The Steel Empire
From Sega Retro
- For the aftermarket re-release, see Steel Empire (Strictly Limited Games).
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Steel Empire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
System(s): Sega Mega Drive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: HOT-B (Japan), Flying Edge (US, Europe) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: HOT-B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT), Hent Gruppen (SE rental), Datart International (CZ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sound driver: Cube/Noriyuki Iwadare | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Shooting[1][2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Steel Empire, called Empire of Steel in Europe and Koutetsu Teikoku (鋼鉄帝国) in Japan, is a 1992 shoot-'em-up for the Sega Mega Drive developed by HOT-B and published in the US and Europe by Acclaim-owned Flying Edge.
In the US, the game was originally set to be published by Sage's Creation under the title Battlewings, before handing the license to Acclaim.
Contents
Story
The game presents itself as an old-time war film produced by the "HOT-B Film Corporation". In the film, the future is the Steel Age, where a military dictatorship called Motorhead enslaved the human population. The only hope for freedom is the Republic of Silverhead, who managed to remain independent, and who alone has the weapons to take out Motorhead.
Gameplay
The game is a horizontally scrolling shoot-'em-up that takes place in an alternate late 19th century world. Aircraft and weaponry have a "steampunk" aesthetic, with propeller-based aircraft, biplanes, dirigibles, and heavily armored steam trains featuring as enemy designs. The player can choose between two Silverhead aircraft, the Striker and the ZEP-01. The Striker is a nimble propeller plane, and the ZEP-01 is bulky but durable zeppelin.
The aircraft can move in any direction using the D-Pad. It shoots to the left with or shoots to the right with (but cannot shoot in both directions at the same time). In addition to firing a stream of bullets in front of or behind the aircraft, each craft also fires a secondary weapon simultaneously. The Striker drops bombs downward at ground targets, while the ZEP-01 launches bombs in an upward arc (which then plummet toward the ground if they do not hit a target). Both aircraft carry a limited supply of Lightning Bombs, which are detonated with . Lightning Bombs explode in a burst of lightning that destroys every enemy on screen (as well neutralizing enemy projectiles).
The game features a leveling system: after collecting three experience power-ups, the aircraft gains a level, increasing the strength of its primary and secondary weapons, up to a maximum of 20. The aircraft can also be equipped with two outrigger planes that follow it and add additional firepower.
The aircraft has a vitality gauge, which empties as it takes damage from enemies. The gauge flashes "WARNING!" when the aircraft is one hit away from destruction. It respawns in place if the player has extra lives remaining, retaining its experience and level. If all lives are lost, the player must use a continue, which restarts the player at either the beginning or midpoint of a stage depending on the player's progress. Continuing zeroes the player's score but keeps the aircraft's level.
Items
Destroy to release an item. | |
Destroy to release a ring of five EXP items and one Point item. | |
Bomb | |
Arms the aircraft with another Lightning Bomb. | |
Point | |
Awards 100 bonus points. | |
Vitality | |
Restores some vitality to the aircraft. | |
Speed | |
Increases the movement speed of the aircraft. | |
Option | |
Adds 2 outrigger planes, which are small planes that follow the aircraft and augment its fire. | |
EXP | |
Adds another square of experience. The aircraft levels up with every three experience points acquired, up to level 20. | |
1-Up | |
Gives the player an extra life. |
Stages
The Mine City of Rahl | |
---|---|
The Liedengel Caverns | |
Sky District Zektor | |
Gardandi Beach | |
Dama City | |
Germburn Fortress | |
Lunar Space | |
History
Legacy
A Game Boy Advance remake was released in Japan and Europe in 2004. Another remake was released for the Nintendo 3DS eShop in 2014. It was later ported to PC and released on Steam in 2018.
Versions
Localised names
Language | Localised Name | English Translation |
---|---|---|
English | Empire of Steel | Empire of Steel |
English (US) | The Steel Empire | The Steel Empire |
Japanese | 鋼鉄帝国 | Koutetsu Teikoku |
Production credits
As the game presents itself as a film, some of the staff roles make little sense in this game. In situations where the actual role is known, it is parenthesized after the role given in the game.
- Director: N.Yamaguchi
- Co-Director: Y.Satake
- Producer: A.Tomonaga
- Executive Producer: J.Kuriyama
- Screenplay: K.Asai
- Based on the Novel by: Carr.H.Schitch: (ↄ)"Steel Empire" 1819
- Music: Cube Co., Ltd.
- Music Composer: I.Mizoguchi, Y.Kubotera, N.Iwadare
- Special Sound Effectes: [sic] M.Hikichi
- Re-Recording Engineer: Dougen.Sibuya
- Production Supervisor: A.Tomonaga
- Operating Cameramen: Y.Hirasawa, T.Suzuki
- Location Director of Photography: (co-programmer): K.Endoh
- Conceptual Artist: Kemono I.
- Art Director: S.Hatsuya
- Set Director: K.Nishi
- Mattepainting Supervisor: V.Bestie
- Modelshop Supervisor: S.Riot.H
- Construction Manager: [sic] M.Yorozuya
- Head Effects Animation: N.Yamaguchi
- Steadicam(R) Plate Photography: K.Suganuma, N.Nakane, A.Tomonaga
- Translation Assist: Sarah.Y
- Cover artist (US/EU): Marc Ericksen
Magazine articles
- Main article: The Steel Empire/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- (ES) #14: "Noviembre 1992" (1992-xx-xx)[10]
Artwork
Physical scans
Sega Retro Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
72 | |
---|---|
Based on 33 reviews |
Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; black) |
---|
Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; orange) |
---|
Mega Drive, CZ (Datart) |
---|
Technical information
- Main article: The Steel Empire/Technical information.
References
- ↑ File:SteelEmpire MD JP Box.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
- ↑ Sega Visions, "May/June 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 58
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "July 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 111
- ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-11-16), page 28
- ↑ Sega Force, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-09), page 87
- ↑ File:Steel Empire MD credits.pdf
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 78
- ↑ GamePro, "July 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 8
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Noviembre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 10
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 223
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1992" (JP; 1992-02-08), page 38
- ↑ Consoles +, "Mars 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 82
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-15), page 62
- ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 41
- ↑ Famitsu, "1992-03-20" (JP; 1992-03-06), page 39
- ↑ GamePro, "June 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 56
- ↑ Games-X, "26th March-1st April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-26), page 22
- ↑ Game Zone, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-xx), page 64
- ↑ Hippon Super, "February 1992" (JP; 1992-01-07), page 96
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Noviembre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 112
- ↑ Joypad, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-04-1x), page 90
- ↑ Joypad, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 166
- ↑ Joystick, "Avril 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 150
- ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 91
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "June 1992" (JP; 1992-05-08), page 83
- ↑ Mega Fun, "06/92" (DE; 1992-0x-xx), page 27
- ↑ Mega Play, "August 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 64
- ↑ MegaTech, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-20), page 36
- ↑ Mean Machines, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-28), page 96
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 138
- ↑ Player One, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-11-10), page 94
- ↑ Power Play, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-13), page 146
- ↑ Sega Power, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-02), page 36
- ↑ Sega Pro, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-16), page 43
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
- ↑ Sega Force, "2/92" (SE; 1992-11-19), page 8
- ↑ Sega Force, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-09), page 86
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
- ↑ Supergame, "Julho 1992" (BR; 1992-07-xx), page 16
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 178
- ↑ Video Games, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-29), page 48
The Steel Empire | |
---|---|
Main page | Comparisons | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs |
- 1 player games
- JP Mega Drive games
- All JP games
- US Mega Drive games
- All US games
- EU Mega Drive games
- All EU games
- PT Mega Drive games
- All PT games
- UK Mega Drive games
- All UK games
- SE Mega Drive games
- All SE games
- CZ Mega Drive games
- All CZ games
- AU Mega Drive games
- All AU games
- Mega Drive games
- 1992 Mega Drive games
- All 1992 games
- Mega Drive shoot-'em-up games
- All shoot-'em-up games
- All games
- Bad translation
- Credits without reference
- The Steel Empire