It’s amazing to see certain franchises reimagined decades after their debuts, and Beyond a Steel Sky is one of those. The original entry, Beneath a Steel Sky, released in 1994 and was a very different experience all together. Technology was limited, and developer Revolution Software had to rely on immersive storytelling to bring Union City to life.
More than 25 years later, protagonist Robert Foster finally returns to a fully realized version of Union City. What’s truly amazing about this sequel is that several of the original game designers are back too. Dave Gibbons returns as the art director and Charles Cecil is leading from the top. Take a look at this new story trailer to see the reimagined look of Union City.
The trailer makes use of the game engine to show off the world in all of it’s new splendor. Beyond a Steel Sky draws some visual similarities to Cyberpunk 2077, but don’t let that fool you. This game has its own distinct art style and brings an old-school adventure vibe to the table.
The story of a hero
The setup for the conflict of the story is pretty straight forward. Robert Foster has spent the last several years living in a rural village away from the politics of Union City. His quiet life is interrupted though by a mysterious robot and several goons that abduct a young boy.
Foster takes it upon himself to find the child and bring him home. Unsurprisingly, the trail soon leads him back to none other than Union City, and things have changed.
“Fortified and impenetrable, it is a utopia in which people live happily under the surveillance and control of a benign AI. But all is far from what it seems…” - Revolution Software
The city itself is massive and full of hustling and bustling inhabitants. Union City features a few of the familiar dystopian tropes that most people have come to expect in a futuristic city, but it hits the right notes.
The plot thickens
The story isn’t all about social surveillance, politics, and beautiful vistas though. Foster will soon find himself caught up in dark conspiracies and at odds with a terrifying antagonist. Just like in the original game, players can expect to descend into the familiar depths of Union City again.
The game also promises to challenge the player’s intellect with puzzles and situations that create difficult moral dilemmas.
Veterans of the original game will also recognize a few returning characters such as Joey the robot and Foster’s wife. It will be interesting to see what roles they take on in the new story.
Revolution Software has still not offered an exact release date for Beyond a Steel Sky. Whenever the sequel releases though, it will be available on Apple Arcade and Steam.