Steel Empire

Or Empire of Steel as it was known in Europe

Finally after more than a year we in Europe could get our hand on this remaster of a classic shooter, Steel Empire. I got the original for the Sega Mega Drive and I guess it was the cover that grabbed me since I don't know why I would have bought it otherwise. I might have been into aviation at the time. That was a good buy I say. The visuals was amazing portraying this steam punk adventure and the amazing gadgets like trains, windmills and such. A pity the colour schemes have been changed for some of the enemies. I guess it was to adjust to a more "HD"-look as well the 3D which work nice and at least have some purpose in showing what you can pass through or not.Also the background visuals on some stages are amazing, especially the sky mission. Lastly the music is as good as I remember, but I think they toned it down from the original. Although they can't quite emulate the Mega Drives special sound so it might be cleaner, but misses the grit that pushed the original up and beyond.

They even showed the notes for the intro at the intro screen

So what is it about? The Empire of Motorhead, lead by General Saurlon (the l is silent) has conquered its neighbours with their machines fueled with coal and steam and only the republic of Silverhead remains and by equipping their last line of defence, the Reinhardt, with a bipedal plane and zeppelin capable of using the newly discovered weapon Lightning Bomb and attacking the Empire at its core, the Imperial Capital Damned. First you save your ally mining town, then stop the empire from attacking through some abandoned mines. You attack the empire head on at there sky fortress and takes a diversion through the imperial anti-air batteries at the coast. Sadly the ruse is found out and the Reinhardt is destroyed leaving you and your plane/zeppelin as the only hope against the capital. You take the capital, but Saurlon escapes to his mountain fortress which you climbs and enters and find a cannon capable of sending a rocket to the moon. You fly after him and after a long battle his rocket is destroyed.

Reenactment of Saurlons journey

How awesome is that? A freaking space battle on the moon surface with a plane/zeppelin firing lightning bombs. This would be an awesome cartoon series for at least 14 episodes. I finished this game once as kid and on easy, took me a whole lot of lives and maybe even a continue. This time one sitting 2-3 deaths, of course also on easy, but it feels like I'm better at this now. I really like this game and to me well worth the wait. I actually thought we never would see it here and then they drop the price right of the bat compared to the American release. Awesome, although I will have to get better to finish the damn achievement puzzle so I can see the whole picture.

Thunder and Lightning heading your way, Stormbringer coming, time to die!