Steel Diver

 3DS
Steel Diver Image
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 55 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 33 Ratings

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  • Summary: Steel Diver is a submarine game that utilizes the 3-D functions of the 3DS.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 55
  3. Negative: 8 out of 55
  1. Nintendo Power
    Apr 13, 2011
    80
    Overall, I enjoyed my undersea voyage quite a bit; it may have been short, but it was also very sweet. [April 2011, p.88]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. NintendoWorldReport
    Apr 4, 2011
    70
    The mechanics, while a little obtuse, are interesting, and the three different game modes are varied and fun. It's just that there is a large focus on replaying the same content with minor differences.
  3. Armchair Empire
    Jun 20, 2011
    70
    It seems safe to say that Steel Diver will not reach the level of popularity among Nintendo's most beloved franchises, but Miyamoto and company still deserve kudos for inventing another unique gameplay experience that is seldom seen elsewhere. While the learning curve can be steep, enough patience will lead to a satisfying package that's two games in one and easily bears replaying.
  4. GamePro
    Mar 29, 2011
    60
    I'm still in awe of the graphics, and the game's strategic depth eventually grew on me, but unless you're the kind of person who can afford to buy every launch title the 3DS has to offer, I don't think Steel Diver should be your first pick.
  5. Guardian
    May 6, 2011
    60
    It is, at least, pretty original, and getting to grips with your submarines' controls is both fun and satisfying. We would, though, have preferred to see it priced more realistically to reflect its brevity. It's true that it simply wouldn't work on any console other than the 3DS, but it's by no means an essential purchase.
  6. Eurogamer Sweden
    May 19, 2011
    50
    Steel Divers are submarines that are just as hard to handle as their real-life counterparts. And real submarines also have periscopes. There ends the resemblance with reality, though. Steel Diver is a slow shmup in disguise that on top of it all offers very little content to the buyer – and should have remained the downloadable DSi-title it originally was meant to be.
  7. GameShark
    Apr 21, 2011
    25
    Steel Diver is a very odd choice as a launch game. It's a new IP, which is great, but it doesn't exactly scream mass appeal. The 3D is used effectively, making it look like you're peering into a fish tank, complete with beautifully done dynamic backgrounds, but you can also turn it off and not have the experience change much at all. Mostly though, the biggest problem is that it's short, dull and entirely too easy. While any one of those would cause the game to spring a leak, all three sinks it right to the bottom.

See all 55 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. Perman
    Oct 1, 2011
    10
    This is great. Really fun and a joy to play something new and wonderful and exiting like this. Superb tight controls makes this a winnner andThis is great. Really fun and a joy to play something new and wonderful and exiting like this. Superb tight controls makes this a winnner and with a full campaign, time trials , periscope strike challenges and steel commander a strategy game, this has really a lot to offer. I have allready spend about 4 hours with this game and i'm not half through yet. Thanks to Nintendo for trying something new and shame shame shame on all those crazy people giving this game a bad review. They are really NOT gamers.. All love goes to Steel Diver. â… Expand
  2. hmpd
    Oct 24, 2011
    9
    I just can't get enough of this game. Almost every day I play Steel Diver not only to get high scores in time trials ang campaign missions,I just can't get enough of this game. Almost every day I play Steel Diver not only to get high scores in time trials ang campaign missions, but also just to repeat these relaxing undersea voyages that are so amazingly addictive. The only mode I didn't enjoy was Steel Commander, but perhaps you'll understand it better then I and get some fun there (well, it's pretty fun if you play it with someone via Download Play). One of my favourite games for Nintendo 3DS! I just love it.… Expand
  4. delebreaub
    Jun 11, 2011
    9
    Steel Diver is a great game overall, but can be difficult, especially when trying to unlock all the game has to offer. The game offers threeSteel Diver is a great game overall, but can be difficult, especially when trying to unlock all the game has to offer. The game offers three modes to play; Campaigns, Periscope Strike, and Steel Commander. Campaigns is broken up into two parts, Missions and a Time Trial mode. Missions are very addictive but are slow paced. The time trials are broken up into multiple maps but, unfortunately, you cannot trade you ghost times through StreetPass. Periscope Strike is a mode where you take command of a submarine and are trying to take out all the enemy ships within a certain time limit. It can be challenging but not very fun. Steel Commander is the games sole multiplayer mode. Thankfully, this mode can be played with DS Download Play. It is a basic Battleship game, except you don't get total control on the location of the ships. If your submarine is taken down, you lose. If you take out all the enemy ships or the enemy submarine, you win! Steel Diver can be addicting but slow. If you like fast paced games, give this a miss.… Expand
  5. hapyrvwtime
    Apr 29, 2012
    7
    This game makes me sad. Its not a bad game by any means, but it could have been so much better. The controls are purposefully unresponsiveThis game makes me sad. Its not a bad game by any means, but it could have been so much better. The controls are purposefully unresponsive which may sound like a bad thing, but if this game had fluid and responsive controls, it would suck. The whole poit of this game is to make you think about your next move, and requiring you to anticipate whats next, which makes the gameplay smart and rewarding. The graphics and art of the game are quite nice, and the sound effects are very atmospheric, which really help to immerse you into the game. The great thing about this game is how unique the gameplay is. Chances are you haven't every played a sidescrolling submarine strategy/action/racing/sim game before. This is why it pains me to say how little gameplay is existant in this game. You get three subs, and 7 short levels, and thats it. If your good at the game you could probably beat the hardest/longest level in the game in under 10 minutes. Although it's fun to replay the levels with different subs, your doing it on the same 7 levels. Although when you beat all the levels with all three subs you unlock expert levels, their just the same levels with a few extra objects put in it. The short time trial mode and crummy battleship ripoff aren't enough to make up for the overall lack of content. Although I do think the gameplay is quite fun and the game is atmospheric, I can't shake the feeling that because of the relatively small amount of content in this game it would have been better suited as an eshop downloadable title. If you can find this game for 15 or possibly 20$ I could recommend it but otherwise the price is just to steep. Its a shame there isn't more content because the game itself is quite intruiging.… Expand
  6. 1206
    Nov 13, 2011
    7
    http://anti-gaming.tumblr.com/post/12747253131/steel-diver-review

    A great little game. Unfortunately, gamers are spoiled today and expect way    http://anti-gaming.tumblr.com/post/12747253131/steel-diver-review

    A great little game. Unfortunately, gamers are spoiled today and expect way too much. Steel Diver is a game that demands precision and only rewards mastery. This doesn't sit well with most people, I imagine.    … Expand
  7. nintendomaster1
    Aug 26, 2015
    7
    This is an okay game. The only thing that you do is control a couple of submarines through some courses and play a mini game where you shootThis is an okay game. The only thing that you do is control a couple of submarines through some courses and play a mini game where you shoot missiles at ships while looking through a periscope. The game is pretty basic and kind of boring at times. That's it. Eh. It was fun for a while but then it became boring. This is a weak 3DS game. It's okay. Just, okay… The graphics are okay, the music is okay, the overall game is just okay.… Expand
  8. iloveFFC
    Dec 5, 2011
    4
    This was my first 3DS game and i havent polayed it in a long time because there are so many awesome titles that just beat the crap out of it.This was my first 3DS game and i havent polayed it in a long time because there are so many awesome titles that just beat the crap out of it. There are fun modes like sinking the battleships but are only fun for about 15 minutes. The controls are awful and it is very difficult to manuver your submarine in story mode and you occasionally hit into obstacles and enemies and blow up. The missiles are hard to shoot at enemies in story mode and usually cost you health just trying to aim and fire at ships at the surface of the water. The graphics and 3D are average and the water affects are good when you are splashed, but nothing worth "WOWing!" Overall, this game should be avoided to most 3DS owners and eager children should have their parents wait until the price drops to at least to $20 or lower, which is unlikely.… Expand

See all 11 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

49
#49 Best 3DS Game of 2011
32
#32 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2011
63
#63 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2011