Live Magazine September 2014 Volume 9/2014 | Page 72

preview

CODE
NAME:
S.T.E.A.M
Intelligent Systems is Nintendo’s goto subsidiary when it comes to making turn-based strategy games. The
developer is the creator of both the
Fire Emblem and Advance Wars series, and is also well known for being the developers behind the Paper
Mario games. And it looks like Intelligent Systems is ready to strike
strategy gold again with the upcoming Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. for Nintendo 3DS.
The most unique aspects of Code
Name: S.T.E.A.M. would have to be
its artstyle and setting; which are far
different from the norm of Nintendo
games. The world of S.T.E.A.M. is
set in 1800s, in an alternate timeline
from ours where great advances in
steampunk technology have been
made. The visuals of S.T.E.A.M. are
cel-shaded, but the design of the
characters are heavily influenced by

the Alien Menace), an international
team of warriors formed by President
Lincoln, who are tasked with fighting
the H.P. Lovecraft-inspired alien invaders that have recently shown up.
The game starts off at the American
embassy in London, where Captain
Henry Fleming of S.T.E.A.M. is situated, when a massive alien, known
only as “Devastator”, attacks and
forces Henry to meet up with his
squad and defeat the invaders attacking London.
Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.’s gameplay
is a mix of two main genres: TurnBased Strategy and Third-Person
Shooter, drawing some parallels with
the Valkyria Chronicles franchise.
Each character on your team has
what is known as a Steam Gauge,
which powers your movement and
weapons. Although you can move
freely, the levels are tile-based, and

out several paths before deciding
the most efficient direction to take.
Each character also has a unique
ability that can be used without
steam, at the price of only being
able to be used once in a level. Unlike Intelligent System’s other strategy titles like Fire Emblem, the goal
is getting to the exit at the other end
of level, rather than killing every alien on the map.
Each squad mate has his or her
own unique stats, weapons and
abilities, each of which makes a
difference to your team and effects how you would approach the
enemy. Some units are better for
attacking, while others are more
suited to a support role. Choosing
the right team for the right level is
critical for success. The game also
has a mechanic known as Overwatch. If a unit has enough steam

“IT’S UNIQUE VISUALS AND SETTING MAKE IT STAND OUT AGAINST
OTHER NINTENDO IPS...”
the Silver Age of Comic Books and
the work of American comic artists
such as Jack Kirby and Bruce Timm.
And the cutscenes are done in an
“animated comic” style, complete
with onomatopoeia appearing visually for sound effects. You play as the
team members of S.T.E.A.M. (which
stands for Strike Team Eliminating

moving from each tile to the next
will drain one part of your Steam
Gauge. Firing a weapon costs a lot
more steam, and so you must plan
your movements and attacks wisely
to make the most of your steam. A
usual feature is that steam use is not
permanent until you attack or finish
your turn, meaning you can scout

leftover from the player’s turn, he
can attack the enemy on their turn.
This adds an extra layer of strategy
that makes steam management
even more in-depth. Should you try
to use as much steam as you can in
a level, or save some up to attack
during the enemies turn? It’s up to
you. It also makes you think more