If there’s one video game franchise that’s synonymous with the stealth action genre, it’sMetal Gear. Konami’s espionage series has been around since the late 1980s, and it’s had an immeasurable amount of influence on the gaming industry at large. The firstMetal Gearinstallment was the brainchild of video game auteur Hideo Kojima, and although it was rather rudimentary for its time, it laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the stealth video game genre. Later entries in the series, likeMetal Gear SolidandMetal Gear Solid 2: Guns of the Patriots, popularized the concept of cutscene-heavy, cinematic video games.
Ever since Hideo Kojima unceremoniously broke up with Konami in 2015, theMetal Gearfranchise has largely fallen by the wayside; that is, until recently. Back in 2023, Konami released a remastered compilation of the first threeMetal Gearinstallments for modern platforms, which was namedMetal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1. Additionally, later this year, the company is going to launcha full-blown remake ofMGS 3calledMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and it will be the first mainline installment in theMetal Gearfranchise in nearly a decade. Since this game is still a few months away, however, fans may want to check out another stealth title, likeSteel Seed, in the meantime.
Steel Seed is the Perfect Game to Play While Waiting for MGS Delta: Snake Eater
Steel Seed, a New Game from Storm in the Teacup, Flew Under the Radar Last Week
The last few weeks of April have been chaotic for video game releases. The turn-based RPGClair Obscur: Expedition 33became the talk of the town when it came out on April 24, andThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remasteredset the gaming community on firewhen it was shadow-dropped by Bethesda a few days earlier. Amid all this ruckus, a few games that were released last week have slipped through the cracks. Take, for example, the stealth action-adventure titleSteel Seed. This game made its debut on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC a couple of days ago, but it hasn’t really taken off that much, despite promising user reviews.
Steel Seedwas developed by Storm in a Teacup, an independent Italian studio that’s best known for its work onClose to the Sun, a steampunk adventure game that came out in 2019.Close to the Sunwas a relatively slow-paced gamewith little-to-no combat.Steel Seed, on the other hand, is not like that. This game, which is set on a futuristic, post-apocalyptic Earth, follows the adventures of a woman named Zoe who, along with her drone companion Koby, has to explore a deadly underground facility and discover the secrets to saving humanity.
Stealth and Storytelling are Two Major Aspects of Steel Seed’s Gameplay Loop
Compared to theMetal Geargames,Steel Seedis a bit more action-oriented, and it doesn’t feature as many characters. Instead of prioritizing any complex plotlines, the game’s narrative primarily focuses on Zoe’s gradual character development. As players progress through the game, they’ll encounter a lot of deadly robots inhabitingSteel Seed’s sandbox levels. In most cases, players must use their stealth abilities and surrounding environments to pass by the robots and attack them from the shadows. However, they can resort to confrontational tactics instead.
Despite Critic Reviews for Steel Seed, It’s Still Worth Checking Out
Admittedly, critics have not fallen in love withSteel Seed; the game has largely received a mixed reception from most outlets. However, on sites like Steam, the userreviews forSteel Seedare a lot more glowing. At the time of writing, the game has a 95% Very Positive rating on Steam. Even thoughSteel Seedis relatively short and doesn’t have the best production values, many have praised the title and labeled it as a shining example of a high-quality AA game.Steel Seedmay not blow people away, like many of the earlyMetal Geargames did, but it’s still worth giving a shot, especially for those who are craving a stealth-focused experience.
