The Case for a Steelrising Sequel After Greedfall 2

Summary

Steelrising's setting mixes history with fantasy in a unique way, making it worth bringing back in a sequel.
A Steelrising sequel could refine the combat issues from the first game while staying innovative.
Developing a Steelrising sequel could explore deeper lore and expand on the world established in the original game.

Given the significant and in-depth feedback GreedFall 2: The Dying World has received thus far during its early access period, it wouldn't be surprising if it were to stay in early access longer than originally anticipated. Most early access games remain so for at least a year, so it's possible GreedFall 2 could be in early access for even longer than that, given the current state of the game. Of course, whatever length of time GreedFall 2 is in early access would likely be understandable, considering the series is Spiders' pride and joy. However, it's not the only IP the developer should be proud of, as its unique Soulslike experience, Steelrising, is more than worthy of recognition as well.

Steelrising is one of Spiders' more well-known games, as its growing library of titles is still considered fairly underground due to the studio's small size. What makes Steelrising one of the devleper's more recognizable titles is its unique setting and Soulslike combat — although the latter leaves something to be desired. Herein lies the reason why Spiders should consider developing a sequel to Steelrising once GreedFall 2, however, as there are plenty of ways a sequel could refine the gameplay from the first game while simultaneously bringing its distinctive world to life once more for newcomers and fans of the original.

The Biggest Differences Between GreedFall 2 and the First Game So Far

While GreedFall 2 does its best to maintain the franchise formula, it's not without a handful of changes that improve and build upon its predecessor.

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By Josh Cotts

Why Spiders Should Develop a Steelrising Sequel After GreedFall 2

Steelrising's Unique Setting Is Worth Keeping Around

By far, Steelrising's best feature is its setting, which undoubtedly draws inspiration from other Soulslike games like Dark Souls but adds its own twist to keep things feeling fresh. Just as Spiders has done with other games, particularly GreedFall, Steelrising blends history with fantasy for an experience unlike most out there, in which players set foot in an alternate-universe French Revolution accompanied by automatons. Effectively, it's one of the most bizarre combinations of elements, but it works for what Steelrising is, especially among other games in the Soulslike genre. This alone is enough reason for Steelrising to one day get a sequel.

Steelrising's Innovative Combat Could Be Refined in a Sequel

One of the main points of criticism directed toward Steelrising is its combat, and while that makes it seem as though Spiders should avoid developing a sequel at all costs, that's far from the truth. Steelrising's combat has plenty of problems — from an overly punishing stamina system to clunky hit detection and animations — but a sequel to the game would potentially be a chance for Spiders to fix those problems, especially considering its combat system has otherwise been considered creative, ambitious, and innovative. Just as a big focus of GreedFall 2 has been improving its predecessor's combat, a sequel to Steelrising would likely be a similar story.

A Steelrising Sequel Could Delve Deeper Into the First Game's Lore

Something else a Steelrising sequel could accomplish is it would provide an opportunity to delve deeper into the first game's lore. Steelrising has a surprising amount of lore to it — something Spiders is known for including in its games — but it all really only hinted at some deeper conspiracies surrounding automaton technology and societal revolution. A Steelrising sequel could provide a more global perspective on the automatons, as well as potentially raise more philosophical questions about artificial life. A sequel would also potentially be a great time to expand on the story of Aegis, Steelrising's protagonist.

While the first Steelrising had its imperfections, it laid a solid foundation with its unique setting, innovative gameplay mechanics, and compelling lore. By addressing player feedback and refining combat mechanics, a Steelrising sequel could accomplish what the first game could not. Spiders has already proven its ability to deliver immersive, distinctive worlds with games like GreedFall and its successor, and revisiting Steelrising's alternate-history French Revolution could give the IP another chance to stand out in the Soulslike genre.

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