Z: Steel Soldiers
Z: Steel Soldiers | |
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multiplayer |
Z: Steel Soldiers (originally released for
As a result of a breach in peace negotiations, players take control of one side as a leader of an army of robots. Playing the game primarily involves fending off robust opponents during battles to control a location, whilst expanding one's forces.[9] Objectives are met by occupying and holding territory rather than the more typical method of harvesting resources.[10][11]
Despite featuring solid fundamentals and gaining mixed or average reviews the game had minimal impact. While only receiving one gaming magazine award and garnering some criticism upon its release, the title was still an important technological advance for the development team.
Plot
Steel Soldiers is plot driven,[12] unlike the original game, which had little or no plot and consisted of two sides fighting each other for no given reason, while the game cutscenes were focused on comical, humorous situations. After 509 years of conflict MegaCom Corporation (red) and TransGlobal Empires (blue) are set to make peace and sign a treaty; in preparation, forces on both sides have reduced their military presence to a skeleton regiment.[13] The culmination of the peace treaty is the removal of both forces from the contested territory on Planet Rigal. The plot was written by Martin Pond. As the game is played it progresses with elements of intrigue and conspiracy.[14]
The peace initiative is brokered personally by Commander Keeler and TransGlobal's premier, Commander Rieman.
Gameplay
Developers wanted an accessible strategy game combined with the immediacy of an arcade title. Consequently, the game was designed so a player could get into the action as quickly as possible.[16] Z: Steel Soldiers sports a humorous comic book style with a realistic 3D environment.[11][17] These graphics are best displayed on a moderately fast or recently purchased computer although game options allow playing the game on older Pentium II systems. This title is not compatible with Windows Vista.[17]
The game features the ability to scroll, rotate, zoom and tilt the
The game has an advanced
When the game is paused players can scroll across the playing area, but places not under their control will not display enemy buildings and unit commands may not be issued. There are three
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Zsteelsoldier.jpg/220px-Zsteelsoldier.jpg)
Players control a group of robotic soldiers and vehicles in a two-sided war. At the start of each mission the current scenario and objectives are outlined. Level objectives vary considerably compared to the original from "Capture Aircraft Hangars and Shipyards" to "reach the EVAC point within a time limit". Some operations are timed with a countdown. Other mission duties are securing a landing area, to capture research facilities and evacuate personnel. The Command Centre is the headquarters and functions as a communications hub. If this building is destroyed the mission ends in failure.[13]
The gameplay is based around fast-paced battle action without resource gathering.[18] Winning the game requires speed and sound blitzkrieg tactics. The main aim is to gain territory by securing a sector after touching a flag.[8] Each mission begins with an introduction that includes a discussion of the goals and a preview across a sweeping landscape, briefly revealing geographical features and approaches to some strategically important flag locations. The more territory a player gains, the greater the number of units that may be built and provides more land for the construction of buildings. Unoccupied buildings that are neutral are owned with control of the sector. Each flag has a number between 1 and 5 depicted upon it.[14] The number represents a multiplier for the amount of credits a player will draw from that territory, each minute, when captured. Credits are used at factory buildings and research facilities to construct robots.
Other activities include canceling orders, building
Development
On 24 August 2000, the Bitmap Brothers announced a deal with
This release was the first after a long break in titles for the pc, by the developers and as such was highly anticipated.
The Gaming Director for the Bitmap Brothers, Jamie Barber has explained that the development of Z:Steel Soldiers was fundamental to the creation of the more well-known World War II: Frontline Command.[citation needed]
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
AllGame | 2/5[23] |
Computer Gaming World | 2/5[18] |
Eurogamer | 7 out of 10[10] |
Game Informer | 6.25 out of 10[24] |
GameSpot | 6.8 out of 10[25] |
GameSpy | 88%[7] |
GameZone | 6.6 out of 10[26] |
IGN | 8 out of 10[8] |
Next Generation | 3/5[27] |
PC Gamer (US) | 66%[28] |
PC Zone | 90%[15] |
After it was released the game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[22] A majority described the game as a fun strategy game with great graphics.[29] A PC Zone review awarded a Classic Award to Steel Soldiers and concluded that the game's strong points were the sharp artificial intelligence, good use of ambient sounds and well-designed maps.[15]
A smaller number of reviews were less flattering describing the experience as standard, as one that would bore a veteran RTS gamer.[18][30] Z: Steel Soldiers is similar to other pc strategy games with a military science fiction theme including Ground Control (2000), StarCraft (1998) and Warzone 2100 (1999). Several reviewers commented that Steel Soldiers offers nothing new to the genre.[19][29]
Z: Steel Soldiers had a weak impact, compared to the more popular
John Lee reviewed the PC version of the game for Next Generation, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "A boisterous 3D realtime strategy melee, with action, robot management, and rugged terrain, but you've seen much of it elsewhere."[27]
Ports
Kavcom Limited released Z: Steel Soldiers for the Android in 2014 and iOS in 2015.[citation needed]
See also
- List of strategy video games
Notes
References
- ^ "Countdown to Steel Soldiers, day 1". IGN. June 13, 2001. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- ^ "2001 Releases". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 4, 2001. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ "Steel Soldiers (2001) Windows release dates". MobyGames. Archived from the original on 4 May 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
- ^ "Z Steel Soldiers Out Now on iOS". Kavcom. April 16, 2015. Archived from the original on April 23, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ Ballard, Ryan (July 29, 2015). "RTS game Z Steel Soldiers leaves beta and Tegra exclusivity and is now fully released on Google Play". Droid Gamers. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ a b Sykes, Tom (August 1, 2014). "Z: Steel Soldiers returns to active duty, with reworked art and controls". PC Gamer. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Hiles, Bill (18 June 2001). "Z: Steel Soldiers". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 12 January 2005. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b c d Adams, Dan (15 June 2001). "Steel Soldiers". IGN. Archived from the original on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "Z: Steel Soldiers - Press Release". The Bitmap Brothers. 24 August 2000. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
- ^ a b Bye, John "Gestalt" (28 June 2001). "Z: Steel Soldiers". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 1 November 2001. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g Walker, Trey (27 February 2001). "Steel Soldiers Preview [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "Z: Steel Soldiers". The Bitmap Brothers. Archived from the original on 29 August 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f Steel Soldiers Survival Handbook (Game Manual). MegaCom Press. 2001. p. 10.
- ^ a b "Steel Soldiers for Windows - MobyGames". MobyGames. Archived from the original on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
- ^ a b c "PC Review: Z: Steel Soldiers". PC Zone. 2001.
- ^ Bye, John "Gestalt" (17 November 2000). "Mike Montgomery of the Bitmap Brothers". Eurogamer. Eurogamer Network. Archived from the original on 12 December 2000. Retrieved 18 April 2008.
- ^ a b c "Z: Steel Soldiers". Mastertronic Group. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b c d Chin, Elliott (September 2001). "Better Dead Than Zed (Z: Steel Soldiers Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 206. p. 91. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 October 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b Fulljames, Stephen (2001). "PC Review: Z: Steel Soldiers". Computer and Video Games. Future plc. Archived from the original on 1 December 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ CNET Networks. 12 June 2001. Archived from the originalon 5 June 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b IGN staff (28 July 2000). "Z2 Interview". IGN. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Steel Soldiers for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- AllGame. Archived from the originalon 16 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "Steel Soldiers". Game Informer. 2001.
- ^ Osborne, Scott (12 June 2001). "Steel Soldiers Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Krause, Kevin (21 June 2001). "Steel Soldiers". GameZone. Archived from the original on 8 January 2005. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b Lee, John (October 2001). "Finals". Next Generation. Vol. 4, no. 10. Imagine Media. p. 99.
- ^ "Z: Steel Soldiers". PC Gamer. 2001.
- ^ a b Criscito, Jeff (2002). "Steel Soldiers Metallic Eye Candy". Game Industry News. Noble Order Press Enterprises. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b Klepek, Patrick. "Steel Soldiers Review for PC". Gaming Age. Archived from the original on 24 February 2003. Retrieved 4 August 2008.