Creating a challenging, arcade-style game that resembles the classic action-platformers isn’t an easy goal to accomplish. While the overall experience was rather short, it would be hard to argue that Zenovia Interactive didn’t give players a new experience that fits the description with Steel Assault. It fits the classic gaming bill well enough that classic game creator Tribute Games published it!

Story

Take on the role of resistance soldier Taro Takahashi. Set out on a mission to take down the dictator that lords of the ashes in this post-apocalyptic American wasteland.

Not only is the story set up short and to the point, but the game itself also does a great job at giving you nothing and everything at the same time. There is practically no dialogue, but all the tropes are in place so you know what is going on. Most of the story is told through visual cutscenes and dialogue is simply “This can’t be… how did you…”

Gameplay

Just as the classic games were before, this game only has the basics for control options. Attack with your electrified whip, jump and double-jump, and the game-unique tool of a zipline. You can also move using either the analog stick or the d-pad buttons, whichever you would prefer.

If you are close enough to the enemy, you will throw a punch animation rather than a whip attack. Both of which do the same amount of damage. The zipline, being the unique tool, took the longest to get used to. Just as you can use the whip in any direction by pressing the direction controls while attacking, you can set up the zipline in either diagonal, vertical, or horizontal directions. The zipline is a lifeline tool that will help you in both platforming segments and actual boss fights.

Intricate movements and notes to keep in mind while playing fall under two main things to remember. Some bullets from enemies can be taken out with the whip so you don’t have to dodge, but not all of them. The less colorful they are, the more likely you will be able to remove the bullet with the whip. The other thing is that you can also ground dash forward, but I never found a moment this was really helpful as it is hard to spam and didn’t seem to damage enemies.

Levels are broken up with platforming and normal enemy segments, mini-boss fights, and then end on a final boss fight for the chapter. I would be surprised if anybody beats the bosses and mini-bosses on their first try. There was only one mini-boss I managed to beat without having to restart the fight at least once. Pattern recognition is a bit asset to the game and be ready to maneuver around a bullet-hell style barrage attack from various enemies.

The game has two modes: regular and arcade mode. Arcade mode will require you to beat the game with only one life. However, regular mode will have you pick a difficulty and then play through the game while it grabs save points at every new section in a level. Once you beat the game, you will unlock border art which basically just fills in the black screen on the sides of the gameplay window.

Audio and Visuals

Both aspects of this game really brought back the classic gaming experience of playing through a 16-bit title. All of the music was hyperactive and built up the adrenaline to take on the challenge ahead. It was great to hear that each section in a level had the chance to be given its own music style as well since not all sections in one level play the same. They did a great job bringing a new retro experience with both the auditory and aesthetics.

Replayability

Other than trying to beat the game on Arcade Mode or the hardest difficulty, there isn’t much reason to go through the game again. But if you did, at least you know it won’t take you too long to beat it over and over.

What Could Be Better

Even if they were going for a short game experience, I can’t help but feel that this game was way too short. I beat it in just over an hour and a half, a good portion of that time was trying to defeat the final boss. While they offered multiple difficulties to make it more challenging, it would have been nice to have more than five chapters to the entire game or perhaps more segments in each level to get through.

Conclusion

Steel Assault is a new blast that resembles the past! I really enjoyed playing through the game and wish it would have lasted a lot longer. While I have said before that a game being too short is more of a compliment than a negative point, in this case, it is more just a negative point because it truly feels like the experience was cut short. At least every moment the game offered was entertaining and so the entire short playthrough was nonstop fun. They also gave it a pretty low price in the stores, so I would say that they are being fair as well. When it comes down to it, I would definitely recommend this to players looking for a new retro-style gaming experience.