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

Overview

Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. is an upcoming new intellectual property from Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. It is a turn-based strategy game with real-time action elements set in a nineteenth-century steampunk version of Earth. The game is New Nintendo 3DS-enhanced and features native amiibo support as well as camera control via the C-Stick.

Story

In a world where steam-powered technology is the norm, American soldier Henry Fleming and his friend John Henry are tasked with guarding their country's embassy in London when aliens suddenly attack the city. As the two soldiers fight their way out, they are rescued by none other than President Abraham Lincoln, who immediately recruits them for a special anti-alien task force called S.T.E.A.M.

Gameplay

Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. is a turn-based tactics game in which the player must move their units around a map and defeat enemy troops. When it is a player-character's turn to act, the player takes direct control of that character and can move them around the map. The distance characters can travel is dictated by how full their steam gauge is. When the player chooses to perform an action such as attack the enemy, this also consumes steam.

Each character has one unique special move that can be performed once per battle. Usage of these moves does not have a steam cost. It is also possible to set characters into an overwatch mode, in which rather than attack on their turn, they can be set to attack on the enemy's turn if an enemy crosses into their attack range.

During battle, the player acquires medals by defeating enemies or finding them on the map. These medals can be spent at save points during battle to restore health and steam to some or all of the player's troops. Collected medals also unlock new weapons while collecting gears on the maps will unlock new boilers that will enhance a character's amount of steam and affect stats.

Multiplayer

Code Name S.T.E.A.M. includes three 1v1 multiplayer modes that can be played either locally or online. Medals earned in multiplayer transfer over into singleplayer.

Death Match

In Death Match, players have 30 turns to defeat each other. Each player's turn lasts only 60 seconds.

Medal Battle

The goal in Medal Battle is to collect more Medals than the enemy within only five turns. It is still possible to attack the other team.

A.B.E. Battle

Both players pilot their own Anthropomorphized Battle Engine and face-off in a brawler-style battle of gigantic steam-powered mechs that look like Abe Lincoln.

Tournaments

Players can set up custom tournaments similar to recent Mario Kart or Mario Golf games. Nintendo is also going to distribute official tournaments via SpotPass.

StreetPass

Players who StreetPass each other will have their mission statistics compared against each other and be ranked on a leaderboard. The player with the highest ranking for each mission will receive a medal bonus.

Characters

Abraham Lincoln (16th President of the United States, voiced by Wil Wheaton)

Milton (John Milton Hay, private secretary to Lincoln)

Playable Characters

John Henry (African-American folk hero)

• Primary Weapon: Bear Grenade launcher, explosive AoE with heavy knockback.
• Steam Required: 4 Units
• Overwatch: No
• Special Attack: Hammer Blow
• Ability: ?

Queequeg (Moby Dick)

• Primary Weapon: Penguin Lobber
• Steam Required: 4 Units
• Overwatch: No
• Special Attack: Harpoon
• Ability: ?

Lion (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)

• Primary Weapon: Lion Launcher, launches the Lion himself at a target with a small AoE effect, can be used to reach otherwise unreachable platforms.
• Steam Required: 4 Units
• Overwatch: No
• Special Attack: Mighty Roar
• Ability: ?

Scarecrow (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)

• Primary Weapon: Pumpkin Stunner
• Steam Required: 4 Units
• Overwatch: No
• Special Attack: Trick or Treat
• Ability: ?

Tiger Lily (Character from Peter Pan)

• Primary Weapon: Medi-Mortar, like a grenade launcher except that it heals whoever it hits.
• Steam Required: 4 Units
• Overwatch: No
• Special Attack: Healing Wind
• Ability: ?

Tom Sawyer (Adventures of Tom Sawyer)

• Primary Weapon: Punch Gun, knocks enemies back
• Steam Required: 1 Unit
• Overwatch: Yes
• Special Attack: Hijinks
• Ability: ?

Randolph Carter (recurring H.P. Lovecraft character)

• Primary Weapon: Unspeakable Lure
• Steam Required: 3 Units
• Overwatch: No
• Special Attack: Eldritch Shield
• Ability: ?

Henry Fleming (The Red Badge of Courage)

• Primary Weapon: Eagle Rifle
• Steam Required: 3 Units
• Overwatch: Yes
• Special Attack: Eagle Strike
• Ability: ?

The Fox (presumed a reference to Zorro's great-granddaughter Barbara Meredith)

• Primary Weapon: Fox Rifle
• Steam Required: 4 Units
• Overwatch: Yes
• Special Attack: Sharp Eye
• Ability: ?

Califia (fictional warrior queen)

• Primary Weapon: Rhino Bomber
• Steam Required: 4 Units
• Overwatch: No
• Special Attack: Raging Heart
• Ability:

Tin Man (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)

• Primary Weapon: Steam Projector, does not damage enemies but can restore steam for friendly units
• Steam Required: 3
• Overwatch: ?
• Special Attack: Steam Bath, restores steam to nearby units and damages enemies
• Ability: ?

Dorothy (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)

• Primary Weapon: Toto Blaster, shoots hot light in a spread, good at close range
• Steam Required: 3
• Overwatch: ?
• Special Attack: Silver Streak, lets her dash through enemy units and obstacles, depleting her steam
• Ability: ?

Stovepipe (unlocked after beating the game)

• Primary Weapon: Gun Fist
• Steam Required: ?
• Overwatch: ?
• Sub-Weapon: Drill Punch
  • Steam Required: 3
  • Overwatch: ?
• Special Attack: Double Drill
• Ability: Nerves of Steel (immune to stun, enhanced combat)

Fire Emblem amiibo Characters

Can be summoned by tapping their amiibo if the player has a New Nintendo 3DS system or the peripheral for the older models. The amiibo characters cannot be revived mid-battle but they can be tapped back in once the mission they died in has been completed. It is possible to play with a team consisting only of amiibo characters. They cannot use sub-weapons.

Marth

• Primary Weapon: Falchion
  • Steam Required: ?
  • Overwatch: No
• Secondary Weapon: Rapier, can hit weak points
  • Steam Required: ?
  • Overwatch: Yes
• Special Attack: Super Heal
• Ability: Destiny (completely avoids overwatch from enemies)

Ike

• Primary Weapon: Ragnell, has a ranged attack
  
  • Steam Required: ?
  • Overwatch: No
• Secondary Weapon: Urvan, can hit multiple enemies
  • Steam Required: ?
  • Overwatch: No
• Special Attack: Push

Lucina

• Primary Weapon: ?
  • Steam Required: ?
  • Overwatch: ?
• Secondary Weapon:
  • Steam Required: ?
  • Overwatch: ?
• Special Attack: ?

Robin

• Primary Weapon: ?
  • Steam Required: ?
  • Overwatch: ?
• Secondary Weapon: ?
  • Steam Required: ?
  • Overwatch: ?
• Special Attack: ?

Amiibo Support

In the game, players can use amiibo of the available Fire Emblem chracters to call them into battle, wielding their signature weapons. Supported are Marth, Ike, Lucina and Robin. If one of these character falls in battle, they cannot be revived mid-game like native S.T.E.A.M. characters but have to be called back in by activating the amiibo again once the battle is over.

Design Inspirations

The visual style of Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. heavily draws from American Silver Age comic books. The development team has cited figures such as Jack Kirby and Bruce Timm in particular as inspirations. The designs of the enemy aliens are primarily inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu mythos.