remains that the game is as classic as ever and worth playing. If you're a shoot-'em-up junkie you likely won't feel the sting of the price tag, but everyone else will want to wait for a sale.

It's not perfect, but it is a great game. Taking into account that there are not too many 2D shoot 'em ups at the moment, Steel Empire feels like a great option for fans of the genre.

Although I don’t agree with the £15.99 price tag for a 3D rerelease of a game that’s older than me, Steel Empire for Nintendo 3DS is a good game that any fan of old school shoot ‘em ups is sure to enjoy.

Steel Empire brings back a 1990s 16-bit shoot'em up with an added 3D effect. It's a classic shooter of its day whose gameplay benefits from the three dimensional effect of Nintendo's handheld. Where Steel Empire falls short is on its length, which will disappoint many contemporary players who expect something longer as far as its lifespan is concerned.

Steel Empire is a good game at its core, and it was far ahead of its time when it first came out. The problem is, though, that at this point and time a lot of the game's elements are extremely dated.

I was fed up with Steel Empire after 15 minutes. The game is too easy, weapons lack punch, action sequences are anemic. [03/2016, p.73]