14 DAY TRIAL // 
The destroyer does not have too much armor or big guns, but is packed with as many small anti-ship missile launchers as possible. So I go riding between the bigger threats of the enemy force, launching as many projectiles as possible at them.
A few uses of my boost also make sure that I avoid quite a bit of incoming fire while targeting another destroyer with my forward-facing turrets. I swerve to the right quickly and target a cruise before activating ramming power to slice its hull open.
Two other destroyers and a few PT boats pump me full of torpedoes but I have the good luck of getting an HP drop from another cruiser. I focus on dodging attacks for a few moments, while I search for a good position to take on the remaining enemies. Once they’re all down I hope to have the blueprints required for some better guns and missiles to use in the extensive designer. I might drop more of my armor to get extra firepower for the coming battles.
Waves of Steel is developed and published by TMA Games LLC. I played it on the PC via Steam. It is also offered on the Xbox Series X and S from Microsoft. The title delivers a naval-themed arcade experience with a focus on customization and accessibility.
The narrative setup is a classic one: tyrannical rulers are corrupting countries all over the world, training powerful military forces to oppress the masses. Players take control of one of the last free warships, moving across the world’s oceans in search of chances to take down the hardware that sustains authoritarianism.
Each mission has a short story snippet before it and a briefing, all delivered by well-defined characters. The writing is mostly functional, with the heightened drama of a classic war movie. There’s not much depth in it but it works well within this alternate universe.
Waves of Steel would not attract too many players with its story alone. The game’s mix of gameplay elements is the real draw. The game offers a range of naval combat scenarios to deal with. It also gives players a deep customization mode, with a range of tools to create their ideal vessel, ready to deal with all kinds of threats.
The missions have clear objectives and are quick to deal with. The player’s warship will be thrown into a complex situation, outnumbered and outgunned by enemies. Gamers have full control over movement and gunnery. One needs to master both to have a chance of dealing with all the opponents without getting blown out of the water.
Playing just one engagement makes it clear that this is not a sim. The player’s vessel can dodge left and right to deal with incoming fire, especially torpedoes, and has a powerful boost when it needs to quickly close with enemies or create distance.
Good movement is also important to get enemies inside the correct firing arc. Once they’re there, pound them relentlessly, preferably while avoiding incoming hits. Repeat the process to eliminate all enemies while maneuvering to pick up power-ups as needed.
The combat in Waves of Steel is fast and destructive. It’s easy to be overwhelmed but the game rewards solid use of dodging and ramming. And if a mission still is too hard, it is time to head back to the drawing board.
The game has a deep ship design system. A variety of hulls can be used to create combat vessels that suit the requirements of a mission or the desires of the player. There are options to customize power systems, armor, and, of course, weapon systems. Guns, missiles, CIWS, and more quickly become available. Unlocks will grant access to more modern tech and some futuristic options, including railguns and lasers. Use the temporary unlock feature to see everything that the game has to offer.
There are plenty of enemies based on well-known combat ships. Players can re-create their favorite designs as well. But it is more satisfying to mix and match weapons and systems, trying to find the kind of overpowered ship that can easily deal with an entire enemy armada without having to pick up any HP on the way.
Waves of Steel makes an effort on the accessibility front, with the aim of allowing as many interested players to enjoy its mechanics. Game speed can be tweaked to offer gamers more time to make decisions and absorb information. All controls can be changed and there’s a toggle for how weapons are activated.
Even better, there’s an option to autofire, which works well, and the game also allows players to skip missions or to activate a range of boosts, like invincibility, which means there’s no frustration when a battle seems too hard.
Waves of Steel is not a graphically impressive experience. The player’s ship can be customized to some extent but still looks like something from the PlayStation 2 era. There’s limited detail for the rest of the world, including the various opponents. Land masses and shore installations are barely sketched. The sound design is not much better, with a limited number of battle effects that don’t aim for realism. The soundtrack is suitably martial and heroic but needs more variety.
The Good
- Ship designer
- Fast-paced arcade naval combat
- Impressive accessibility
The Bad
- Limited presentation
- Familiar story
- Difficulty spikes
Conclusion
The biggest issue is the presentation. Some players will never get past the limited graphics. For those who do, Waves of Steel will be a fun and varied naval combat game that understands why an arcade approach is often more interesting than a devotion to realism.
A review key was provided by the publisher.
