Difference between revisions of "The Steel Empire"

Latest revision as of 05:09, 9 October 2024

For the aftermarket re-release, see Steel Empire (Strictly Limited Games).

n/a

NTSC-U
PAL
NTSC-J

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

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1992-03-13^[2]	¥7,8007,800	T-28033
US	1992-06^[3]	$49.9549.95^[4]	T-81046
EU	1992-07		T-80146-50
PT	199x		MD81046
UK	1992-11-12^[5]	£39.9939.99^[6]	T-80146-50
SE (Rental)	199x
CZ	199x
AU	1992

Non-Sega versions
No results

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.

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

Plane select

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

Also known as
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

Source:

In-game credits^[7]

Cover artist (US/EU): Marc Ericksen

Source:

Uncredited

Magazine articles

Main article: The Steel Empire/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #8: "May/June 1992" (1992-xx-xx)

Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #8: "May/June 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
also published in:

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #36: "July 1992" (1992-xx-xx)^[8]
GamePro (US) #36: "July 1992" (1992-xx-xx)^[9]

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-10: "October 1991" (1991-09-07)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-11: "November 1991" (1991-10-08)

Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #7: "Noviembre 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
also published in:

Hobby Consolas (ES) #14: "Noviembre 1992" (1992-xx-xx)^[10]

Artwork

US/EU cover

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

40

^[11]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

73

^[12]

Consoles + (FR)

82

^[13]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

90

^[14]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

79

^[15]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

65

^[16]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

85

^[17]

Games-X (UK)

70

^[18]

Game Zone (UK)

79

^[19]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

50

^[20]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

89

^[21]

Joypad (FR)

NTSC-J

82

^[22]

Joypad (FR)

PAL

82

^[23]

Joystick (FR)

NTSC-J

72

^[24]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

PAL

84

^[25]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

68

^[26]

Mega Fun (DE)

NTSC-U

82

^[27]

Mega Play (US)

NTSC-U

70

^[28]

MegaTech (UK)

NTSC-J

85

^[29]

Mean Machines (UK)

70

^[30]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

70

^[31]

Player One (FR)

85

^[32]

Power Play (DE)

56

^[33]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

54

^[34]

Sega Pro (UK)

NTSC-J

72

^[35]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

60

^[36]

Sega Force (SE)

86

^[37]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

72

^[38]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

81

^[39]

Supergame (BR)

NTSC-J

86

^[40]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

44

^[41]

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US)

NTSC-U

60

^[4]

Video Games (DE)

63

^[42]

	72
Based on 33 reviews

The Steel Empire

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, PT
Cover

Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; black)
Cover

Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; orange)
Cover

Mega Drive, CZ (Datart)
Cover
Cart Manual

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 Prototypes: Prototype \| 1992-03-13

[:File:SteelEmpire_MD_JP_Box.jpg_p-1] File:SteelEmpire MD JP Box.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200702232146.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fmegadrive.2Fsoftware_l.html-2] 2.0 ^2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)

[:File:SegaVisions_US_08.pdf_p58-3] Sega Visions, "May/June 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 58

[:File:VG.26amp.3BCE_US_42.pdf_p111-4] 4.0 ^4.1 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "July 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 111

[5] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-11-16), page 28

[:File:SegaForce_UK_08.pdf_p87-6] Sega Force, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-09), page 87

[:File:Steel_Empire_MD_credits.pdf_p-7] File:Steel Empire MD credits.pdf

[:File:EGM_US_036.pdf_p78-8] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 78

[:File:GamePro_US_036.pdf_p8-9] GamePro, "July 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 8

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_014.pdf_p10-10] Hobby Consolas, "Noviembre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 10

[11] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 223

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1992-03.pdf_p38-12] Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1992" (JP; 1992-02-08), page 38

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_007.pdf_p82-13] Consoles +, "Mars 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 82

[:File:CVG_UK_126.pdf_p62-14] Computer & Video Games, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-15), page 62

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p41-15] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 41

[:File:Famitsu_JP_0170.pdf_p39-16] Famitsu, "1992-03-20" (JP; 1992-03-06), page 39

[:File:GamePro_US_035.pdf_p56-17] GamePro, "June 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 56

[:File:GamesX_UK_48.pdf_p22-18] Games-X, "26th March-1st April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-26), page 22

[:File:GameZone_UK_10.pdf_p64-19] Game Zone, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-xx), page 64

[20] Hippon Super, "February 1992" (JP; 1992-01-07), page 96

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_014.pdf_p112-21] Hobby Consolas, "Noviembre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 112

[:File:Joypad_FR_008.pdf_p90-22] Joypad, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-04-1x), page 90

[:File:Joypad_FR_015.pdf_p166-23] Joypad, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 166

[:File:Joystick_FR_026.pdf_p150-24] Joystick, "Avril 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 150

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p91-25] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 91

[:File:Mdfan_JP_1992-06.pdf_p83-26] Mega Drive Fan, "June 1992" (JP; 1992-05-08), page 83

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1992-06.pdf_p27-27] Mega Fun, "06/92" (DE; 1992-0x-xx), page 27

[:File:MegaPlay_US_0304.pdf_p64-28] Mega Play, "August 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 64

[:File:MegaTech_UK_05.pdf_p36-29] MegaTech, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-20), page 36

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_20.pdf_p96-30] Mean Machines, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-28), page 96

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p138-31] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 138

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_025.pdf_p94-32] Player One, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-11-10), page 94

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1992-06.pdf_p146-33] Power Play, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-13), page 146

[:File:SegaPower_UK_33.pdf_p36-34] Sega Power, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-02), page 36

[:File:SegaPro_UK_07.pdf_p43-35] Sega Pro, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-16), page 43

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p67-36] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1992_02.pdf_p8-37] Sega Force, "2/92" (SE; 1992-11-19), page 8

[:File:SegaForce_UK_08.pdf_p86-38] Sega Force, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-09), page 86

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p85-39] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85

[:File:Supergame_BR_12.pdf_p16-40] Supergame, "Julho 1992" (BR; 1992-07-xx), page 16

[41] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 178

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-06.pdf_p48-42] Video Games, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-29), page 48

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 | publisher={{company|[[HOT-B]]|region=Japan}}, {{company|[[Flying Edge]]|region=US, Europe}}
 | developer=[[HOT-B]]
+| distributor={{company|[[Ecofilmes]]|region=PT}}, {{company|[[Hent Gruppen]]|region=SE rental}}, {{company|[[Datart International]]|region=CZ}}
 | system=[[Sega Mega Drive]]
 | sounddriver=Cube/Noriyuki Iwadare
@@ Line 23: / Line 24: @@
 | md_date_eu=1992-07 <!-- SF UK 08 suggests August, though it doesn't really say it -->
 | md_code_eu=T-80146-50
-| md_date_uk=1992-09{{magref|segapro|12|9}}
+| md_date_uk=1992-11-12{{magref|ctw|413|28}}<!--1992-09{{magref|segapro|12|9}}-->
 | md_code_uk=T-80146-50
 | md_rrp_uk=39.99{{magref|sfuk|8|87}}<!--34.99{{magref|segapower|33|36}}-->
 | md_date_au=1992
 | md_date_pt=199x
+| md_code_pt=MD81046
 | md_date_se_r=199x
+| md_date_cz=199x
 }}
 | otherformats={{NonSega|GBA}}
@@ Line 270: / Line 273: @@
 | console=Mega Drive
 | region=PT
-| cover=
+| front=Empire Of Steel MD PT Box.jpg
+| back=Empire Of Steel MD PT Box Back.jpg
+| spinemissing=yes
+| cart=
+| manual=
+| item1=
+| item1name=EU Manual
 }}{{Scanbox
 | console=Mega Drive
-| region=SE rental (HENT black)
+| region=SE (rental; [[Hent Gruppen|Hent]]; black)
 | cover=SteelEmpire MD SE rental cover.jpg
 }}{{Scanbox
 | console=Mega Drive
-| region=SE rental (HENT orange)
+| region=SE (rental; [[Hent Gruppen|Hent]]; orange)
 | front=SteelEmpire MD SE rental ALT cover.jpg
 | spinemissing=yes

Difference between revisions of "The Steel Empire"

From Sega Retro

Latest revision as of 05:09, 9 October 2024

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Items

Stages

History

Legacy

Versions

Localised names

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Artwork

Physical scans

Technical information

References