Review: Code Name S.T.E.A.M.

Japanese game development studio Intelligent Systems has designed a good number of strategy titles over the course of its history. Responsible for both Fire Emblem and Advance Wars, the studio has since launched an all new series that follows the peculiar adventures of Abraham Lincoln and a squad of super secret agents derived from classical literature to defend Earth against an alien invasion.

Set in a Steampunk universe with art direction reminiscent of Marvel superhero comic books, Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. is the latest title from Intelligent Systems to borrow heavily from disparate sources. It features the gameplay of XCOM with a dash of Valkyria Chronicles set against the backdrop of a bizarre, Jack Kirby-inspired setting. The game’s mish-mash of influences come together nicely like an odd but not-unpleasant-tasting cocktail.

As the name would suggest, the world of Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. is dependent upon steam-powered technology. Set in the late 1800s, the game stars Henry Fleming, John Henry, Tom Sawyer, and other characters from famous 1800s literary classics. Together, this league of extraordinary gentlemen must band together under the banner of Abraham Lincoln and fend off an alien invasion.

The game offers more than just lip service to these popular literary characters, and fans of the books will find a lot to like in the characters as they appear to truly resemble their literary counterparts in more than just name and appearance. There are references, familiar tropes, and characterizations that stay fairly true to the literary characters they’re based on.

As for the game mechanics, it’s a mix of turn-based strategy and third-person shooting. Instead of having numerous characters to control, you’re given just four to play with in each level. Each is limited in the actions they can perform based on the amount of steam they have. Steam serves as an action point resource in the game, determining how far you can move, how many attacks you can perform, and a multitude of other actions on the field. Preserving your action points (sorry, steam) will allow you to enter overwatch mode that allows you to perform pre-emptive strikes on enemies during their turns.

Unlike XCOM, every character comes equipped with a specialized weapon unique to their character. You won’t be able to equip new weapons, but that’s OK–this gives each character an individual feel and a special place in your ranks. It’s different from having a host of replaceable conscripts to play with.

Unfortunately, there are a few qualities that set the game back from attaining true greatness. For starters, because of the game’s limited camera, you won’t be able to see what your enemy is doing during their turns. This seems like a grave oversight, especially in a game that emphasizes strategy over all else. All you can do during enemy turns is to wait for the progress bar to fill up, and that’s disappointing. The gameplay does get exciting when enemies attack, but without proper visibility of their actions and positions, it can be difficult to plan out your moves.

Beyond the game’s single player campaign are a few multiplayer modes that pit players against each other in various competitive settings. There’s Deathmatch, in which two players go head-to-head against each other; and Medal Battle, which sees players collecting the most medals in a limited set of time.  As with many other Nintendo 3DS games, Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. comes with Streetpass functionality, but I never had a chance to test that out.

Overall, Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. looks great–especially on the New 3DS–and the gameplay it offers gives players something to do besides grinding in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. Fans of XCOM and Valkyria Chronicles will find a lot to like in the game, and the tribute to literary characters will be a joy for anyone who’s ever actually enjoyed reading the classics.