A pair of 2D horizontal shoot ’em ups are gearing up for another revival courtesy of ININ Games. The publisher announced plans to bring both The Legend of Steel Empire and Over Horizon to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in early 2024.
The Switch version of The Legend of Steel Empire will touch down first on Switch in January, then PS4 at a later date. Following the 1992 Sega Mega Drive and 2004 Game Boy Advance Steel Empire games by HOT-B, this one is an HD remaster based on the PC version with some additional features. These include reworked controls, high-definition visuals, and a leveling system that boosts both your strength and the resilience of your enemies depending on how many items you collect.
Also included in the physical Steel Empire Chronicles from Strictly Limited, The Legend of Steel Empire will be available physically and digitally on Switch. Here’s a trailer:
Over Horizon is a spiritual successor of sorts, with development from HOT-B and the co-director of Steel Empire. This entry wasn’t released outside of Japanese and PAL territories, so fans of the series around the world will soon be able to check it out on Switch and PS4. Over Horizon is currently penciled in for sometime in early 2024 for both platforms.
If you’re looking for the most comprehensive collection, that Strictly Limited release still has a handful of LE Switch versions in stock. It includes the Steel Empire HD remaster, as well as the Mega Drive and Game Boy Advance versions, and the NES version of Over Horizon. You won’t find the 3DS version there, though, so you’ll have to stick to the second dimension.
