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ReviewBeneath A Steel Sky
Posted February 6, 2021 by lucrecia in Games

https://www.gog.com/game/beneath_a_steel_sky

So, this is a classic game (came out in 1994) that I downloaded years ago, but only got round to playing the other week. I really recommend it! It's point-and-click, takes a couple of afternoons to complete, best played with a friend so you can bounce theories off each other since most of the gameplay is about solving puzzles. I had more fun playing this than I've had with a game in years, honestly. It's free to play. And it's 87MB. :P

I played Broken Sword years ago and although I enjoyed it, sometimes the solutions to the puzzles in that felt a bit random. Although Beneath A Steel Sky is an earlier game from the same team, it's more logical, imo. There's no equivalent to that goddamn goat.

Beneath A Steel Sky is set in a futuristic dystopia, mocking bureaucracy, plastic surgery, inequality, abuse of power, environmental depradation, Science Gone Wrong... classic 90s scifi. With brilliant OTT voice acting and a lot of silly double entendre. The description on the linked GOG page makes it sound a lot more serious in tone than it actually is.

Two in-game adverts:

"Suspicious of your neighbours? Turn your paranoia into hard cash! Contact Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, Security Services, 826."

and

"Amaze your friends with our accessories! Safe hermaphro-surgery techniques -- Burke's Bio-surgery"

Cons: The opening is blah and the music is annoying (very MIDI). Nearly every character is male.

Pros: There's a grouchy robot that's looking for any excuse to blowtorch everything it encounters. I identified.

So, yeah, I recommend it. :)

7 comments

LobselVithFebruary 6, 2021

This brings me way back! I love the genre and I loved this game!! Definitely one that lasts in the player's memory! Great recommendations! I might take the opportunity to play it again. It's been years!

lucrecia [OP]February 6, 2021

Do it! :D I'm planning on working through the back catalogue, now, so next up is probably Lure of the Temptress, which for some reason I don't expect to be the most radical feminist title, but then if I used that as my criterion, there wouldn't be much left for me to play. :P Nice playing something with a good script, anyway.

[Deleted]February 14, 2021

I was so excited to see this post since it seems like most people don't know these games exist! I haven't played BASS somehow but loved Broken Sword (it used to be called "Circle of Blood" when I played I think)

You've played the Siberia series right???

lucrecia [OP]February 14, 2021

Not yet! It was on my list, but then I forgot about it, so thanks for the reminder. :P

[Deleted]February 14, 2021

The story is so good, it honestly made me emotional but I always get it mixed up with "The Longest Journey", which is also excellent. Hope to see you around on here and thanks as well for the rec :D

lucrecia [OP]February 14, 2021

Thanks for that rec too!

SheTastesPurpleFebruary 15, 2021

For some reason reminded me "Machinarium" and "I am not a Monster!".