Again round this time in 2020 it was revealed {that a} new Steel Slug sport was within the works for cellular by way of a partnership with SNK and Name of Responsibility Cell developer Timi Studios. The sport was tentatively titled Steel Slug: Code J, and it has been in numerous types of beta testing or comfortable launch for the previous couple of years. Now the sport, which is formally referred to as Steel Slug: Awakening, is lastly extensively accessible on each iOS and Android platforms. It’s also heading to Steam and was alleged to launch right now as nicely however it’s nonetheless in evaluation with Valve, so each time it will get accredited the sport will turn out to be accessible on its Steam page. You may also obtain the standalone Home windows model over on the official site, should you’re actually sizzling to be enjoying this in your PC (or Steam Deck, maybe).
So there’s no method round this: I’m an enormous Steel Slug fan for many years now, and I’m extremely nervous about Steel Slug: Awakening as a result of it’s free to play. Like tremendous free to play. I’ve gone by way of the primary couple of missions and to this point it’s undoubtedly enjoyable to play, however finally you do get to a degree the place you hit “that display screen” that everyone knows from each free to play sport; the display screen that has a bunch of menu icons and there’s all kinds of avenues to improve or unlock this or that, or accumulate mission rewards, or hop into social occasions, and so on. As a lot as I’m loving the visuals in Steel Slug: Awakening which respect the unique video games nicely whereas bringing issues into 3D (or 2.5D I suppose), and as a lot as I’m loving all of the wacky weaponry and run ‘n gun gameplay, I’m simply… nervous.
Certain, the primary impression is fairly nice, and maybe all the things continues to be nice and all of the free to play stuff is good and unobtrusive. Solely time will inform, and I actually hope my nervousness isn’t scaring you off as a result of I believe everybody ought to give Steel Slug: Awakening a obtain and take a look at it for themselves. Possibly that is the dawning of a brand new period with a Steel Slug sport that may get fixed new content material for years to return, and all my worrying about one in all my all-time favourite franchises getting ruined by trendy gaming practices is all for naught. Possibly. My fingers are crossed.