Steel Beasts Review - By Derek "Crossbar" Bond Page 3 of 3
Realism and Immersion:
These are rather subjective areas. I'm not a real world tanker.
So I can't say with any authority if Steel Beasts is accurate.
However, it certainly feels real. This is Steel Beasts stongest
area, in my opinion. It's a hardcore player's dream. Forget
having targeting aids and labels. There's no magical sign telling
you that's a T-80 in your sight. If you can't tell the difference
between a T-80 and a Leo by recognition, fratricide is a real
possibility. However, when the turret suddenly swings the tube
in your direction, a 125mm main gun round may help you in determining
what it is. ;-) Whether a vehicle is destroyed is not always
readily discernible. A nice touch. I've put more than one round
into a dead tank, believe me. These two examples give a glimpse
into the fantastic detail in the game.
All of the sighting systems are modeled in great detail. Damage
model is extensive, and your tanks (and all vehicles for that
matter) can be hit, with varying systems being damaged and affecting
the vehicle in a realistic fashion. Just watch what happens
when you lose stabiliztion for your main gun. Oh, boy...
The actual gunnery model is unsurpassed. You will learn all
about dumping the lead. Indexing rounds. Stabilization. Ballistical
differences between HEAT and sabot rounds. Impact angles. Penetration.
It's too complex to go into any real detail for this review.
But suffice it to say that it is as real as it's ever been on
the PC. If you are the type of simmer that would rather just
point and shoot, look elsewhere. But if you wish to learn what
happens in the cramped confines of a modern tank Steel Beasts
is for you.
From what I can tell, the physics are excellent. Penetration
tables are believable. Ballistics seem accurate. It is evident
that the programmers did their homework, and that creating realistic
models were a top priorty. It would take a real tanker to say
for sure, but I think they got it right in the realism and immersion
department. Bravo!
Your platoon of M1's is moving through some rolling terrain.
Intel told you to expect a Motorized Rifle Battalion operating
in this area. Cautiously you make your way toward the objective,
making careful use of the terrain, hugging treelines and pausing
to scan the horizon as you crest a hill. Suddenly there's movement.
The driver backs into a perfect hull down position. Your TC
calls out a target.
"Gunner. Sabot. Tank."
The TC swings the gun to the target. You see it. A T-80 hauling
ass from the forest to your left. Range about 2700 meters..
It doesn't appear he's spotted you. A second T-80 follows behind.
Then a third.
You think to yourself. "OK, take your time, soldier. You may
not get a second shot. He hasn't seen you, but if you miss,
there's sure to be a reply." The second T-80 explodes as your
wingman finds his target.
You take aim. Dump lead. Double check the index. Lase for range.
Track smoothly. Fire. It seems an eternity as the sabot travels
downrange.The round strikes the tank near the track at the rear.
The T-80 spins on one track as it fires smoke to screen it's
position. You see it's turret revolving towards your tank as
the T-80 searches desperately for the attacker. Your TC says
"Re-engage!". Loader calls "Sabot up!" Fire. This time you find
the center of the hull. The smoke screen finally does it's job,
although a fraction too late. All that's visible is a T-80 turret
spinning in the air above the smoke. Gotta love it.
Once you accept the graphics, the immersion is complete. Everything
works in concert to give you that "you are there" feeling.
Multiplayer:
In most reviews, this is where we are dissapointed. I'm so used
to reading that the single player is great, but they botched
the multi. I'm happy to report that not only does the multi-player
code in Steel Beasts work, it may be as good as any sim out
there. Maybe better. I tried it over the net and on a LAN and
never experienced one problem. No connection problems. No warping.
No strange stuff. Nothing. It just works. Period. As an added
bonus, two players can crew the same tank. If multiplayer is
your thing, Steel Beasts is for you.
What Could Have Been:
Aside from the aforementioned graphics issue, there are a couple
of other areas where Steel beasts comes up short. There is no
air support. While not a killer ommission, it prevents Steel
Beasts from being a true combined arms simulator. All of the
other elements are there. Infantry, artillery, armor....but
no aircraft. A truely perfect modern tank simulation would need
attack helos and strike aircraft. And perhaps fighters as well.
The inclusion of Hinds, Apaches, A-10's and Frogfoot's (among
others, of course, with accompanying mobile air defense vehicles)
would really complete the package.
Also absent is variable weather. All missions take place in
the daylight. No rain or snow or black of night. Weather and
conditions are a huge factor in modern tank warefare, giving
a big edge to the combatants with the most sophisticated sighting
systems. There is the ability to adjust visibility to simulate
low light, low visibility conditions, but it's just not the
same as having it graphically rendered. Again, not a big detraction.
Bottom Line:
Steel Beasts is simply the finest tank simulation available.
What it lacks in appearance, it makes up for in attention to
detail, realism and immersion. Make no mistake, Steel Beasts
is not for the player who likes to fire up a sim every couple
of weeks. It is for the hardcore set who value fidelity over
fluff. Those who demand realism over rendering. Immersion over
image. If that describes you, then you owe it to yourself to
get this game. If you prefer graphics over gameplay, then you
may be better off looking elsewhere. If such a thing existed,
I'd award Steel Beasts the Golden Frugal for Hardcore Excellence.
Previous page
