Beyond a Steel Sky Reviews
The 3D environments just don't have the same magic, either. Beyond a Steel Sky's visuals are basic, and its locations are all a bit sterile. And that's a shame, because at its core, this is a heartfelt and often charming video game. If you're an adventure fan, Foster's second foray into Union City is fun enough while it lasts — but it struggles to be anywhere near as memorable as the classic titles that it draws from.
A thoroughly absorbing and compelling sci-fi adventure story which perfectly balances dry humour and gripping narrative. It's worth overlooking the slightly dated cel shaded visuals and the linear structure in order to enjoy a refreshingly original game from the justly lauded developers.
Nonetheless, Beyond a Steel Sky magically brings its 1994 ancestor back to life. The style, the humour, the chirpy dystopia are all revived. However, a lot has happened since that first golden age of adventures, and if you want a creative addition to the indie-fuelled inventiveness of the modern genre then you should look elsewhere. This is a game that remembers exactly how great things were in 1994, but isn’t much interested in how great they were last week.
Straddling a fine line between tradition and modernization, Beyond a Steel Sky is a worthy follow up to the original that manages to create a compelling tale for fans of the 1994 classic and newcomers starting with this game alike.
In conclusion, Beyond a Steel Sky will hold great appeal for fans of the original game. The artwork is impressive and the story is interesting but there are many drawn-out sections that can affect the pace of the game. There is a lot of questioning required that can become tiresome but the sections within the LINC/MINOS system are very enjoyable. Puzzle-solving can be rather challenging at times but the developer has added a hint system to prevent players from rage quitting. No knowledge of the original game is required but for me personally, this feels like a slightly missed opportunity.
Whether or not you played its years-old predecessor, Beyond a Steel Sky is well worth your time. It’s well-written, funny and engaging – and despite a somewhat disappointing final act, it still shows that Revolution Software is leading the pack when it comes to crafting timeless adventure games. Robert Foster may have a forgettable name, but his journey is one that you’ll remember.
Although there are some bugs and missed opportunities, the issues that plagued the game's release on PC and Apple Arcade have been largely solved, making the console experience far smoother. The result is a game that suits both newcomers and those who experienced Beneath a Steel Sky. Newcomers will find a great story that can be enjoyed as an independent game. Those familiar with the franchise will find a sequel that was well worth the wait, although it's unlikely to reach the critical acclaim of its predecessor.
Beyond a Steel Sky is an impressive adventure game with an intriguing story and a fun hacking system that adds a layer of challenge. As you play, you'll constantly wonder what situation you'll face next and what chain of events you'll have to complete while you're there.
Beyond A Steel Sky is easy to recommend to anyone who would like a low stress mystery puzzle narrative adventure game. Although a sequel, the game does an excellent job of catching you up on previous events and you won’t feel out of the loop of the storylines. I hope this is a series that continues on. Although sometimes a bit slow in places with minor bugs, it’s an engaging world and story to be a part of, with creative puzzles and fun throughout.
A colourful and good-humoured 3D retread of 1990s point 'n' click adventures that despite the odd innovation suffers from the same frustrations and limitations as its ancient forebears.
Coming 27 years after its predecessor, Beyond a Steel Sky inevitably lacks the originality that made Beneath a Steel Sky such an instant classic, and a strong source of inspiration for many games that came later. Union City is now a 3D world, but it's still filled of clever puzzles and interesting characters, shaped around Cecil and Gibbons' view of society. It might not be as groundbreaking as the original, but Beyond a Steel Sky is still a good adventure that tries to offer a perspective on our society and how we should try to improve it without leaving anyone behind.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Revolution Software has taken 26 years to bring us the sequel to Beneath to Steel Sky and, despite being a very small studio, they manage to show us a game that, although not technically perfect, delivers without problems, and offers us a good example of the genre that has managed to continue, despite the years that have passed, the story of the original. If you liked the first one, we definitely recommend this second installment. And if you haven't been able to enjoy it, take advantage of the fact that it's now free on GOG and Steam, and take it as a preview of what you can enjoy in this sequel.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A long-awaited sequel to a 1994 classic that can't hold up against its predecessor.
Think of this game like a great Sc-Fi novel, only someones spilt coffee on it and now some of the pages are hard to read due to being stained or stuck together.
Beyond A Steel Sky might be one of the best examples of a point-and-click adventure game in the last few years.
Revolution's classic 1994 point-and-click adventure Beneath A Steel Sky saw you trawling the underbelly of a dystopian sci-fi city to uncover its grand conspiracy.
A good adventure game that faithfully recaptures the spirit of its predecessor while also welcoming new players with a few accessibility options and a storyline that can be appreciated even by those unfamiliar with Beneath a Steel Sky.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It was well worth waiting for this great sequel. Now lets hope they will fix this insane amount of bugs as soon as possible.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Beyond a Steel Sky is a great sequel, there some issues that stop this being a must buy but the adventure, humour and gameplay are all top notch
Beyond a Steel Sky plays well as a contemporary point-and-click adventure game but doesn't come off as a particularly striking or memorable one.