Steel Seed – Everything You Need to Know

In a studio based in Rome, known as Storm in a Teacup, together with publishers ESDigital Games, is producing an upcoming science fiction adventure titled “Steel Seed“. This game follows the narrative of Zoe, a human mind housed within a robotic body. Players will traverse a captivatingly designed, planet-sized industrial facility using parkour-style movements, while combatting various forms of artificial intelligence as part of a struggle to stay alive. Set to release on April 22nd, here are twelve exciting in-game aspects to anticipate.

Post-cataclysmic world

In the gripping game Steel Seed, I find myself delving through the skeleton of a colossal planet-sized factory that metaphorically survived a catastrophe, as Storm in a Teacup’s developers call it post-cataclysmic. After a disastrous event pushed humanity to the verge of extinction, Earth became uninhabitable, forcing machines to assume control over the remaining human settlements. The AI-dominated underground facility is vast, haunting, and evocative, with towering industrial landscapes and chilling biodomes serving as settings for a story that delves into the essence of humanity.

Drone companion – Koby’s flight mode

As I stir to life as Zoe, a human mind housed within a mechanical body, I find myself on a journey of self-exploration, driven by the desire to uncover my past and locate my father. Yet, I’m not alone in this quest. By my side is Koby, an advanced prototype drone, who proves to be an invaluable companion. With his unique abilities, he can guide me through various situations. When activated, Koby’s flight mode enables him to survey our surroundings, map out paths and shortcuts, and even interact with the environment in ways I couldn’t, like flicking switches that are just out of reach or manipulating mechanisms to progress further.

Stealth gameplay

In “Steel Seed,” you’ll find yourself immersed in a stealth-action adventure where shadows, distractions, and the environment are your allies for sneaking around unnoticed. The game offers flexibility in how you choose to approach stealth, as there isn’t one single way to navigate an area teeming with enemies. If you prefer a non-confrontational approach, you can guide Zoe through areas of holographic tall grass while crouching. Yet, stealth takedowns are still available, allowing for stylish kills from above, behind, and below. The stealth gameplay in “Steel Seed” leans towards a sandbox style, reflecting the expertise that Carlo Ivo Alimo Bianchi, founder of Storm in a Teacup and “Steel Seed” game director, gained while working on the “Hitman” series.

Using Koby for stealth

An effective strategy for a covert approach is studying enemy movement patterns, which we’ve previously discussed in relation to Koby’s abilities. As Koby surveys the terrain ahead, he can label several visible targets, making it possible for both the drone and Zoe to identify them. This knowledge about enemy routes enables stealthy takedowns or successful evasion. The holographic grass we previously mentioned? Koby can acquire skills like creating digital grass coverings for areas that lack sufficient natural camouflage.

Parkour and platforming

In the vast underground complex, Zoe navigates primarily through parkour and 3D platforming movements. Essentially, she jumps over gaps, grips handholds, walks on ledges, runs along walls, and leaps to more handholds – all marked with a typical yellow paint. This involves performing various parkour tricks, although some aren’t exclusive to the game “Steel Seed“. However, it’s this artificially created environment – built for machines, not people – that introduces unique challenges and layouts, adding an intriguing twist to 3D platforming.

Dynamic combat

In Steel Seed, as mentioned on its Steam page, you’ll engage in battles against diverse enemy types and formidable bosses, each possessing unique skills. Although the variety of enemies hasn’t been extensively showcased in the shared gameplay footage yet, during an interview with ESDigital Games’ brand manager Ilia Svanidze, she revealed that Zoe will encounter turrets, dual knife-wielding Stalkers, massive Brutes, and simpler patrolling robots. In situations where stealth fails and combat ensues, Zoe can use light and heavy attacks with her glowing neon blade. Since enemy strikes are incredibly potent, dodging becomes crucial for the rhythm of combat.

Perfect dodge

If players manage to dodge an adversary’s assault at the right instant, they’ll perform a Perfect Dodge. This move triggers a unique ability for Zoe, causing her to inflict significant damage on her foes. A perfect dodge is signaled by a bright burst of pixelated light, as demonstrated in official gameplay footage where Zoe acrobatically rolls over an attacking enemy while her glowing sword slices cleanly through their mechanical parts. Here’s hoping that there are plenty of special attack sequences to enjoy, as mastering the perfect dodge seems like the most rewarding way to defeat Zoe’s adversaries.

Using Koby in combat

In other words, the drone named Koby isn’t limited to just surveying surroundings; he proves his worth in combat as well, thanks to his front-mounted cannon. This weaponry allows for precise targeting of an enemy’s vulnerable spots, causing temporary disorientation along with inflicting damage. Interestingly, Koby can also direct his ranged attacks towards explosive barrels from a distance, effectively clearing out groups of enemies by detonating them remotely.

Upgradeable abilities

During combat, Zoe and Koby accumulate experience points (XP) that they can immediately invest in their respective skill trees. Zoe has two skill trees at her disposal, while Koby has one. Together, these trees offer a wide variety of passive abilities and main skills. Players are free to decide how they allocate their XP. It’s important to note that completing a skill tree is not possible within a single gameplay session. Instead, players must strategically choose which skills they want to unlock from the total of forty options available. These range from damage boosts, cannon upgrades for Koby, or capabilities to explore more of the environment in greater depth.

Notable ability – hacking

One notable skill showcased in gameplay involves Koby’s capability to manipulate enemies digitally. In one of Zoe’s stealth takedowns, instead of physically splitting a robot foe, Koby would scan the enemy’s head, seemingly altering its programming to join forces with them. This hacking is temporary, but it can be particularly advantageous in situations where Zoe finds herself outnumbered. The reprogrammed robot will attack its comrades, serving as a valuable distraction for Koby to use his long-range weapons, or for Zoe to make an escape.

Secrets and hidden areas

In “Steel Seed,” the missions aren’t free-roam, but rather follow a sequential structure. However, each biome is filled with undiscovered mysteries, concealed locations, and various routes to explore. It will be up to Zoe and Koby to uncover these hidden spots, and the reward for thoroughly exploring levels are collectibles such as audio logs and documents. These items will help build the game’s world by offering insights into the backstory of how humanity suffered its downfall. Unveiling hidden areas is crucial for completely grasping the storyline in “Steel Seed.

Thought-provoking sci-fi narrative

In other words, the game Steel Seed is set to deliver an intriguing science fiction storyline that encourages players to ponder on themes such as humanity, technology risks, trust, resilience, control, and despair. It’s not just about surviving, but rather embarking on a profound journey where the powerful narrative drives the players forward.

2025-04-04 15:42

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