Over Horizon X Steel Empire Review (PlayStation 4)

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Over Horizon X Steel Empire Review, Play the original Steel Empire emulated on your modern consoles! And, as a bonus, we’ve included Over Horizon in this shooter bundle, Developed by HOT-B, the previously PAL territories exclusive and Japanese-only Over Horizon is seen as a spiritual successor to Steel Empire. This underrated classic has been called one of the best 8-bit shoot ’em ups on the NES, and finally, it arrives right at your doorstep.

Over Horizon X Steel Empire Review Pros:

  • Awesome 16-bit graphics.
  • 85.20MB Download size.
  • Platinum trophy.
  • Works on Playstation 5.
  • Graphics settings – display, color, shader style, and scale filter.
  • Five game versions in one – Over Horizon, The Steel Empire (MD), Steel Empire (GBA), The Steel Empire (MD JP), and Steel Empire (GBA JP).
  • Can remap the controls.
  • Steel Empire has four difficulties- Easy, Normal, Hard, and difficult.
  • Each game has its own set of unique cheats which can be turned on and off individually.
  • Secret or unreleased parts of the game are included like in Over Horizon playing as a samurai instead of a ship!
  • Save and loadstar support.
  • Full stats section.
  • Simple controls for both games.
  • A great collection for retrogamers and Shmup enthusiasts alike.
  • Solid action.
  • SHMUP gameplay.
  • Fantastic animations.
  • The GBA games have a Pixel persistence option that is basically Temporal anti-aliasing.
  • A great little package of some solid Shmup games and the other versions you may not have seen before.
  • Each game has its own set of wallpaper options.
  • A wide variety of enemies and bosses.
  • Each game version has two modes – a Standard and a challenge mode which affects what if any cheats and new features can be used.
  • Handy game rewind button.
  • In Over Horizon, you can edit your weapons.
  • Both games are 2D side-scroller Shmups.
  • A true nostalgia piece.

Over Horizon X Steel Empire Review Cons:

  • There are no history or museum-like entries to add more to the package and help explain the history of the games.
  • Not a lot of wallpaper choices.
  • Music is not that great as it tends to all sound the same.
  • The gameplay is very flat in Steel Empire.
  • Five game versions and four of them are the same game.
  • Little replayability.
  • No game manuals.

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Over Horizon X Steel Empire:

Official website.

Developer: InIn Gems

Publisher: Ratilikala Games

Store Links – 

PlayStation

  • 7/10
    Graphics - 7/10
  • 7/10
    Sound - 7/10
  • 7/10
    Accessibility - 7/10
  • 7/10
    Length - 7/10
  • 7/10
    Fun Factor - 7/10
7/10

Summary

Over Horizon X Steel Empire is a delightful collection for retrogamers and Shmup enthusiasts, offering a nostalgic trip with its awesome 16-bit graphics and solid action. The game works seamlessly on PlayStation 5 and boasts a manageable download size of 85.20MB. Players can enjoy five different versions of the game: Over Horizon, The Steel Empire (MD), Steel Empire (GBA), The Steel Empire (MD JP), and Steel Empire (GBA JP). Each version comes with its own unique cheats, wallpaper options, and modes, including Standard and Challenge modes. The ability to remap controls and the inclusion of a handy game rewind button add to the user-friendly experience. Additionally, Over Horizon allows players to edit their weapons, enhancing the gameplay.

The collection features simple controls, fantastic animations, and a wide variety of enemies and bosses, making it a great package for fans of 2D side-scroller Shmups. The GBA games include a Pixel persistence option, which acts as a form of Temporal anti-aliasing, further improving the visual experience. Despite these strengths, the game does have some drawbacks. The music tends to sound repetitive, and the gameplay in Steel Empire can feel flat. Moreover, the collection lacks history or museum-like entries that could provide more context and background about the games. The limited wallpaper choices and absence of game manuals also detract from the overall package.

In summary, Over Horizon X Steel Empire is a solid collection that offers a mix of nostalgia and engaging gameplay, though it falls short in areas like music variety and additional historical content. It’s a great pick for those looking to relive classic Shmup action.

Jim Smale

Gaming since the Atari 2600, I enjoy the weirdness in games counting Densha De Go and RC De Go as my favourite titles of all time. I prefer gaming of old where buying games from a shop was a thing, Being social in person was a thing. Join me as I attempt to adapt to this new digital age!