The Steel Empire

From Sega Retro

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TheSteelEmpire MDTitleScreen.png

The Steel Empire
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: HOT-B, Flying Edge (US/Europe)
Developer:
Sound driver: Cube/Noriyuki Iwadare
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥7,8007,800 T-28033
Sega Mega Drive
US
T-81046
Sega Mega Drive
EU
T-80146-50
Sega Mega Drive
AU

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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. A Game Boy Advance port was released in Japan and Europe in 2004.

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

You control one of two Silverhead aircraft, the Striker and the ZEP-01. Striker is a military aircraft that can go fast but is somewhat weak. ZEP-01 is a zeppelin that is considerably slower but can handle much more damage. C shoots to the right, B shoots to the left, and A launches a Super Bomb, which shoots lightning upon every enemy on screen. There are weapon enhancements, much like most other shooters, however they can be leveled up by collecting emblems throughout the level to fill up your EX bar (filling it up then getting one more levels up once).

Items

50px Bomb
Extra Lightning Bomb
50px Point
100 points
50px Vitality
Energy bonus
50px 1up
Extra life
50px Speed
Speed boost
50px Option
Adds outrigger planes
50px EXP
Adds experience

Stages

SteelEmpire MD Stage1.png

Stage 1 - The Mine City of Rahl

SteelEmpire MD Stage2.png

Stage 2 - The Liedengel Caverns

SteelEmpire MD Stage3.png

Stage 3 - Sky District Zektor

SteelEmpire MD Stage4.png

Stage 4 - Gardandi Beach

SteelEmpire MD Stage5.png

Stage 5 - Dama City

SteelEmpire MD Stage6.png

Stage 6 - Germburn Fortress

SteelEmpire MD Stage7.png

Stage 7 - Lunar Space

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 pretends it's 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

Other credits

  • Cover Illustration: Marc William Ericksen

Magazine articles

Main article: The Steel Empire/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

ES print advert
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #8: "May/June 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #8: "May/June 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-10: "October 1991" (1991-09-07)
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Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-11: "November 1991" (1991-10-08)
Logo-pdf.svg

Artwork

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
73 №1992-03, p36[5]
81 №, p83[6]
82 №7, p82/83[7]
90 №126, p62/63[8]
70 №48
79 №10, p64/65
50 №1992-02, p96
89 №14, p112-115[9]
82 №8, p90/91[10]
72 №26, p150[11]
84 №5, p91
85 №5, p36-39
70 №20, p96-98[12]
85 №25, p94/95[13]
86 №2/92, p8/9[14]
72 №8, p86/87[15]
54 №33, p36
72 №7, p43[16]
60 №18, p67
86 №12, p16[17]
63 №6/92, p48[18]
Sega Mega Drive
75
Based on
21 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[19]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
73
[20]
Consoles + (FR)
82
[7]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
90
[8]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
79
[21]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
65
[22]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
85
[23]
Games-X (UK)
70
[24]
Game Zone (UK)
79
[25]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
50
[26]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
89
[27]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-J
82
[10]
Joypad (FR) PAL
82
[28]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-J
72
[11]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
84
[29]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
68
[30]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
82
[31]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
70
[32]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC-J
85
[33]
Mean Machines (UK)
70
[12]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
70
[34]
Player One (FR)
85
[35]
Power Play (DE)
56
[36]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
54
[37]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
72
[16]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
60
[38]
Sega Force (SE)
86
[14]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
72
[15]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
81
[39]
Supergame (BR) NTSC-J
86
[17]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
44
[40]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
60
[41]
Video Games (DE)
63
[42]
Sega Mega Drive
72
Based on
33 reviews

The Steel Empire

Mega Drive, US
TSE MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Steelempire MD US cart.jpg
Cart
Steel Empire MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
EoS MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
EoS MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
SteelEmpire MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
SteelEmpire MD JP CartTop.jpg
SteelEmpire MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Steelempire md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

References

  1. File:SegaVisions US 08.pdf, page 58
  2. File:SegaForce UK 08.pdf, page 87
  3. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 78
  4. GamePro, "July 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 8
  5. File:BeepMD_JP_1992-03.pdf, page 38
  6. File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf, page 85
  7. 7.0 7.1 File:ConsolesPlus FR 007.pdf, page 82 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ConsolesPlus FR 007.pdf_p82" defined multiple times with different content
  8. 8.0 8.1 File:CVG UK 126.pdf, page 62 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 126.pdf_p62" defined multiple times with different content
  9. File:HobbyConsolas ES 014.pdf, page 104
  10. 10.0 10.1 File:Joypad FR 008.pdf, page 90 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 008.pdf_p90" defined multiple times with different content
  11. 11.0 11.1 File:Joystick FR 026.pdf, page 150 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 026.pdf_p150" defined multiple times with different content
  12. 12.0 12.1 File:MeanMachines UK 20.pdf, page 96 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 20.pdf_p96" defined multiple times with different content
  13. File:PlayerOne FR 025.pdf, page 90
  14. 14.0 14.1 File:SegaForce SE 1992 02.pdf, page 8 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce SE 1992 02.pdf_p8" defined multiple times with different content
  15. 15.0 15.1 File:SegaForce UK 08.pdf, page 86 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 08.pdf_p86" defined multiple times with different content
  16. 16.0 16.1 File:SegaPro UK 07.pdf, page 43 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 07.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content
  17. 17.0 17.1 File:Supergame BR 12.pdf, page 16 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Supergame BR 12.pdf_p16" defined multiple times with different content
  18. File:VideoGames DE 1992-06.pdf, page 46
  19. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 223
  20. Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1992" (JP; 1992-02-08), page 38
  21. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 41
  22. Famitsu, "1992-03-20" (JP; 1992-03-06), page 39
  23. GamePro, "June 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 56
  24. Games-X, "26th March-1st April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-26), page 22
  25. Game Zone, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-xx), page 64
  26. Hippon Super, "February 1992" (JP; 1992-01-07), page 96
  27. Hobby Consolas, "Noviembre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 112
  28. Joypad, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 166
  29. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 91
  30. Mega Drive Fan, "June 1992" (JP; 1992-05-08), page 83
  31. Mega Fun, "06/92" (DE; 1992-0x-xx), page 27
  32. Mega Play, "August 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 64
  33. MegaTech, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-20), page 36
  34. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 138
  35. Player One, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-11-10), page 94
  36. Power Play, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-13), page 146
  37. Sega Power, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-02), page 36
  38. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  39. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  40. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 178
  41. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "July 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 111
  42. Video Games, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-29), page 48