French video game developer Spiders has been around for quite some time, but in the last few years, it has gained a particularly significant amount of attention. Its 2019 title GreedFall sold well and earned a few award nominations, but most importantly, it generated interest in more work from Spiders. Luckily, fans won't have to wait long. The studio plans to release its next game, SteelRising, later this year. Spiders just released new gameplay footage for SteelRising, giving fans a better look at the action RPG's gameplay, setting, and protagonist. Fans have known about its alternate history of France for some time, but the new footage puts fans in the middle of the action.
In SteelRising, players control an automaton named Aegis who takes up arms to defeat King Louis XVI, who has begun terrorizing the citizens of Paris with an army of clockwork machines. The core gameplay of SteelRising looks fairly familiar as far as action RPG gameplay goes, especially compared to Soulslike games, but SteelRising is still highly distinct from the competition, thanks in large part to its unique lore and looks. SteelRising's sci-fi retelling of the French Revolution will go a long way to elevate the game's combat and other gameplay components.
The Context of SteelRising
The aesthetic and setting of SteelRising look like major strengths well before the game's release. Aegis and SteelRising's other automatons all have highly detailed designs inspired by art and fashion from late 18th century France. Thanks to that, it's hard to compare SteelRising's looks to any other game; the French Revolution is a moment in history that few other games have explored. 1789's Paris will also serve as an excellent setting for the game's levels. Players will get the opportunity to visit famous historic sites like the Notre-Dame cathedral, and they'll likely explore the hardships of French life that led to the revolution too. Those elements could add up to a rich, layered piece of historical fiction.
SteelRising's interesting context matters because it can make the core gameplay elements more exciting. For instance, SteelRising's combat hasn't majorly set itself apart from the competition so far. Its emphasis on spending stamina wisely and actively studying bosses makes it feel very similar to Elden Ring and other Soulslike games. However, although the mechanics of fighting an enemy might be familiar, the designs and battlefields that players encounter will be highly distinct from most other action RPGs. The combination of highly detailed automatons and the streets of Revolution-era Paris add up to a set of engaging visuals that could make combat a real treat to look at.
SteelRising Has a Chance to Stand Out
The gameplay of SteelRising could still add up to something special in its own right. Integrating all of Aegis' weapons directly into her body is definitely a good use of her mechanical design, and some weapons shown off by Spiders don't look like any weapon found in Dark Souls. The mechanical side of SteelRising will stand out as long as Spiders leans into these ideas and others, like unique enemy designs and RPG skills that are only available to SteelRising thanks to its steampunk sci-fi elements. Trailers suggest that Spiders intends to do just that, so hopefully the final experience of combat, as well as SteelRising's other RPG elements, stands out from the crowd.
In terms of visuals and storytelling potential, however, SteelRising is already poised to earn high marks. The French Revolution setting can lead to a long list of characters who respond to France's turmoil and advancing technology in different ways, while SteelRising's map is bound to be littered with real-world locations that have been modified with an automaton twist. Spiders seems highly enthusiastic about SteelRising's story, based on the amount of work that has gone into the game's lore. If Spiders backs that up with a unique action RPG experience, then SteelRising could be a hit.
SteelRising releases September 8, 2022 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
