Fans got a fresh look at Spiders' SteelRising at IGN's Summer of Gaming Expo. The new trailer offered players the best look at the game yet, and gave a somewhat better idea of what the title will be like when it launches. SteelRising is Spiders' follow up to GreedFall, and while there may end up being some similarities, SteelRising looks notably different from the developer's last game. While both games use an alternate take on history for their backdrops, so far, they look like very different games.
Spiders' last game, GreedFall, was considered by many to have the heart of a Dragon Age title. After its cancellation, SteelRising could fill Anthem's void of robotic action role-playing. While SteelRising looks quite different from Anthem, Spiders could capture that BioWare spirit again with its unique take on the French Revolution. While the new trailer is brief, it shows enough to suggest that SteelRising will be taking a different path to GreedFall in some key areas.
SteelRising Looks Much Darker
From a visual perspective, SteelRising looks very different from GreedFall. GreedFall is set on a lush island called Teer Fradee, where players navigate a heavily forested world filled with upstart colonies and native tribes. Teer Fradee is largely bright and vibrant, though it isn't without its darker turns. SteelRising, on the contrary, looks like a much darker world. SteelRising is set in a wartorn Paris, and looks to make use of much darker color palettes. Some fans have already drawn comparisons with Dunwall from the Dishonored series, and Yharnam from Bloodborne. The dark, urban setting of SteelRising is reinforced by the events shown in the trailer.
Spiders seem to be making the most of SteelRising's use of history. King Louis XVI's automaton army is roaming the streets while Paris is burning, and dead bodies occupy the city's streets. The trailer creates a bleak image of Spiders' version of Paris and sets the tone well. Players seemingly can expect a gloomy action role-playing experience set in a ruined Paris. Compared with GreedFall, it's clear that Spiders is trying to make SteelRising distinctive in its visual design and setting.
SteelRising's Gameplay
The new SteelRising trailer was touted as a gameplay trailer, and while it didn't give an in-depth look at how it'll play, there are some takeaways from it. In the few seconds of gameplay from the trailer, it appears as though the protagonist, Aegis, is performing some brisk action moves. It certainly appears to be more fast-paced than GreedFall and could suggest a more action-heavy approach in Spiders new game. This could lend strength to the theory that SteelRising won't have traditional classes.
The gameplay in GreedFall very much follows the action RPG approach, but SteelRising seems to bear a faster pace. In GreedFall, the gameplay isn't slow-paced, but it has a tactical edge to it. Players are free to pause the game and make each action a considered choice, engage in combat in real-time, or use a mix of both. The combat speed in SteelRising's new trailer might suggest that it will take place exclusively in real-time, though this is purely speculative. Additionally, it's fair to expect that the bulk of enemy forces in SteelRising will be robotic, rather than the humans and monsters of GreedFall.
Though the new trailer didn't reveal too much, players know a great deal more about SteelRising now. The short trailer gave players an idea of the grim setting and a possible indication that the gameplay will be a step further into action. SteelRising is already looking different to GreedFall with its darker visuals and unique take on history, and hopefully, Spiders will share more about the game soon. SteelRising is due to be featured at an event next month by its publisher, Nacon. Perhaps when some more information is revealed at this event, the differences between SteelRising and GreedFall will become more apparent.
SteelRising is currently in development for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.