Steel Reign
{{Short description|1997 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}{{infobox video game
| image = Steel Reign cover.jpg
| image_size =
| developer = Chantemar Creations
Sony Interactive Studios America
| publisher = Sony Computer Entertainment
| director =
| producer =
| artist =
| writer =
| composer =
| platforms = PlayStation
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|October 9, 1997{{cite web |author=GameSpot staff |date=October 9, 1997 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/videogamespot-game-calendar/1100-2467350/ |title=VideoGameSpot Game Calendar [date mislabeled as "April 26, 2000"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990421082205/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_10/09_vcal/index.html |archive-date=April 21, 1999 |url-status=live |access-date=October 29, 2021}}|EU|February 1998}}
| genre = Vehicular combat
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| title = Steel Reign
}}
Steel Reign is a vehicular combat video game developed by Chantemar Creations and Sony Interactive Studios America and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It was the only game to be developed by Chantemad Creations, which was absorbed by Verant Interactive, now Daybreak Game Company.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| Allgame = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Weiss |first=Brett Alan |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7971&tab=review |title=Steel Reign - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114205818/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7971&tab=review |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 29, 2021}}
| CNG = 2/10{{cite web |last=Ham |first=Tom |date=November 7, 1997 |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Steelrn/ |title=Steel Reign |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816210528/http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Steelrn/ |archive-date=August 16, 2000 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 29, 2021}}
| EGM = 4.875/10{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |title=Steel Reign |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=100 |date=November 1997 |page=202}}
| GI = 7.75/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/nov97/sreign.html |title=Steel Reign |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=55 |date=November 1997 |page=83 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980121112143/http://www.gameinformer.com/nov97/sreign.html |archive-date=January 21, 1998 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 29, 2021}}
| GameFan = 58%{{cite magazine |last1=Halverson |first1=Dave "E. Storm" |last2=Hobbs |first2=Michael "Substance D" |last3=Griffin |first3=Mike "Glitch" |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_5_Issue_10/page/n29/mode/2up |title=Steel Reign |magazine=GameFan |publisher=Metropolis Media |volume=5 |issue=10 |date=October 1997 |page=24 |access-date=October 29, 2021}}{{efn|Three critics of GameFan gave the game each a score of 65, 66, and 43 in an early review.}}
| GameRev = D+{{cite web |author=Mike D. |date=December 1997 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33945-steel-reign-review |title=Steel Reign Review |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040206035334/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/sony/steelreign.htm |archive-date=February 6, 2004 |url-status=live |access-date=October 29, 2021}}
| IGN = 7/10{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=September 17, 1997 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/09/17/steel-reign |title=Steel Reign |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=October 29, 2021}}
| NGen = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_37/page/n155/mode/2up |title=Steel Reign |magazine=Next Generation |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=37 |date=January 1998 |page=154 |access-date=October 29, 2021}}
| OPM = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Malec |first=Dave |url=https://archive.org/details/official-u.-s.-play-station-magazine-volume-1-issue-02-november-1997/page/n101/mode/2up |title=Steel Reign |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |volume=1 |issue=2 |date=November 1997 |page=100 |access-date=October 29, 2021}}
}}
Steel Reign received mixed to negative reviews. Electronic Gaming Monthly{{'}}s Steve Harris liked the game, opining that it offers a good balance of realism and arcade fun which is enhanced by the selection of vehicles and weapons, but his three co-reviewers all said that it looks and plays like a generic first generation PlayStation game, with mostly non-interactive environments, rough and pixelation textures, and lack of color. One of them, Ken "Sushi-X" Williams, also argued that the selection of vehicles is meaningless since one tank is obviously superior to the others, and even with the weakest tank the game is boringly easy. Like EGM, Next Generation found the game's simplistic action dull and comparable to first generation PlayStation games, concluding that "Had Steel Reign been released at the same time as Warhawk, it may have seemed more impressive. As it is, it's just another action title with lots of guns and explosions." Glenn Rubenstein, writing for GameSpot, instead contended that the game has a frustrating level of challenge, and praised its full motion video sequences, selection of weapons, multiplayer mode, and soundtrack, assessing that "it definitely ranks in the top 10 percent of what is currently out there." GamePro found the maze-like level designs in Steel Reign irritatingly restrictive, and while agreeing that the multiplayer mode is fun, felt that it was soured by the fact that matches are so short, they are nearly outlasted by their load times. They summarized that "Every time a bright side to this game pops up, it's pummeled by four problems. This one's a rental at best."{{cite magazine |author=Boba Fatt |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_110_Volume_09_Number_11_1997-11_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n145/mode/2up |title=Steel Reign |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=110 |date=November 1997 |page=146 |access-date=October 29, 2021}}{{efn|GamePro gave the game 4/5 for graphics, 3.5/5 for sound, 4.5/5 for control, and 2.5/5 for fun factor.}} IGN gave the game an above-average review, a few weeks before its U.S. release date.
The Electric Playground{{'}}s Tommy Tallarico gave the game a 6/10, while co-host Victor Lucas gave it a 4/10.{{cite web |author=EPNdotTV |date=January 26, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybubQ5brMow |title=Electric Playground: Season 1, Episode 7 |website=YouTube |publisher=Google |access-date=August 26, 2018}}
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Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/playstation/steel-reign}}
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:PlayStation (console) games
Category:PlayStation (console)-only games
Category:Science fiction video games
Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment games
Category:Tank simulation video games
Category:Third-person shooters