{{Short description|2021 video game}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox video game | title = Steel Assault | image = File:Steel_Assault_cover.jpg | caption = | developer = Zenovia Interactive | publisher = [[Tribute Games]] | composer = {{ubl|Joseph Bailey|Luca Della Regina}} | artist = | released = '''Windows, Switch'''<br/>September 28, 2021<br/>'''Amazon Luna'''<br/>April 7, 2022<br/>'''PS4, Xbox One'''<br/>June 15, 2023 | genre = [[Action game|Action]]-[[Platform game|platform]] | modes = [[Single-player]] | platforms = {{ubl|[[Windows]]|[[Nintendo Switch]]|[[Amazon Luna]]|[[PlayStation 4]]|[[Xbox One]]}} | designer = Sri Kankanahalli | programmer = }} '''''Steel Assault''''' is a 2021 [[Side-scrolling video game|side-scrolling]] [[Action game|action]]-[[Platforming game|platforming]] video game developed by Zenovia Interactive and published by [[Tribute Games]]. It was released for [[Windows]] and [[Nintendo Switch]] on September 28, 2021 and for [[Amazon Luna]] on April 7, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joffard |first=Jerome |date=4 November 2020 |title=Steel Assault - Le titre de Tribute Games est repoussé |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/1315421/steel-assault-le-titre-de-tribute-games-est-repousse.htm |access-date=2021-05-27 |website=[[JeuxVideo.com]] |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ydPIbs4_g |title=New on Luna: Steel Assault |date=2022-04-07 |language=en |publisher=[[Amazon Luna]] |access-date=2022-12-18 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> In this [[16-bit console|16-bit]] style game, the player controls the character Taro Takahashi, a resistance soldier on a revenge mission against the dictator who lords over the ashes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steel Assault|url=https://www.mediaindieexchange.com/games/steel-assault/|access-date=2021-06-28|website=The MIX|language=en-US}}</ref> The game was first announced on [[Kickstarter]] in early 2015.
== Gameplay == ''Steel Assault'' is a fast-paced 2D action platformer. The game equips the player with an 8-way electric whip, along with a jump, double jump, and a short dodge slide. One other mechanic is a zip-line which allows the player to move vertically, horizontally and diagonally between elements or platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devore |first=Jordan |date=2020-06-08 |title=Steel Assault resurfaced with a Steam trailer and it looks absurdly good |url=https://www.destructoid.com/steel-assault-resurfaced-with-a-steam-trailer-and-it-looks-absurdly-good/ |access-date=2021-06-28 |website=[[Destructoid]] |language=en-CA}}</ref> In addition, the game features a basic sub-weapon system. Taro mainly fights robotic enemies, and his electric whip destroys their energy cores, but he can also punch them up close to collect their cores and replenish his sub-weapon system's energy. The game has different difficulty modes, including an Arcade Mode in which there are no checkpoints and the player has only a single life.<ref name="Interview">{{Cite web |last=Birch |first=Nathan |date=21 February 2021 |title=Steel Assault Interview – On Influences, Difficulty, and Story Details Becoming Reality |url=https://wccftech.com/steel-assault-interview-sri-kankanahalli-incluences-length-difficult-platforms/ |access-date=2021-05-27 |website=Wccftech |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Story == The game takes place in an overgrown post-apocalyptic America, after all major American cities were abandoned due to mass radiation attacks in the late 2030s. Magnus Pierce, a famous inventor and roboticist turned army general, rose to rule over the ashes. His regime began a large-scale purge of all its real and suspected enemies, including protagonist Taro Takahashi's parents. Taro grew up to be a core member of the Daybreak Resistance, an insurgency led by Hans Albrecht and Sonia Singh. In early 2046, Magnus Pierce's soldiers started collecting and refurbishing old nuclear, military, and robotic tech, and they started restoring the power grids of various abandoned cities which they now occupied. Taro is sent to investigate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steel Assault |url=http://steelassault.com/ |access-date=2021-06-30 |website=SteelAssault.com}}</ref>
== Development == The project was first announced on [[Kickstarter]] in early 2015. Originally, the project meant to follow a late [[8-bit Era|8-bit era]] aesthetic (late [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]]), but the game's artistic direction changed soon after the Kickstarter campaign due to the previous experience from the artists that joined the project. Many of these artists had worked on [[Game Boy Advance]] and [[Nintendo DS]] games,.<ref name="Interview" /> The game was due to release in May 2016, but had been delayed due in part to the change in art style{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}. In November 2020, Zenovia Interactive signed a publishing agreement with developer [[Tribute Games]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=2020-11-04 |title=Steel Assault delayed to 2021, published by Tribute Games |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/11/steel-assault-delayed-to-2021-published-by-tribute-games |access-date=2021-06-28 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Reception == {{Video game reviews | MC = PC: 77/100{{r|MCPC}}<br>NS: 75/100{{r|MCNS}} | NLife = 8/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vogel |first=Mitch |date=2021-09-28 |title=Review: Steel Assault - A Quick Bite To Savour With Classic Castlevania Flavour |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/steel_assault |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> | NWR = 7/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Zachary |date=2021-10-05 |title=Steel Assault Review Mini - Review Mini |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewmini/58580/steel-assault-switch-review-mini |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=Nintendo World Report}}</ref> }} ''Steel Assault'' has received "generally favorable reviews", according to [[Metacritic]].<ref name=MCPC>{{Cite web |title=Steel Assault for PC Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/steel-assault/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=[[Metacritic]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=MCNS>{{Cite web |title=Steel Assault for Switch Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/steel-assault/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=[[Metacritic]] |language=en}}</ref> {{clear}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
*{{Official website|http://www.steelassault.com/}}
[[Category:2021 video games]] [[Category:Indie games]] [[Category:Nintendo Switch games]] [[Category:PlayStation 4 games]] [[Category:Post-apocalyptic video games]] [[Category:Side-scrolling platformers]] [[Category:Science fiction video games]] [[Category:Tribute Games games]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Xbox One games]] [[Category:Single-player video games]] [[Category:Retro-style video games]] [[Category:Kickstarter-funded video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]