Beneath a Steel Sky (Amiga)
Point and click adventures were never better than the Monkey Island series though there were many competitors that tried to steal the crown from the hapless pirate, Guybrush Threepwood. Amongst the serious rivals was Beneath a Steel Sky, a dystopian adventure set in a futuristic Australian city. I remember owning the game when it was first released but how well has it aged?
The story is initially told through a comic strip and tells of a helicopter crash in the Gap (the Australian Outback) and how the only survivor is a young boy. He is adopted by Australians living in the Outback who name him Robert Foster, the surname coming both from him being fostered and a label of Fosters lager found amongst the wreck! Foster grows up in the Gap, learning to survive in the harsh terrain and even creating a robot, Joey, with a circuit board that can be transferred from one machine to another but retains the personality of Joey. Now an adult, Robert is abducted by security officers from Union City who destroy the camp in the Gap. Robert is flown to Union City without explanation, but something goes wrong and the helicopter crashes. Robert survives and becomes a hunted man known as Overmann. He must venture through Union City, avoiding security, finding out who Overmann is and trying to find his way home.
After a terrific opening the game begins quickly. No sooner has Robert crashed in Union City than he is pursued by a security officer, Reich, to a recycling plant. After restoring Joey in the form of a vacuum cleaner, Robert and his less than enthusiastic friend set out to solve the mystery of his abduction. There is a lot of intrigue from the start. Reich, who it seems will be the major villain throughout the game, soon corners Robert but when he draws a gun, a security camera opens fire and kills Reich! The slain security officer refers to Robert as Overmann and when addressing the camera calls it LINC. LINC is an omnipotent computer that controls the city, permitting access for individuals to certain levels through personal security cards, while cameras in the form of eyeballs watch the city inhabitants closely. Foster begins on one of the upper levels of the city and he needs to gain access to the lower levels as quickly as possible, but avoiding security and keeping out of sight of LINC is far from easy.
Beneath a Steel Sky still looks fantastic. Its dull range of colours in many parts of Union City reflects the industrialised nature of this capital and you’ll find little greenery to really appreciate. The story remains fascinating throughout as Robert uncovers the truth about Overmann and gets to the heart of how LINC controls the city. Unlike Monkey Island there are some instances where it is easy for Robert to be killed. I should know, I think I uncovered them all! I still prefer the adventures of Guybrush Threepwood to Robert Foster but this is still a terrific game and worth seeking out.
Beneath a Steel Sky deserves to be spoken in the same breath as the Monkey Island games. Robert Foster may not have the same charm as Guybrush Threepwood, but he still makes for an amusing hero and his sidekick Joey is hilarious. Great visuals, a fascinating storyline and plenty of puzzles make Beneath a Steel Sky one of the best point and click adventures of them all.
Verdict: 5/5
Game Review: Beneath a Steel Sky | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
