E3 – New Nintendo 3DS IP Announced Code Name: STEAM
During a special E3 event, Nintendo announced the arrival of a new IP called Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. for their Nintendo 3DS handheld. Called a turn-based strategy game with shooter elements, the game is in co-development with Intelligent Systems the developers of Advance War and Fire Emblem.
The game will feature cel-shaded graphics and a steampunk atmosphere and art style heavily reminiscent to the silver age of American comic books. According to several Tweets released on Nintendo’s Twitter account, the fighters in the game will run on steam as a limited resource to power their attacks and the game will be structured into campaign divided by missions with multiple maps.
Judging from the description provided by Nintendo, it seems that gameplay may be similar to the tactical X-Com series. In which players are provided with a plethora of tactical options to eliminate enemies on the map. However, it’s been stated that gameplay was influenced by modern first-person shooters and may mean a much faster-paced style of play.
The project head will be Hitoshi Yamagami, whose previous works include Xenoblade Chronicles, Fire Emblem and Pokemon.
“As you can tell from my history I have been working with Intelligent Systems for a long time and became a big fan of turn-based strategy, but I’ve always wanted to share these games with more people; this has been quite a challenge for me,” Yamagami said during the game’s presentation.
Storywise,the new game is set in an alternate steampunk inspired universe during the time of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency in the 19th century. The game will take place in London and feature the ability to swap between characters for a first-person view. The term STEAM from the game’s title stands for Strike Team Eliminating the Alien Menace and the game’s main antagonists will be Lovecraftian inspired aliens.
During the game players may collect medals that allow them to restore their character’s health and steam supplies, however it comes at the cost of unlocking more powerful items later in the game.
Paradoxically the game will not feature online multiplayer, however developers have promised a multiplayer mode that will be online. Clarification is hopefully forthcoming on the matter.
The game is set for release sometime in 2015.
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