Hack n Slash

About

"Hack n Slash" is a hacking-themed action-adventure game where you play as a character with the ability to manipulate and control electronic devices and systems. The game features puzzle-solving and combat, as you navigate through various levels and encounter different types of security measures and enemies. As you progress, you can upgrade your hacking abilities and customize your character's appearance.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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51%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,496 reviews

gameplay70 positive mentions

stability88 negative mentions

Unique concept that allows players to hack and manipulate game code to solve puzzles.
Clever puzzles that encourage creative problem-solving and thinking outside the box.
Charming art style and humorous dialogue that adds to the overall experience.

Steep difficulty spike in the later acts, making it frustrating for players without programming knowledge.
Poorly explained mechanics and lack of direction can lead to confusion and aimless wandering.
Frequent bugs and crashes that disrupt gameplay and hinder progress.

gameplay
324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
69%
9%
The gameplay of "Hack 'n' Slash" is characterized by its unique hacking mechanics, allowing players to manipulate game objects and their behaviors, which initially offers a fresh and engaging experience. However, many players find the gameplay becomes tedious and frustrating due to unclear mechanics, repetitive tasks, and a lack of intuitive guidance, particularly for those unfamiliar with programming concepts. While the innovative ideas are appreciated, the execution often leads to a mixed reception, with some praising its creativity while others criticize its overall design and difficulty spikes.
- “As a software engineer by trade, I feel like this game was made for me, and seeing how creatively Double Fine took these programming concepts and translated them into Zelda-esque gameplay elements is extremely novel and refreshing. If you're in the mood for getting into that programming mentality, it's a great time.”
- “The core mechanic of changing the game engine while it is running is really compelling, and leads to very open-ended puzzle design.”
- “The gameplay is fun, the mechanics feel fresh and really innovative, and it has some nice characters and cheesy dialogue.”
- “Great idea, but this game is let down by game-breaking bugs and tedious gameplay.”
- “The mechanics for interacting with the world are sometimes not very clear and can lead to the typical puzzle game frustration of solving the puzzle in your head before figuring out how to solve it in the game.”
- “It quickly becomes a chore instead of a game, and that's where the novelty of the mechanics wears off entirely and it's just not amusing after that.”
story
248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
55%
18%
The game's story is generally perceived as weak, with many reviewers noting it as short, predictable, and lacking depth or engagement. While some appreciate its lighthearted and humorous elements, others criticize the execution and coherence, describing it as a mere backdrop for puzzles rather than a compelling narrative. Overall, the story fails to resonate strongly with players, often feeling disjointed or underdeveloped.
- “The story is strong and amusing (as one would expect from Double Fine) despite the odd subject matter.”
- “It is very innovative and fun, with hard puzzles and a rich story.”
- “The puzzles all feel refreshingly new, and the story is delightful.”
- “The story is paper thin and not engaging at all.”
- “The entire game's story line holds almost no weight, even in its own universe.”
- “The paper-thin storyline, flat dialogue, and cardboard-cutout characters do nothing to make the puzzle headache worthwhile.”
graphics
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
48%
16%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming, retro-inspired art style reminiscent of classic titles like Zelda, while others criticize it for being low-resolution, confusing, and lacking polish. Many comments highlight the inconsistency in quality, with some animations described as janky and the overall aesthetic feeling amateurish or cluttered. Despite the appealing character designs and colorful visuals, the graphics often detract from the gameplay experience, leading to frustration in navigation and immersion.
- “Super cute graphics!”
- “The graphical style is really nice and refreshing, not to mention the idea behind the game has so much potential!”
- “I immediately fell in love with the Zelda-esque art style and the game didn't disappoint either.”
- “The bland, amateurish art style, the directionless narrative, the janky animations, and the loose, unfinished gameplay makes this a game I won't be returning to.”
- “I don't like the overall graphic style; it looks like some old ugly cartoon to me.”
- “The graphics themselves are not impressive.”
humor
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is polarizing, with some players finding it clever and engaging, while others criticize it as juvenile or forced. Many appreciate the witty dialogue and quirky interactions typical of Double Fine's style, but some feel that the humor falls flat or becomes repetitive. Overall, the game offers a mix of funny moments and frustrating writing, appealing primarily to those who enjoy a light-hearted, puzzle-oriented experience.
- “This game is hilarious, frustrating, fun, and we beat it.”
- “It's a hilariously ingenious concept taken to its logical conclusion with the final set of levels, and I loved it.”
- “Great game, love the cartoony style and the funny sense of humor.”
- “He supposedly has all the power you have, but, to keep spoilers to a minimum, he either doesn't use them for some reason or uses them in a ridiculously stupid way... stupid enough it feels like poor writing, not funny stupid.”
stability
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of severe bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players describe it as unfinished and unpolished, often leading to frustrating experiences, such as freezing during critical moments or requiring restarts. While some appreciate the concept and find the bugs add a unique charm, the overwhelming consensus is that the game is too unstable to recommend.
- “The overall experience was just too buggy and frustrating to recommend buying the game at any price.”
- “Unfortunately, the first 2 hours of the game were a chore, and the last 2 hours were crazy buggy.”
- “Cool concept but too buggy and unpolished to be playable.”
grinding
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tedious and repetitive gameplay, with many players expressing frustration over the steep difficulty curve and convoluted puzzles. The frequent respawning of enemies and the need to repeatedly perform complex actions contribute to a sense of monotony, making the experience feel more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay. Overall, while the game presents an interesting concept, it ultimately falls short due to its tedious mechanics and lack of engaging content.
- “It is extremely tedious, made much worse by the fact that all enemies respawn when you change screens.”
- “This game is not fun, it's tedious... much like real programming.”
- “The coding is still painfully inaccessible and unserviceable—if you're a programmer, it's boring and tedious for no apparent reason, and if you're not a programmer, there's no chance you'll really even understand the puzzle as it's presented.”
music
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it pleasant and fitting, while others criticize it for being repetitive and forgettable. Although a few reviewers appreciate the soundtrack as a highlight, many feel it fails to elevate the overall experience, often describing it as basic or annoying. Overall, the music is seen as a minor aspect of the game, neither significantly enhancing nor detracting from the gameplay.
- “Music sounds original, and fits well with the theme.”
- “The music is great.”
- “At the very least, you'll enjoy the amazing soundtrack.”
- “The art, music, and story are all cute, but not really good enough to carry the game.”
- “Music is the same 5 to 15 second music loop per area and will slowly drive you insane.”
- “The world itself isn't anything out of the ordinary either; generic 'retro-styled' backgrounds and levels coupled with a boring soundtrack are largely ignorable.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The atmosphere of the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate its programmer/hacker vibe and engaging story elements, many find it slow, clunky, and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience. The initial appeal of the hacking interface quickly fades, leading to a sense of annoyance rather than immersion. Overall, the atmosphere fails to consistently captivate players, with some describing it as "sleepy" and "designed to be annoying."
- “This game is perfect for those who love the programmer/hacker atmosphere.”
- “I enjoyed a lot the game, its atmosphere, story (mainly the final talk), and winks to old games.”
- “It's definitely atmospheric and kept my attention well enough to keep me playing until I completed it in my first and only session.”
- “The entire atmosphere of this game is basically designed to be annoying.”
- “- frustrating atmosphere in general coupled with clunky controls.”
- “An interesting concept for a puzzle game, but it's slow and the atmosphere is sleepy. I really can't be bothered slowly navigating completely boring menus and waiting for things to move and do what I asked.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The reviews on replayability are mixed, with some players praising the game for its "almost infinite replayability," while others express disappointment, citing "pretty much no replayability" and low value unless focused on specific challenges. Overall, the game's replay value seems to depend on individual player preferences and play styles.
- “Replayability: there is almost infinite replayability.”
- “Lots of replayability the more you know about the game.”
- “Overall, I found the game highly enjoyable (low replay value, but that's not usually important to me in games - I conquer and move on).”
- “And I don't feel like starting from scratch as I don't see much replay value in it.”
- “- pretty much no replayability.”
- “* A bit on the short side, with low replay value unless you just want to test how far you can go with the hacking.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its unique and appealing character designs, with some characters like Isis and Alice receiving positive feedback, while others, such as Bob, are less favored. However, the quality of dialogue and conversations is noted as a weak point, detracting from the overall character experience. Despite these inconsistencies, the vibrant graphics and quirky elements contribute to a memorable character-driven gameplay.
- “Just keep in mind that the price is legitimized rather by the unique hacking concept, graphics, and character development than by game length.”
- “Also surprising, the character design is really, really good.”
- “Just keep in mind that the price is legitimized more by the unique hacking concept, graphics, and character development than by game length.”
- “Hack 'n' slash brings some comedy to the gameplay with quirky character design and somewhat witty dialogue.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with users expressing disappointment over a lackluster story that fails to engage them, leading to feelings of frustration, particularly regarding the minimal mod support.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews highlight that bytecode and assembly are highly optimized forms of code designed for machine efficiency rather than human readability, which can lead to challenges in understanding and debugging.
- “The problem is, bytecode/assembly is not supposed to be read by a human; it's optimized code much closer to the machine than to what a human would write.”

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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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6h Median play time

6h Average play time

4-7h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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