Steven Universe: Unleash the Light

Steven Universe: Unleash The Light
Image featuring Steven Universe, Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, Peridot, Pumpkin, Lapis Lazuli, and Bismuth.
Developer(s)	Grumpyface Studios
Publisher(s)	Cartoon Network Games
Writer(s)	Rebecca Sugar
Series	Steven Universe
Platform(s)	iOS macOS Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 Windows Xbox One
Release	iOS November 27, 2019 macOS, Windows, PS4, Switch, Xbox One February 19, 2021
Genre(s)	Action-adventure, role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player

Steven Universe: Unleash the Light is an action-adventure game based on, and taking place after, the Steven Universe animated series. The game is the third and final game in the Light trilogy, after Attack the Light and Save the Light. The game was developed by Grumpyface Studios and published by Cartoon Network Games. The storyline was written by Rebecca Sugar and features voices by the shows original cast.

The game was initially only released on iOS via Apple Arcade in November 2019. Just over a year later, in February 2021, the game was simultaneously released on Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Plot

v1.1.0

It starts off with Steven finishing writing new rules for Era 3 accompanied by Blue Pearl, Yellow Pearl, and Pink Pearl in the Diamond Throne Room at Gem Homeworld. While having a conversation, Yellow Pearl mentions that there are two Light Prisms still active and she has been contacting two Gems named Pyrope and Demantoid; thus far she was unsuccessful. Blue Pearl states that if they don't respond they could send a battalion to retrieve the Prisms by force which Steven disagrees to. Pink Pearl asks what the right solution is and Steven answers that he knows the right team for the job.

Steven brings the Crystal Gems to the Palace of Light which is owned by the two Garnets. When he tries to introduce himself to Demantoid, Pyrope interrupts asking Demantoid who she's talking to. Upon realizing who he is Pyrope hurriedly tells them the palace is closed and the two take their leave. While the Crystal Gems think about how to enter, they once again encounter Hessonite's Prism who not only took on a new form but has chosen the name George. George shows them that he can dissipate Prism-protected doors only to discover that the rest of the palace is locked and they need rainbow keys to enter. This is 'helpfully' pointed out by Hessonite who has become a 'mysterious ally' to the gems. The gems decide to follow Demantoid after hacking a comlink from a previous colony in the making with Pearl staying to find out more about Demantoid while Lapis Lazuli goes with them to one of Yellow Diamond's mining colonies.

In Crystal System Colony 215, it's revealed that Demantoid has been releasing Light constructs through the colony disrupting the work of several Peridots. One of said Peridots, Peri Pal informs Steven that the Peridots know due to the commlinks before Demantoid cut all communication from Homeworld and prohibited any interaction with Steven, unfortunately, the Light constructs from her Prism are causing damage to their buildings which makes the Crystal Gems help them and Pearl informs Steven that Demantoid and Pyrope after hearing of Era 3 saw it as a chance to make their own empires due to the power vacuum caused. After fighting Light constructs controlling a drill they discover Demantoid already left to another colony owned by her.

In Demantoid's world they learn she has been using Light constructs to replace her Bismuths during its terraformation. The Bismuths, unable to continue their work are wondering what to do now. Steven explains that the new rules of Era 3 set them free and they should have their own ruling system. Along the way, they meet Bismuth who reveals to have made a Prism Containment Chest to disable both Prisms. After fighting several constructs they encounter Demantoid who modified her Prism. Steven tries to convince her to surrender, only for Demantoid to reply that, for her, Steven's Era 3 is a chance for them to make their own empire now that he has proven that the Diamonds are obsolete. After defeating her Bismuth tries to use the box only to be attacked by Demantoid until Steven saves her by throwing his shield. The Bismuths decide to rebel against Demantoid only for her to leave with the box much to the disappointment of the Crystal Gems. The group decides to follow her to Blue Colony 4 controlled by Pyrope.

Upon arrival, the Gems find the colony in ruins and are confused when the inhabitants, a variety of Jades seem worried to speak with them. One Jade reveals that the Palace of Light was formerly located on the planet and they have not been permitted to receive broadcasts or leave. After navigating the colony the team encounters another group of light constructs who have taken the forms of Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl and Steven to battle them. They then set their sights on the Palace of Light to unlock all the doors and confront Pyrope face to face.

Once they unlock all the barriers the Crystal Gems fought through Pyrope's residence to find her sitting in her personal room. They attempt to convince her to stop using the prisms when Demantoid arrives and begins to bicker with Pyrope. Bismuth, noticing the box, tells Steven she will try to take it before Hessonite arrives to "aid" them. Hessonite brags to the other Garnets about her humbleness before she is struck, knocking off her scarf and visor. Pyrope is surprised by this and Demantoid says that there is still time to join them, but Hessonite refuses. Demantoid states that she wasn't talking to her but George who she captures and combines with the other two prisms. After fighting the two Garnets and their Prism monster Steven convinces George to fight back before being silenced by Demantoid. This causes Hessonite to stand up to her and apologize to George telling him he doesn't have to be a weapon anymore. George causes the monster to defuse and reunites with Steven. With her Prism locked away, Demantoid loses her Limb Enhancers and blames Pyrope who blames her back. The two poof each other and Hessonite takes over the palace promising to open it back to gemkind. George has Bismuth release the other prisms, and he convinces them the three of them are now free. Pearl then reminds Steven that there are still other colonies that are yet to be freed, so the Crystal Gems decide to stay in Homeworld for a while to help establish Era 3.

After the credits roll, a mysterious green ship resembling the one used by "Squaridot" comes into view and a laugh similar to the ones made by Peridots is heard before disappearing.

v2.0

After reaching Chapter 3, a strange transmission appears in Pyrope's World. While investigating, George reveals the signal's source: Crystal System Colony 215. Returning to the alien plant reveals a new level, 1-10. When the Gems arrive, they encounter a flustered Peridot, and together they journey into the Kindergarten and encounter the source of the transmission, Squaridot. The angry gem demands Steven deliver the Prism to her, before awkwardly signing out.

Peridot reveals that she let Squaridot out of her bubble, hoping to have her unite with the Crystal Gems. She also tracks Squaridot's location to Hessonite's warship, and the Gems travel there to confront her.

On the warship, power is turned off and Steven and his friends make their way through the locked doors to Squaridot. Finally, they arrive at the ship's controls and fight Squaridot, but it turns out to be a Squaribot decoy. The real Squaridot emerges, controlling the computer, and the team battles her and her army of Squaribots as Peridot hacks the system to shut it down.

After the final battle, Peridot successfully hacks the system and releases Squaridot of her control. However, she has no memory of the events and was only trying to locate Hessonite. Upon activating the ship's emergency protocol, Squaridot was controlled by the program to find the Prism. Squaridot begrudgingly thanks the Gems and is taught about Era 3, while Steven invites her to Beach City.

v3.0

George was surprised about the distress signal, and Peridot tells the Gems what they received, so Peridot said that it came from the black hole, Garnet agreed, "the same black hole that out Yellow Colony 4" from the looks of it. Steven said "Whoa", as Peridot, "Whoa is right", as they have to stay away from there, but she's getting strange readings originated from it, and extremely mysterious and alluring and Steven was curious to check it out. But before that at the entrance of the Palace of Light, he heard a roar was Lion and Connie have arrived that she's caught up on schoolwork and ready to liberate the galaxy and Steven cheers. She hears about the Prism mission, and meets George and looks amazed, she was curious about the this place, and do walk and talk and Steven agreed, so Steven and the Gems travel to the black hole where it sucked up Yellow Colony 4.

Gameplay

The game follows the classic RPG format, with the player leveling up characters through fighting enemies in various areas that act like dungeons. Battling is strategic, with turn-taking and a limited amount of attacks per turn. Each character has their own unique moves, with many of Steven's being healing-based.

The player may only bring four characters with them at a time. Steven is always in the party, and the player can choose to add Garnet, Pearl, Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli, Bismuth, Peridot, Connie, or Greg. During battle, some characters have the ability to fuse. Unlike in the previous games, players have the option to unlock alternate costumes for the characters.

The Rose's Room challenge features 10 Magical missions, to increase the Neato bar, the player gets rewards and regenerate new stages.

Update History

It is first updated on May 8, 2020. Featuring Smoky Quartz as a fusion, and Hessonite playable during Final boss. And updated to v2.0. Featuring Peridot. The game is released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam and PC while updated to v3.0. With Connie and Lion being playable on February 19, 2021. On June 16, 2022, the game is updated to Version 4.0. With Greg Universe playable and Rose's Room Featuring 10 Magical Missions, then released on Consoles on August 19, 2022.

Reception

The iOS version of the game was praised by critics. It received 5 stars on TouchArcade, which described it as an "Apple Arcade gem", while Game Informer called it "a diamond in the rough among movie/television-to-videogame adaptions." George Foster of RPGSite commented that while fans of the show will appreciate the game the most, with gameplay that "will be enough on its own" for non-fans and praised the character interactions as having improved since Save The Light. Mike Fahey of Kotaku stated that he appreciated the simplicity of the game, comparing it to Paper Mario in its game mechanics, and saying that it never felt bloated.