The Legend of Steel Empire on PlayStation 4 is actually a reissue of the cult shoot 'em up title that was originally released in 1992 on the SegaMegaDrive console (also known as SteelEmpire) and which still exudes its nostalgic charm today.
The plot places the player in an alternate, steam-powered world full of airships, giant machines, and a steampunk aesthetic — while the main antagonists, known as the Motorhead Empire, threaten the world, the small Republic of Silverhead puts up a fight. The player takes on the role of a pilot trying to stop this regime.
The PlayStation 4 version retains the original two-dimensional "horizontal scroller" format - players choose between different planes or craft, fight against a multitude of enemies and large "boss" units, and must overcome a combination of attacks from the front and rear.
On the technical side, the re-release brings more stable performance and more adapted controls for the modern console, but visually it remains faithful to the original version — the sprites, smoke and steam engine effects, as well as the recognizable atmospheric music are retained. Although not radically modernized, the game shows respect for the original and offers a solid shoot 'em up experience for today's players and nostalgics alike.
Among the advantages are: the authenticity of the feeling of the original, a solid gameplay that requires reflexes and memory of enemy patterns, and a combination of retro style with a modern platform. On the other hand, the main complaint lies in the fact that it did not bring much additional content — the length of the game is relatively short, mods and variations are not abundant, and it may seem more accessible to players accustomed to today's "bullet hell" challenges.
The PlayStation 4 version of the game was provided by the publisher ININ GAMES for review purposes.
