Recenzije

Steel Seed – Solidna stealth igra koja zadovoljava žanrovske apetite

Share:
  • DEVELOPER: Storm in a Teacup
  • IZDAVAČ: ESDigital Games
  • PLATFORME: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
  • ŽANR: Stealth / Adventure
  • DATUM IZLASKA: 22. travnja 2025.
  • POČETNA CIJENA: 39,99€
  • RECENZIRANA VERZIJA: PC

Steel Seed is a game I’ve played on multiple occasions. The first time I had a chance to try it was the demo back in June, which definitely didn’t do its justice. It introduced all the core mechanics but lacked the depth to make me think: “Yes, this is the game I want to play at launch.”

A year later, we finally got the full version, and I’ll be honest, it’s a really solid game. It scratches that stealth genre itch, especially since Ubisoft’s Shadows might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Steel Seed does everything well, but there’s still this lingering feeling that it’s missing that peak, that one standout element to make me feel like my time with it was truly worthwhile.

Smooth Stealth with Strategic Planning

For those who are not familiar with the game, Steel Seed is set in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world where humanity teeters on the brink of extinction. You play as Zoe, a young woman in a robotic body, and her drone companion Koby as they navigate a hostile underground facility to uncover secrets and save mankind. Blending stealth, parkour, combat, and light RPG elements, Steel Seed draws inspiration from titles like Uncharted and Dishonored, aiming for a cinematic, narrative-driven experience.

Stealth is the heart of Steel Seed, where you guide Zoe to sneak around robotic enemies. She can crouch, hide in disruption fields (like tall grass), and use distractions for quiet takedowns. The mechanics are smooth, with clear enemy vision cones and responsive combat controls, making planning feel tactical. Later levels increase difficulty with tighter patrols and overlapping sightlines, rewarding patience. However, stealth can feel repetitive due to limited enemy types and predictable patrols. Still, the stealth gameplay is genuinely fun.

When stealth fails, combat takes over, mixing light and heavy attacks with a dodge mechanic – time it right for a perfect dodge. The system has Soulslike inspiration but skips the stamina bar, making it more forgiving. Enemies do hit hard, forcing you to learn their attack patterns for well-timed counters, which feels rewarding when pulled off. Zoe’s three skill trees offer 40 upgrades for stealth, combat, and utility, letting you customize her with new moves or tools like smoke bombs. Luckily, currency from exploration carries over after death.

Sadly, the game holds your hand way too much. Fall off a ledge? You instantly teleport back. Multiple enemies chasing you? No problem, just spam dodge with the help of the obvious red attack indicators. Like many stealth games, the AI isn’t brilliant, but here it’s painfully predictable. For example, you can use your robot companion to cut a rope and drop a crate on enemies and they’ll all mindlessly swarm the exact spot instead of searching properly. Even when they do notice you, their slow reaction time gives you plenty of chances to escape. It all adds up to an experience that never feels punishing – just disappointingly easy.

Cinematic Parkour With Good Platforming

The platforming is quite good, perfectly blending Uncharted’s cinematic shots with Prince of Persia’s buttery-smooth movement. Whether scaling industrial towers, sprinting across walls, or zipping between platforms, each environment, from decaying ruins to massive factories, feels unique thanks to dynamic camera work. What really shines is how seamlessly the parkour integrates with other systems. You can execute aerial takedowns or make dramatic escapes, then have Koby remotely trigger switches to create new paths.

There are some really great instances when Steel Seed shifts between 3D and 2D perspectives, though these moments aren’t always flawless. While the platforming starts strong, it eventually becomes tedious as levels feel overly linear yet strangely exhausting to navigate. The main issue? The game overstays its welcome. Maps are unnecessarily large, content feels stretched, and what began as fun platforming gradually loses its charm. To make matters worse, controls can be unreliable, with frustrating jumps and occasional glitches.

The game rewards exploration with carefully designed environments full of hidden logs, collectibles, and secrets. Checkpoints show your collection progress, but mentioned extras rarely add meaningful story or gameplay value. Steel Seed simply stumbles with its side content. Beyond the main story, there’s little to truly connect you to the world or characters on a deeper level. Given the heavy focus on cinematic scenes, which are hit or miss, it’s disappointing that optional lore comes mostly in dry text logs instead of voiced entries or cutscenes exploring the world beyond Zoe’s perspective.

Puzzles remain straightforward, typically involving Koby hitting far-off switches or Zoe manipulating objects. Though fun, they lack the complexity of dedicated puzzle games. Koby acts as both a gameplay mechanic and emotional core. Beyond scouting and puzzle-solving, he can distract enemies or aid in combat, but its role is restrained to keep Zoe central. The drone’s chirps and visual cues build a bond, with Zoe’s one-sided dialogue subtly showcasing their connection. However, Koby’s AI can be unreliable, sometimes ignoring commands, and Zoe’s dramatic reactions to its brief “downs” in combat feel off.

Good, But Not Great

Reworked by BAFTA-winning writer Martin Korda, story dives into themes of humanity, AI, and survival as Zoe searches for her father and unravels the facility’s mysteries. While the premise grabs attention, the narrative stumbles with predictable twists and clunky dialogue, falling short of the emotional depth of games like NieR Automata. The main plot feels repetitive, driven by “go here, do this” tasks. RPG elements are also minimal, with basic skill trees and collectibles as mentioned before for progression, but the lack of deeper character customization or meaningful choices reduces replay value.

However, the story stays subtle, never overwhelming, and the skill trees function well enough, offering challenges to unlock more content. While playing Steel Seed, it’s easy to notice how its flaws blend with its strengths. The biggest issue is that the game is just good. It has that certain AI Limit charm and solid gameplay, but it’s neither bad nor exceptional – just okay. While it uses all the best aspects of Unreal Engine 5, it still has the same issues most games have today.

The graphics are strikingly beautiful, but technical issues pile up. From occasional FPS drops and stuttering when entering new areas to misplaced animations and overly repetitive environments, the game still earns praise for its immersive world. The unique setting spans biodomes bursting with flora, mechanical halls, and distinct entrances. Cutscenes and smooth camera movements enhance the polished feel, though the reality falls short of that glossy facade.

In the end, Steel Seed is a decent game, a visually stunning but uneven stealth-action adventure. It excels with its atmospheric world and fluid parkour but falters with a predictable story, clunky combat, and technical glitches. Stealth, like other elements, gets repetitive, with stretched content that drags on, wasting time on tasks that could’ve been streamlined. I can still recommend Steel Seed for its fresh ideas and satisfying stealth gameplay. It’s an ambitious project from Storm in a Teacup, but it lands as a solid yet unremarkable game for now.

PrednostiNedostaci
Solidni parkour i platforming elementi.Predvidljiv narativ.
Imerzivna grafika i atmosfera.Dosta bugova i tehničkih problema.
Slatki robotski pratitelj.Nema velikih inovacija, igra na sigurno.
Dobre stealth mehanike.Sadržaj se previše rasteže.
Sadržaj
70%
Igrivost
70%
Grafika
80%
Konačna ocjena

Odgovori

Vaša adresa e-pošte neće biti objavljena. Obavezna polja su označena sa * (obavezno)