Zadzooks: Code Name S.T.E.A.M. review

A U.S. president helps protect the Earth from an alien invasion in the turn-based, real-time strategy game Code Name S.T.E.A.M. (Nintendo, reviewed with New Nintendo 3DS XL, rated Teen, $39.99).

Set within a Steampunk version of Victorian London, the irresistible premise finds Abe Lincoln (he faked his assassination, don’t you know) commanding some classic literary characters as they fight off waves of robotic, Lovcraftian-style monsters.

Specifically, these dozen legends to choose from include Henry Fleming (“Red Badge of Courage”), Tiger Lily (“Peter Pan”), Tom Sawyer, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion (“The Wizard of Oz”), and Califia (“The Adventures of Esplandián”) to name a few.

The onscreen battles come to life on the Nintendo handheld system within three-dimensional arenas and cell-shaded graphics that take a cue from the Silver Age comic-book master Jack Kirby as characters move in a third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective.

Missions might require retaking invaded locations, knocking out organic artillery guns or saving the queen of England (she does not follow orders very well), but all involve a player picking up to a four-character squad who tactically work together.

Each legend gets a chance to move and attack every turn with the goal to ultimately have at least one of the team reach an ending area — highlighted in green.

Cleverly, firing weapons and movement on gridded terrain use up a limited amount of blocks of steam every turn, and strategy comes in to not leave any of the characters vulnerable at the end of a turn.

Luckily, players will find some steam reserves, heath restores, cash for upgrades and icons to save progress in areas scattered around the arenas.

Of course, each character has a slick primary and secondary weapon. They range from Tom Sawyer’s Punch Gun (fire it to bop an enemy in the chops), the Cowardly Lion’s Lion Launch (it propels him into the air to land on and greatly damage a foe) or John Henry’s grenade launcher.

A player can also select each character’s secondary weapon before a mission. It’s always a good idea to add the Medi-Carbine to the mix as it allows a character to restore a fellow warriors health with a couple of shots at him.

Strategy is certainly important throughout, but do not waste turns thinking about it as enemies continue to spawn the longer a team hangs out in an area and will constantly flank the squad.

A player is also wise to save some steam each turn for the Overwatch option that will have a character automatically fire upon an attacking enemy when in range during the opposition’s turn.

Two points might prohibit a teen’s giddy addiction to the game, even though I really enjoyed the turn-based adventure.

First, it’s excruciating the amount of time it takes for the enemy side to move and possibly attack. It’s interminable and will make playing the game on the run near impossible for those multitasking, portable gamers in the family. It’s more of a complex chess game worthy of a very long car ride.

Second, the game quickly gets maddeningly difficult. Besides the abundance of grenade lobbying, tail swinging and crystal-shard blasting creatures and the consistent shortage of steam to move and attack, a player gets no overhead map.

He must rely on the perspective of other characters in a location to see the end goal, or where enemies might be hiding. My new pals died early and often and that ability to save mid-mission kept me interested and not blindly frustrated.

Despite a steady stream of grumping, I found a very comfortable rhythm to “Code Name S.T.E.A.M.” after about three hours of action, and it just kept getting more involved. It is definitely one of the 3DS’ more time-consuming as well as stranger games of the year.

The game also supports local and online versus multiplayer modes aboard the Lady Liberty (the huge airship headquarters) arenas for more turned-based team action.

In addition to simple Death Match (kill the opposing team) or Medal Battle (the team that collects the most medals after five rounds wins), a third option allows each player to slug it out using an Anthropomorphized Battle Engine (A.B.E.). It’s a massive mech warrior looking a bit like Lincoln and loaded with steam-driven firepower.

Finally, players using the latest version of the 3DS who own Amiibo statues ($12.99 each) based on characters from the “Fire Emblem” game such as Ike or Marth can place the figures on the lower touch screen and have them enter the game as part of the current squad. Now, the only problem is these Amiibo are quite rare and may take some time and extra cash (in secondary markets) to acquire.