Steel Assault Reviews

Steel Assault is ranked in the 71st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10
Sep 28, 2021

Steel Assault is like a bite of an extremely delicious, well-seasoned steak. Just one bite. It lingers in your mind and makes you wish for more, yet in some respects, that's much better than if you were given the whole thing and took it for granted. If you liked the snappy action and ridiculous difficulty of may old arcade classics, then Steel Assault is absolutely something you should look into. It's absurd, it's fun, it's hard. And it's short. It doesn't offer up much more once you've reached the end, but what's here is intensely well-executed, and we'd definitely recommend you give it a go.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Sep 28, 2021

A fantastic effort that was well and truly worth the wait, and deserves the full attention of action platform fans young and old.

Read full review

80 / 100
Sep 28, 2021

All in all, I had a great time with Steel Assault and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes action platformers, especially retro ones. However, it is modeled directly off of old-school arcade games, with all the difficulty and strategic planning that entails. If you don’t enjoy replaying levels over and over trying to get everything just right, or games that challenge you relentlessly, Steel Assault probably isn’t for you. You’re supposed to struggle. That’s the point of the game.

Read full review

JVL
Algernon
Top Critic
13 / 20
Oct 2, 2021

For its first game, Zenovia Interactive achieves its goal: to pay tribute to arcade-type games. Equipped with elaborate graphics – although somewhat aggressive to the eye – and a pleasant soundtrack, perfectly conveying the desired atmosphere, the title has certain qualities. Never repetitive, it presents various enemies and phases. On foot, by boat or by air transport you will not (surely) be bored. Its other particularity lies in its accessibility. Indeed, it can interest both novices and the most experienced among us.

Review in French | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 5, 2021

Playing Steel Assault is like being teleported back to a time when Sega was doing what Nintendon’t and blast processing was at its heyday. From its pixel-perfect visuals to its retro 2D action mechanics, Steel Assault is akin to video game comfort food for anyone weaned on the golden age of 8-bit and 16-bit gaming. The game is on the short side and the lack of co-op and post-game unlockables hurt replay value. If you’re itching for some classic twitch gaming, though, Steel Assault is like a blast from the past.

Read full review

85 / 100
Sep 28, 2021

Steel Assault brings back the arcade feel with tremendous accuracy and care. Its brevity nicely contrasts with how difficult it can be, and the bosses are fun and distinct. The grappling hook is a great addition with unique uses, though it's a little unreliable at times. If Steel Assault were to cost 50¢ per play, I probably lost $20, and I don't regret it.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Sep 30, 2021

Steel Assault nails its presentation, and I'm impressed more than enough that I'll keep an eye out for Zenovia Interactive's next release. It does need to look closer at the retro arcade classics of yesteryear that it aims to honor, though. Trading in the 1-life setup for co-op would be a wise start, as would be the addition of scoring. This gorgeous game might be better on sale, but it's an accomplished title that does many things with skill.

Read full review

8 / 10
Sep 30, 2021

Steel Assault is a great, action-packed experience that is very easy to recommend to fans of old-school retro arcade games. However, offering only one hour of playtime at that price point may put off newcomers to the genre.

Read full review

Unscored
Sep 30, 2021

Steel Assault is a great time if you have an hour or so to kill and want something that wears its retro influences on its sleeve. It’s stunning to look at and has some of the tightest controls of a 2D platformer on the market right now It’s one I’d recommend for anyone that still has a taste for the classics or for anyone that wants to try something new when ignoring their already overwhelming backlog.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Sep 30, 2021

Steel Assault is a hell of a lot of fun while it lasts, but unfortunately that’s not likely to be long. After that, there’s not much else to do but play through it again on a harder difficulty or try to tackle arcade mode, but that doesn’t really offer anything new. At least it looks and sounds great while it has you in its grasp. And its price is fairly reasonable.

Read full review

TrueGaming
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Oct 3, 2021

Steel Assault is an experience we recommend to fans of classic platform games, offering the exciting stages you're looking for, fast pace, innovative leader encounters and accuracy, the experience may be shorter than usual but undoubtedly satisfying.

Review in Arabic | Read full review

80 / 100
Oct 4, 2021

Those with a pocket full of quarters and a fervent love for the classics will be right at home with the side-scrolling action of Steel Assault. It might be a bit on the short side, but it encourages absolute mastery - just mind the gap.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Oct 5, 2021

I feel like I say this with a lot of games, but I really enjoyed Steel Assault until I didn't anymore. Up to that point, it was really fun, and I have to commend Zenovia Interactive on their effective graphical filters, which are a big part of the appeal.

Read full review

7.2 / 10.0
Oct 1, 2021

Steel Assault is an incredible retro-inspired game but unfortunately, its credits will roll once you really start vibing with its action-packed campaign. It's a prime example of how sometimes; great gameplay alone isn't quite enough.

Read full review

Recommended
Sep 28, 2021
Steel Assault (Quick Review) [PC] video thumbnail
Unscored
Sep 28, 2021

I’m a huge fan of games like this, that are respectable to what came before them and don’t try to merely ape them, but add something tasty to the formula. While Steel Assault stumbles somewhat along the way in its delivery, it’s still very playable and is a pleasurable challenging romp that is very much possible to succeed at if you stick with it.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Sep 28, 2021

Steel Assault uses a 16-bit atmosphere to create a great arcade experience. The action is nonstop through the various stages, which impress with creative situations (such as using the zipline) and extravagant confrontations against bosses. Furthermore, the game captivates with its flawless pixel art look and synthesizer soundtrack, resulting in a pleasing contemporary interpretation of retro elements. The intention is to rescue the arcade sensation, which means an accentuated challenge. However, just like other arcade titles, the duration is short and without significant extras other than different difficulties. In the end, Steel Assault is a short action and platform adventure that's worth it.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

6.5 / 10.0
Oct 6, 2021

As recommendations go, Steel Assault is certainly fun for an hour or so, but the price at launch seems high for the amount of content provided. If money isn’t a factor and you’re simply looking for a short and sweet side-scroller with fun combat and nice graphics, then this may be up your alley.

Read full review

87 / 100
Oct 3, 2021

Steel Assault is a fantastic game that is only flawed by one of its quality-of-life additions. Although the checkpoint system does make the storied experience really short, the addition of Arcade Mode is where people are going to get the great challenge. Zenovia Interactive went above and beyond the call of duty to make this game feel like it is from a different time, and this is honestly one of the best 16-bit games I have played in a long, long time.

Read full review

3.5 / 5.0
Sep 29, 2021

In many ways, Steel Assault is the best current example of a true arcade-style experience I’ve played. It’s full of action, style and is challenging enough for fans old and new. It even made me fondly recall games like Contra Hard Corps and Blazing Chrome.

Read full review