Steelrising Reviews
Steelrising is an ambitious game, and its actually good in terms of both gameplay and storytelling, but unfotunately its not as polished as we would've liked.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Steelrising is sort of an average Soulsborne game. The fascinating aesthetic doesn't hide the fact that it's repeating the same sort of things we've seen in a lot of other games, and it can't manage to carve out its own identity. That doesn't mean it is a bad title; the combat is largely fun, and there are enough little things to discover to keep you moving forward. Steelrising might help to scratch the post-Elden Ring itch, but otherwise, it's best for those who are looking for another Soulsborne to play.
Overall, Steelrising is a commendable stab at the Soulslike genre by Spiders. It’s visually appealing, and Aegis’ unique abilities eventually make exploration feel more rewarding while also enhancing the combat. Those jumping in should be aware that combat isn’t quite as tight at that found in the likes of Dark Souls though, and Steelrising is a bit rough around the edges in general. Still, there’s a lot to like here for those seeking out a challenge within a new setting.
Choppy combat and a lack of innovation aside, Steelrising is an incredibly unique take on the French Revolution with some brilliant environment and character designs, it just doesn't do enough to make it stand out from other titles in the genre.
I enjoyed my time with Steelrising much more than I thought I would. Usually, soulslikes don't come anywhere near FromSoftware's games but this is impressively close with the exception of its copious amounts of weird bugs and inconsistencies.
Steelrising is a story first, Souls-like second, with the player getting an alternative take on the French Revolution. The storyline, side quests and character development is pretty decent, but the combat does weigh it down since it is supposed to be more difficult than it is.
This game is the newest entry in the extremely popular Soulslike genre, but Steelrising simply doesn’t feel all that fun to play.
Undoubtedly another quality entry in the Soulslike lineage, not only drawing on inspiration, but also straying from the familiar path to chart its own image. Even with any flaws that arise, Steelrising is a product that Spiders should be proud of.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A fascinating game that isn’t quite a well oiled machine.
It is certain that the game creates an eye-catching mood by infusing 18th-century French Revolution and Automata into Souls-like gameplay. The game well supplemented its organized action and growth gimmicks for those who are not well aware of Souls-like games. However, you will eventually notice that the game is far from perfection when there are frequent frame drops, bugs and some loopholes that are hard to see in other Souls-like games.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Steelrising is a very unique Soulslike game. The developers clearly tried to make this game as French as possible and this worked well. The combat is fun and the bosses are also uniquely designed. The story is where Steelrising missed the mark. All characters look the same and it's just very boring to go through. The checkpoints and currency could have been better. The Assisst mode is the best aspect of this game, it helps newcomers to the Soulslike genre to give them the best experience as possible.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Steel Rising isn’t entirely a triumph. The narrative and the way it’s executed, the way you develop your character and its approach at something different is hugely commendable, but as a soulslike the timing feels off, the environment tends to get in your way and sadly it comes across being a bit dull. A real mixed bag.
For its first foray into this style of game, Spiders falls into some bad habits that never quite allow for the game to rise to its ambitions, settling into a groove that is at times competent but often uninspiring.
I didn’t know what to expect going into Steelrising. Expecting a challenge but on the whole, it was quite easy to pick up once I had gotten used to what I thought was going to be a complex battle scenario. I really enjoyed my time in-game, however, it felt like there was something missing when it came to the combat formula. I, therefore, award Steelrising a Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Spiders' middle-market Soulslike harnesses plenty of soul and style, but several rusty gears impair its greater potential.
The other area where Bloodborne’s influence can be seen is the level design. The cobble stone streets of France evoke Yharnam in not subtle ways. Where Steelrising sets itself apart, however, is the sheer verticality. Aegis can jump which allows her to climb to the rooftops to get around (where the game will allow it, of course) and eventually she acquires a grappling hook that allows her to ascend in specific areas for even more traversal options. It’s not open, and most of these areas just lead to item pickups or chests that contain armor or new weapons. Unlike Bloodborne, the levels of the game don’t really change save for one section that takes you into mines so it all eventually looks samey. More variety in the levels would have made the later portions of the game feel distinct and would have done wonders for the pacing of the game. In addition to the repeated enemy variety the back half of the game drags a bit.
With Steelrising, Spiders leaves the classic RPGs behind and tries their luck in the popular genre of FromSoftware.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Spiders have modified the soulslike formula in some very unique ways, but not for the worse. Steelrising's enjoyable and smooth gameplay might attract attention of wider gaming audience, however this might be curtailed by the very demanding GPU requirements.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Steelrising's atmosphere and plot may have made it the Bloodborne-inspired Soulslike that fans of From Software's masterwork have been hoping for. Unfortunately, Spiders only managed to deliver an average game, and its problematic gameplay makes it hard to recommend even to enthusiasts of the genre. There are elements that may have made it a great RPG in the vein of Souls, but the game's mechanics and presentation aren't polished enough to keep players engaged.
Steelrising sets itself apart from the Souls-likes by doing what Spiders does best, adding its own unique elements while preserving what is best about the genre.