Steel Storm: Burning Retribution

 PC
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. Everyeye.it
    Jun 14, 2011
    75
    Steel Storm is a nice scrolling shooter, with a few innovative features (as the first person view you can activate at will). Too bad it delivers a quite short experience.
  2. PC Gamer
    Aug 11, 2011
    65
    Simple, explosion-packed action is what SS:BR looks like, and that's exactly what it'll deliver. Nothing more, nothing less. [Oct 2011, p.78]
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  3. MEGamers
    Jun 13, 2011
    60
    Its good fun, but only for limited time and then it gets pale.
  5. Eurogamer
    May 27, 2011
    40
    Ideas like collaborative mission editing offer tantalising possibilities for the creatively minded, but they can't mask the flaws of a game lacking a central hook.

User Reviews

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User Score
5.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 73 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 73
  3. Negative: 27 out of 73
  1. diskincluded
    Aug 7, 2011
    0
    This game features such brilliant things as poor controls, poor timing, a tired (almost to death but evidently not quite there yet) premiseThis game features such brilliant things as poor controls, poor timing, a tired (almost to death but evidently not quite there yet) premise with a bland storyline, and then insults the player for quitting.
    Rather than well-paced action and good atmosphere I find myself sitting in one spot and staring blankly at the screen as I wait for some inanimate object's health bar to slowly run out as what can only be described as a half-deaf wazzock's attempt at ambient noise half-heartedly assaults my ears.
    Forgive me for leaving now but there are things I would rather be doing than spending more time focusing on this game, such as sticking my head in a toilet and flushing repeatedly.    … Full Review »
  2. namDa65
    Mar 11, 2012
    4
    Very bad netcode. Generic top down shooter that gets no points for originality. Not worth my time or yours. If it was free it is still blandVery bad netcode. Generic top down shooter that gets no points for originality. Not worth my time or yours. If it was free it is still bland and bad. Stay away… Full Review »
  3. phylumsinter
    Aug 4, 2011
    7
    This game was included in the Humble Indie Bundle, and i've played it for a good 5 hours as of this writing. The single player is simple: findThis game was included in the Humble Indie Bundle, and i've played it for a good 5 hours as of this writing. The single player is simple: find enemy A to open force field B to reach exit C. This formula is tolerable, as there are usually some great moments of oldschool gunplay, ambushes and the like between A and C. What it doesn't provide, however, is a compelling reason to do anything except shoot - the story here is basically nonexistant, there are no characters that stick out in my mind and though it could be said that story is ALWAYS missing from this type of game, it would have been a welcome addition to this otherwise rather cookie-cutter shooter. That doesn't mean the game isn't a lot of fun for a bit, but it does mean that it doesn't leave a strong impression.

    The production level when it comes to sound feels quite decent, though you'll probably turn on your own music and turn down the basic sound fx (almost all explosions are the SAME explosion, etc). Again, serviceable, but nothing to write home about.

    The look of the game is unique - feeling detailed and cartoonish in equal measure - i wish there was more variety to the enemies... In spots, it feels like the old 'Desert Strike' isometric helicopter games of the 16-bit era with shots coming from all directions while you try to find a safe spot to flank from heavier enemies. Level design has some nice variety and clever puzzle-type elements and secret passageways that break up the monotony of "shoot-shoot-open door-shoot-shoot" that otherwise comprises the gameplay.

    This is for the developers: I love what you're working towards here, but it still feels like a work in progress. Give us some back story, or at least a combo scoring system (how about when you reach a quad kill, you speed up for 3 seconds? something along those lines). Likewise with scoring, an online leaderboard system and more fleshed out weapon system with upgradeable weapons would be awesome, and a great motivator to stay alive instead of charging into every situation. A way to collect cash and purchase stuff with points at the end of each level would make this game infinitely more replayable and a strong contender for full-price purchasing. I can feel this is a labor of love, I hope you read these possibilities and find a way to bring them to this awesome beginning of a series. With a little work and some additions, i have no problems seeing this become a full price game!

    Score 7 - points deducted for: overall game variety, length, sound design choices.

    **multiplayer does exist, but i was unable to find any games during my review period.    … Full Review »
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