Steam Prison – Beyond the Steam – is coming to MangaGamer, Steam, and Nintendo Switch in just under two weeks! Today we have some insights into the game from one of wonderful our beta testers, Sharpest Rose, for your reading pleasure:
Steam Prison -Beyond the Steam- exceeded any expectations I could have possibly had for a fan disk of the original game. It caters to both the lighter, more romance-oriented elements of the original while also expanding on some of the darkest aspects of the base game, meaning it has something for everyone.
The sequel portion of the story, Cainabel, takes place following the ‘Grand Ending’ of the original Steam Prison. This means that everyone is in a relatively comfortable, happy situation as the beginning status quo – Ines might not like doing middle management very much, but he’s back in the Heights, you know? Fin hasn’t gone through major trauma. The heroine’s parents are alive. We build from a solid foundation.
I don’t want to give much away about the actual sequel story, but I felt it was very much a worthy successor to the original, offering sufficiently complex and interesting new characters and engaging things for the returning characters to do – the way Saint Yune’s unique situation is weaponised in one of the arcs is particularly inspired.
Something that’s particularly noteworthy are the extra scenes that unlock as you play through each route, because these serve to expand and deepen the relationships between characters aside from their interactions with the heroine. Seeing Sachsen Brandenburg peer-pressure Adage Roselite into trying smoking and then trying to mock him for being a virgin was a character dynamic I never even thought of, but it adds shape and colour to the world as a whole.
Speaking of Sachsen, the second major element of the fan disk is A New Theory, which returns us to the context of the original game and offers greater depth to the story of Sachs and Fin in the HOUNDS. Anyone who remembers the original game will know that this was some of the darkest stuff, first time around, so you know what you’re in for – but if you were among the hordes clamouring for a Sachsen route, or if you like your Fins extremely screwed up, then this game caters to your desires. Other characters, such as Ines and Adage, also appear in this portion of the game.
The third part of the fan disk is a surprisingly difficult spot-the-difference chibi game, with charming artwork and full commentary by a character of your choice. It’s worth 100%ing this section, as you can earn a truly adorable bonus CG for your efforts.
All in all, -Beyond the Steam- is everything a fan could possibly hope for out of a Steam Prison continuation, offering all the delicate, complex romance between the well-developed characters that fans of the original will want. Whether it’s light or dark that draws you, you’ll find it here.
You can pre-order the game on the MangaGamer shop right now to save 10% or wishlist it on Steam!