Steel Diver

by Nintendo

• Guide submarines through lush, undersea 3D environments
• A variety of unique touch-screen applications including the ability to pump water out of a leaking sub
• Branching paths, split-second decisions and attacks from enemy ships make for a thrilling undersea adventure
• Multiple ways to play, including mission play, periscope based play using the 3DS' gyro sensor and the chess like Steel Commander two-player strategy mode
• The 3D effect in Steel Diver makes players feel like they are peering into an aquarium, with the action unfolding right before their eyes

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B002I08VXI
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches ; 2.6 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: March 27, 2011
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,499 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #35 in Video Games > Nintendo 3DS > Games > Action

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Steel Diver is submarine Simulation - Combat game that utilizes the power and flexibility of the Nintendo 3DS* to put you behind the periscope of a submarine on the hunt. The game features multiple ways to play including standard mission gameplay; Periscope Strike, a mode in which you use the 3DS gyro sensor to alter your view in order to complete tasks; and Steel Commander, a one-on-one turn-based local wireless mode supporting two players. Additional features include lush underwater environments, a variety of touch-screen control uses and more.

Take to the seven seas in search of prey above and below the waves Steel Diver for 3DS.
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Hunt for Prey Above and Below the Waves

Steel Diver is a new action-packed submarine combat game from Nintendo that immerses players in the 3D action with unique game controls and lush 3D environments. The player can choose from three different submarines, each with touch-screen control panels that players will have to master to guide them through treacherous undersea caverns while engaging enemy submarines, dodging depth charges and battling massive sea creatures. Steel Diver also takes advantage of the built-in gyro sensor of the Nintendo 3DS system. The combination of 3D game play and one-of-a-kind controls makes for an immersive combination that must be experienced to be believed.

Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo 3DS is a groundbreaking hardware release that brings 3D gaming to the handheld market for the first time. The fourth major release in the DS product line, the Nintendo 3DS utilizes 3D Slider functionality and an improved top LCD display to present a glasses-free 3D effect in compatible games, while giving players the option to moderate the effect as they see fit. Taken together with additional features including full analog control in 3D game environments, motion and gyro sensors that transfer the movements of the handheld into the game, 3D camera functionality, an adjustable stylus and full backwards compatibility and you have not only a must-have system, but a revolution in handheld gaming.

Key Game Features

• Use touch-screen controls to guide submarines through lush, undersea 3D environments.
• Branching paths, split-second decisions and attacks from enemy ships make for a thrilling undersea adventure.
• Multiple ways to play:
  • Missions - Players manipulate control panels on the touch screen to control the sub's speed, depth and pitch, and to fire torpedoes as they make their way toward the end of each level. If the sub takes damage and starts taking on water, players can use the stylus on the touch screen to stop the leak. There is also a time attack mode that challenges the player to get through levels as quickly as possible.
  • Periscope Strike - The gyro sensor for the Nintendo 3DS system allows players to control the periscope view by rotating their bodies. Players use the touch screen to fire a well-placed torpedo and take enemies out.
  • Steel Commander - In this two-player strategy mode, a local wireless connection pits player against player. The game is a top-down, turn-based "chess-like" game that puts players in command of a fleet of ships and a sub. Once players locate a ship, they enter Periscope Mode and blast it out of the water.
• Immersive Undersea Graphics - The 3D in Steel Diver makes players feel like they are peering into an aquarium, with the action unfolding right before their eyes.

Additional Screenshots

Multiple ways to play. View larger.

Immersive undersea graphics. View larger.

Gyro sensor periscope. View larger.

2-player wireless support. View larger.

* Nintendo 3DS sold separately.

Product Description

Nintendo's Steel Diver is submarine simulation combat game that utilizes the power and flexibility of the Nintendo 3DS to put you behind the periscope of a submarine on the hunt. The game features multiple ways to play including standard mission gameplay; Periscope Strike, a mode in which you use the 3DS gyro sensor to alter your view in order to complete tasks; and Steel Commander, a one-on-one turn-based local wireless mode supporting 2 players. The player can choose from 3 different submarines, each with touch-screen control panels that players will have to master to guide them through treacherous undersea caverns while engaging enemy submarines, dodging depth charges and battling massive sea creatures. The combination of 3D game play and one-of-a-kind controls makes for an immersive combination that must be experienced to be believed.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars OH MY GOSH! THIS IS BEAUTIFUL! March 27, 2011

By Rick Moore

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Just got home with this not knowing what to expect. I wasn't looking forward to the usual learning curve that submarine games usually require. I expected just an okay game. BOY WAS I WRONG! Right out of the box the game is completely intuitive and visually stunning. The thing that had my jaw dropping on the floor was the "periscope" game (one of three game types). You hold your 3DS up and in front of you like you're looking through a periscope...and it's JUST LIKE LOOKING THROUGH A PERISCOPE I MEAN TO TELL YOU!!! To look around you turn your body and your 3DS pans the view according to your body movements just like the real thing! It's incredibly fluid. The fun factor was fully engaged the first minute I started playing this thing. The underwater 3D effects pull you right into the game and it's best to play the periscope game standing up because you've got enemy ships everywhere and you have to do some quick 180's. (So much for playing on the toilet!) This game adds a whole new dimension (no pun intended) to game play. I love it and I expect it will be a favorite of most who buy it. The other game types are superb as well. The graphics are beautiful and just plain fun. This game truly shines and delivered far more than my expectations! AWESOME JOB, NINTENDO!!!!!

EDIT: Having played it a little longer now, I've found that the periscope mode missions are more like mini-games in a time trial format. They're short but sweet. For a submarine game, this mode, while very fun, doesn't offer any depth of gameplay (pun intended). You simply try to beat your previous score. However, it is a visual treat, especially when you select to do battle in a storm. It makes for a nice "quickie" game fix when you don't have time to get into the main game. This periscope mode seems to be more of an added feature rather than a part of the main game which is a side-scrolling "get me from point A to point B" without crashing or getting blown up, torpedo-launching, maneuvering-style adventure. I said side-scrolling game, but don't let that fool you. The 3D environment draws you in beautifully. Part of the fun of playing this title is just enjoying the visuals. (Oh...by the way...I'm a 55 year old, so serene visuals are appealing to me. I can't speak for the young 'uns.) I still stick to the 5 star rating. Carry on, men. And don't forget, "Loose lips sink ships!"

CORRECTION: Awesome periscope mode CAN BE PLAYED WHILE ON THE TOILET! (Whew!) After seeing another review I read that you can use the stylus to pan the periscope without having to stand. (I'm somewhat of an idiot.) It would have been a little nicer if they had provided a customizable button option, though. Launching torpedoes must be done with the right-hand buttons while using the stylus left-handed which is a little awkward for us righties. I was going to mention this to the captain, but the last crew member that complained was strapped to the periscope outside and taken for a heck of a ride. That'll be all. As you were...carry on, men.

ADDITIONAL EDIT: Well, the game just keeps getting better! Just played the turn-based portion of the game and WOW! I'm lovin' it even more. So, just to recap...there's the awesome periscope game; the missions game; and the turn-based game! This is really a 3-in-1 package. The more I play it, the more I appreciate the value I've gotten for my money! This is just one of those rare occasions where the developer decided to go beyond giving you your money's worth. I really can't say enough about how great this game is! It is just a beautiful package. I'll even go as far as to say it's the best title released for the 3ds so far. (I'm basing that opinion on reviews I've read of games I don't have plus my personal experience with the ones I do have which are Pilotwings, Asphalt, and Street Fighter.)

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent release title, exceptional showcase of 3D March 28, 2011

By Jaelus

Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

This is a submarine sim with various missions, challenges, and modes of play with several different subs to use, and it has good replayability for this reason. To be honest, I don't think I would have normally picked up a submarine sim, and did so only because this was an interesting looking 3DS release title. I'm glad I picked it up, because it's obvious a lot of work and polish went into the game and it's a lot of fun.

The gameplay is pretty simple to learn. Essentially the challenge of play comes from the control constraints built in for the sub. If you could simply control the sub with the analog slider and use the buttons for firing, there would be little challenge. Instead, the control is done through depth and thrust sliders that must be individually manipulated to guide the sub. There are different types of missiles and a cloaking device you can manipulate as well. All the controls are done from the touch screen.

The periscope missions are also intuitive. You move around by moving the 3DS where you want to look, but you can alternatively use the stylus to rotate the periscope around by dragging it along the bottom of the screen. You can zoom in on targets and missile them down. The trick here is in spotting and leading the ships or subs based on their distance and speed. Not as easy as it sounds! The 3D really helps with this mode.

Out of all the release titles, this one definitely showcases the 3D effects better than any other. You can move the slider all the way up and it really enhances the scene. A lot of detail is present in the ocean from shipwrecks to undersea volcanoes to different bubbles and jets and schools of fish, and they all use screen depth masterfully. This is one seriously beautiful looking game. Periscope mode is no exception to this, with very realistic looking ocean effects.

If this game had been released later on in the life of the 3DS, it may have been easily overlooked, but as a release title, it's one of the better ones and the best showcase of 3D as you can max out the slider with no issues. Overall I give it 4 stars because it's a beautiful and well-executed game, but not a game changer.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Pretty Fun... March 30, 2011

By J. J. Burtch TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Amazon Verified Purchase

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

After much deliberation, I finally decided to go with "Steel Diver" as my first game for my new 3DS. It came down to this and "Super Street Fighter IV 3D," but this won out for a couple of reasons. First off, I generally like my handheld games to be a bit more unique. I've found in the past that I generally play games on a handheld device (DS, PSP, iPod Touch) the more it seems to try to be a "console" game, the less I end up liking it. Basically, I want my games for my handheld devices to be something that really can ONLY be found on a handheld device. The other reason it won out is because I'm not very good at fighting games. I figured that I would go ahead and get "Street Fighter" later, but for now I wanted a game that wasn't going to make me frustratingly angry.

So I took the plunge and ordered "Steel Diver." It arrived quickly, like everything I order from Amazon, and I opened it and threw it into the 3DS right away.

I was impressed by the menu. It's basic, but really easy to navigate and understand. The game responded to taps on the touch screen instantly with no lag or anything. The game starts and gives you a really basic (and pretty generic) you're fighting against some random rogue bad guys. That's really about it. It doesn't give you much of a story, and that was a bit of a let down to me...but not enough that it actually detracted from the game at all.

I fired up the first mission, which is a training mission. It's basically just there to show you the control elements. It teaches you how to dive, surface, move forward and backward, fire your weapons, and use your countermeasures. It was during this first mission that I really started to enjoy the game. Controlling the sub takes a little bit of getting used to, but it works, and it works surprisingly well. In no time I was moving my sub around under the sea, destroying enemy ships, and blowing boulders out of my way with well placed torpedoes.

I found myself really enjoying the sound effects in the game, even though they are quite basic. The sounds it makes when you are moving the controls are just like the sounds you hear in a movie when a captain is steering a submarine. I was really impressed by how authentic it sounded.

I also discovered that I really enjoyed the look of the game. With the 3D slider adjusted, it really does give you a sense of depth of field. You can see schools of fish and underwater plants in the background and your submarine glides silently by them. It really is pretty amazing to look at, even if it doesn't truly further the game experience at all. What I mean by that is, playing the game in 3D is fun to look at, but you won't be missing any of the real gameplay elements if you turn the 3D off. With that said, I highly suggest playing with the game in 3D. You bought a 3DS, you might as well use it's main function, right??

I played through several missions in my first sitting and enjoyed every one of them. The environments were all great looking and unique, and although the missions were fairly similar, there was just enough difference to make you feel like you hadn't been doing the same thing over and over again. With that said, I'm not the biggest fan of having to finish each of the first five levels with all three subs just to get to the last two levels. I would have rather had those last two levels just unlocked as soon as you finished the fifth mission, or even better would have been if there were 15 total levels before unlocking the final two. But it is what it is, and I'm also not letting that detract from the overall fun that this game has given me.

In between levels you get to go to a periscope mode where you use the screens on the 3DS as if they were an actual periscope on a submarine. You even have the option of spinning your body around and using the gyroscope inside the 3DS to aim the torpedoes. These missions are timed, and they are pretty short. I'm actually glad that they are like that. They give you a sense of urgency while playing, and make it seem pretty hectic. You can play these levels as a stand alone game if you like, but I prefer to play through a mission before giving them a go. They seem like a perfect way to end the mission you've just played.

I find that the thing I like the most about "Steel Diver" is the way it controls. It's totally unique and something that really could only be done on a dual screen device, like the 3DS. I know that this game originally started out as a tech demo for the original DS quite a few years ago, but I'm glad Nintendo gave the go ahead to turn it into a fully fledged experience for this new 3DS. The whole package, in my opinion, comes together in a way that can only be experienced on the DS, and for me, that makes this a five star game.