Codename: S.T.E.A.M. – extra advanced wars

Nintendo has unveiled its final (probably) secret of E3, with a new turn-based strategy set in a steampunk version of London.

Developer Intelligent Systems may still not have announced a new Advance Wars game for the 3DS, but they’ve done something potentially even better by starting work on a brand new franchise instead.

If we understand the game’s rather bizarre storyline you’re in control of a special forces team set up by Abraham Lincoln, defending a steampunk version of Victorian London from aliens.

As you can see the game’s visuals are heavily influenced by American comic books, and while project lead Paul Patrashcu (who headed up WarioWare: Smooth Moves) has acknowledged similarities with Sega’s Valkyria Chronicles he claims S.T.E.A.M. is more of a straight shooter than that game.


Codename: S.T.E.A.M. – in Intelligent Systems we trust

If that’s the case it’s definitely a cover-based shooter, as you try to outflank the alien opponents and ‘set up ambushes and unleash crossfires and counter-attacks’.



Your commandos use special steam-powered backpacks which affect both your movement and weapon options, as you try to manage your limited energy supply.

Intelligent Systems are one of Nintendo’s best internal studios, so we’re very excited to see the game in action. Unfortunately though it’s not on the E3 show floor, there’s no video yet, and it’s not out until next year.

Email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk, leave a comment below, and follow us on Twitter