Steel Horizon

[Gabriel]

A heads up for strategy game fans. I saw Steel Horizon available the other day for the DS and picked it up. I had initially planned to grab it for the PSP, but since the DS version was available now instead of 2 months from now, and was only $30, I decided to check it out.

 

Keep in mind, this is just a first opinion of the game, not a full review. And, in this case, my first opinion is somewhat negative.

 

First off, the game uses story bits which are reminicent of the drama in Trauma Center. In other words, everyone is a doofus. Captains don't know how to command their ships. Admirals lecture you on the morality of command. Etc. But, that's no big deal. Almost all strategy games have sucky story stuff.

 

But then you get to the game. Most of the time you'll be looking at the tactical map. I've often stated how many NDS games look like they just recycled a SNES or GBA game for the graphics. But in the case of the game's main tactcal map, it's worse than that. It's just utterly bland and embarrassing. It's only barely above GBC type looks here.

 

OK, strategy games usually aren't graphics demos. If they do have cool graphic bits, its usually when combat is engaged. In the case of Steel Horizon, when you engage in combat you are treated to a 30 second sequence of your ships sailing around and shooting at their target. During this you can give orders to your ships, but they don't seem very responsive. More or less, my initial impression is that each combat is a cutscene you can't turn off and can't meaningfully interact with. The only good part is that these combat sequences are in 3D, and look like a SNES FX chip game.

 

The game uses a radar/sighting system, which more or less just makes it where you can't see any enemies until they're on top of you. Cruiser units are supposed to help with this.

 

Control is something I won't complain about this time (an anomaly for a DS game). If you want to mess with the touchscreen, you can. If you don't, then the game supports D-Pad and button control. As usual, I find the D-Pad and button controls to be more intuitive, accurate, and faster. But, since moving through the missions quickly just means getting to the long, drawn out (30 seconds seems like forever) combat sequences or story cutscenes, it's a mixed blessing.

 

The gameplay isn't too hot. So far the missions are extremely lame, and fit into the "tutorials for absolute idiots" style. Maybe it picks up later. I don't know. At the moment, I really don't care. I have Bullet Witch, After Burner: Black Falcon, and Jetpac Refueled to play.

[AtariJr]

is age of empires better?

Edited April 3, 2007 by AtariJr

[Gabriel]

Edited again...

 

Dunno. I haven't played Age of Empires. I have it, but I've just never gotten around to giving it a whirl.

Edited April 3, 2007 by Gabriel

[AtariJr]

^_^ why i changed my post, i saw the playstation buttons...

 

then i thought about it. if THATS what they have for psp graphics.. and the ds is snes style, thats kinda sad, as the ds could push those graphics easy, and the psp could handle SO much more than that..

 

i was wanting a stradegy game for a handheld, and that seemd like it was going to be good.. but everyone keeps telling me to get age of empires.. idk, just that game didnt seem to appeal to my tastes.

Edited April 3, 2007 by AtariJr

[Gabriel]

Here's a couple of pictures from GamePro.

 

First off, the strategic screen:

 

And, the battle screen with the really impressive graphics