Introduction:
As with many genres, the exact origin and nature of steampunk is open to debate. It is believed that the term was coined by author K. W. Jeter as a way to describe his own oeuvre as well as that of Tim Powers and James Blaylock. In general, the term refers to a subset of fantastical and science fiction characterized by a determined anachronism. Jeter chose the moniker steampunk in deference to the example set by cyberpunk. Where cyberpunk is primarily set in the near future and displays heavy dystopian themes, steampunk is generally set in the past or in an alternate history in which steam is still the main source of power.
If steam usage were the only requirement for the genre, then much literature written during the heyday of steam would classified as steampunk, but that is not the only component of steam punk. Steam power is used to create technology far beyond the scope of technology of the period, be they airships or computers. In this way, it shares the focus on technology with cyberpunk. The difference, of course, is that the technology is often simply the technology of our own time occurring a century earlier.
The other frequent component of the steampunk genre is a Victorian setting. The rigid social mores allow the authors to contrast cultural stagnation with technological evolution. Complex mechanical devices belching vapor and smog provide the background as prim ladies in hoop skirts walk down broad avenues with parasols. Imagine Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte crossed with something by H.R. Geiger, and you’ll have a rough idea of the environment. (Given that Geiger is often associated with cyberpunk and steampunk’s relationship with cyberpunk, this comparison seems apropos.)
With those requirements in mind, there are large variety of video games that fit into this genre. The first that comes to mind, for me, is Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura.
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura (2001):
Arcanum is a computer RPG with open-ended gameplay in the style of the great BioWare games. In addition to the steampunk elements, there is a heavy dose of fantasy with the presence of magick and alternate races (orcs, elves, etc.). There’s an incredible amount of character customization, which features a dialectic between magick and technology. As a character advances down the path of magick, they become less adept with technology and vice versa.
Critically successful, the game received an 8.7 from IGN as well as an Editor’s Choice Award. PC Gamer gave the title 90 out of 100. Although its sales were a disappointment to many, it was still the best-selling title from Troika Games:
Arcanum was the company’s best selling game, and it only managed to sell 234K units and generate sales of $8.8 million, according to the NPD Group.
For a niche gaming type released on the PC by a smaller company, Arcana sold admirably.
Thief: The Dark Project (1998):
The Dark Project is the first in the Thief series, all of which exist in a steampunk universe. It is a stealth-focused first person shooter in which shadows play an extremely vital role. Although the setting seems medieval, with armor and swords the weapons of choice, the cobbled streets of town are lit by electric streetlights. The environment is urban and often reminiscent of depictions of England out of a Charles Dickens novel.
Another critical success for the steampunk genre, The Dark Project is now considered to be one of the greatest games of all time, at least according to Gamespot. I know that my friends and I spent hours playing the demo in anticipation of the game’s release. As is typical with successful Eidos titles, it was re-released with added content as Thief Gold. Although I haven’t been able to find any exact sales figures, I did find this anecdote from a Looking Glass postmortem:
Thief appeared in late 1998 and was a major hit, eventually making millions of dollars for Looking Glass. Had Thief not been a big hit, Looking Glass would almost certainly have folded. Instead, Thief appeared to revitalize the company. Thief Gold sold well, and System Shock II sales were passable. Thief II is currently on the way to being an even bigger hit than Thief I.
The game has a rabid following, and some gamers are still hopeful for a fourth entry in the series.
Final Fantasy VI (1994):
Although one could make the argument that many more of the Final Fantasy games fit into the steampunk genre with the admixture of fantastic and technology, FF VI most clearly embodies the genre. Steam is not the driving force behind the technology present in the game; instead it is magicite, a crystalized form of magic. Magitek armor is the main shock troop employed by Kefka and the Imperial army. Railroads and coal mining dominate the industrial landscape with the occasional pastoral interlude. Squaresoft drew on the culture of the Victorian period with an recurring elements of opera and painting. Edgar, the inventor king of Figaro (hint, hint), creates chainsaws and other weapons to fight alongside sword-wielding warriors. (I’m sure I’ll do a Retrospective of this game in the future, but for now, let me just say that I think the opera sequence is the most astonishing and wonderful scenes in all of gaming history.)
In short, one of the greatest RPGs of the SNES is squarely in the realm of steampunk. The character art of Yoshitaka Amano even possesses an element of Victorian elegance.
There is simply no way for me to adequately explain all the acclaim that has been showered on this title, but others have done just that. It has been re-released on both the PlayStation and Gameboy Advance. The original version on the SNES sold 2.55 million copies in Japan alone. I have, for the record, bought all three versions of the game. And if Square Enix releases another one, I’ll probably that too. I have a book of Amano’s art on my bookshelf. I’m not ashamed. Oh, no.
Wild ARMs (1997):
This was the title I played after I completed Final Fantasy VII. There was no way it could compete in my heart, but I still remember this console RPG fondly. The game is set in a pseudo-Wild West environment in which characters recover ARMs (Ancient Relic Machines) that provide the advanced technology characteristic of the genre. The usual band of misfits globe trots and tries to save the world, but they do so with action and puzzle elements that made Wild ARMs unique.
As with the other titles mentioned here, the game was successful critically, boasting an 83% on the much-maligned (by me) Game Rankings. The game has been popular enough for Sony to release it on the PlayStation network, and, in addition to the sequels, there is an anime set in the universe of the game.
Conclusion:
The steampunk genre, though not nearly as ubiquitous as medieval fantasy, has been present in video games for many years, and has been quite successful. It’s still very much healthy and alive with games like Damnation, On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, and Edge of Twilight on the horizon. Which is great news for gamers because, as a genre, steampunk provides some welcome relief from trite swords and sorcery worlds.