Hacker Evolution
- September 14, 2010
- exosyphen studios
Get on Steam"Hacker Evolution" is a single-player cyberpunk simulation game where you play as a hacker seeking to build a global empire. You'll need to breach systems, escalate privileges, and manage resources to outwit competitors and government agencies. The game features a detailed terminal interface and a variety of challenges to test your hacking skills. However, it may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action, as success depends on careful planning and strategy.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game provides a unique and immersive experience, simulating the feeling of being a hacker through command-line inputs and puzzle-solving.
- It has a decent storyline and engaging gameplay that challenges players to think strategically about resource management and decision-making.
- The soundtrack is enjoyable and fits the hacking theme, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The tutorial is poorly designed and often misleading, leading to confusion and frustration for new players.
- The game has a steep difficulty curve, with many players feeling punished for mistakes due to the inability to save progress mid-level and the carryover of trace levels.
- The interface and graphics are considered outdated and unappealing, detracting from the overall experience.
- story57 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its engaging and imaginative narrative that drives the hacking gameplay, while others criticize it for being simplistic, convoluted, or even nonsensical at times. Despite its flaws, including distracting spelling errors and a lack of character development, many find the storyline enjoyable enough to complement the gameplay, especially with the added DLC missions. Overall, while the story may not be the game's strongest aspect, it provides a decent backdrop for the hacking mechanics and can be entertaining for those willing to overlook its shortcomings.
“The story is a step up from previous entries and it also comes with some nice DLC for those wanting to have some more missions after completing the main story.”
“Being able to sit down with nothing but text descriptions and a little blinking cursor, you find you have to use your imagination to tell half the story, while the game does a very thorough job of guiding your imagination through a rather ingenious story.”
“An interesting take on video games, combining Hollywood-style 'hacking' with a unique story allows this game to be a pretty good run.”
“The story was bland and it was very repetitive.”
“I'm not going to create any spoilers, but let's just say that if you like a story which is believable, don't buy this game.”
“The story is quite idiotic, and does have bad elements to it.”
- gameplay27 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily centered around command-line inputs, resembling a typing simulator rather than traditional gaming mechanics, which some players find frustrating and dull. While the game offers a challenging experience that requires logical thinking and resource management, it can be punishing and lacks intuitive guidance, leading to a steep learning curve. Despite its unique concept and a decent storyline, many players feel the gameplay is repetitive and not engaging enough to sustain interest.
“The whole gameplay is built on finding logical chains and entering commands.”
“I like that you have to put extra thought into your actions and that the gameplay is clear and challenging.”
“You'll probably fail multiple times trying to solve a puzzle, but every time you retry you'll get just a bit further than you did before, and that to me is the most rewarding form of gameplay, slowly figuring the game out and finally beating it.”
“The gameplay is horribly dull, with no real explanation or justification for its mechanics.”
“The lack of a useful command line, and ultimately, any cerebral gameplay, is what makes this hacker sim stand out amongst its peers.”
“This results in both repetitive gameplay and difficulty, as you will be forced to remember many different inputs from the tutorial stage, without much help afterwards.”
- music22 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it catchy and well-suited to the hacking theme, while others describe it as forgettable and inferior to previous titles like Uplink. Many appreciate the electronic and techno elements, noting that it enhances the overall experience, though some opted to replace it with their own playlists. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a highlight by several users, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“It's very well done and the music is lit.”
“The best point for this game is the soundtrack, very electro/dance but very fitting.”
“With a pretty chill electronic music soundtrack to go with it, I had an overall good time with this game pretending to be a hacker.”
“The music is stereotypical, forgettable 'hacker techno'.”
“Again, compared with Uplink, the music quality pales in comparison.”
“What I mind is an awful looking screen, terrible music, and incorrect tutorials.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally described as decent and fitting for its hacking theme, though some users find them static and repetitive. While the graphical interface is appreciated, it is noted that the overall visual presentation lacks depth and can feel oversimplified. The aesthetic aligns with the game's concept, but the learning curve may detract from the overall experience.
“The concept is astounding along with the graphics and music.”
“I did like the graphical interface, although the actual command execution was a bit oversimplified.”
“The graphics are decent and also rather fitting for a hacking type game.”
“Static and quite boring graphics (I'm sure it's intended but still...)”
“For the graphics, they're simple: a map, a console, your config, and messages.”
- stability5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably problematic, with reports of severe freezing that requires a hard restart and significant glitches during both the tutorial and gameplay, leading to an overall frustrating experience. While it performs well on tablets, the issues on other platforms raise concerns about the game's reliability and functionality.
“Runs great on my tablet, and there's nothing more fun than playing Super Hacker out in the park with the kids.”
“The game freezes the whole computer upon loading the first non-tutorial level, which is hard to do (not even cmd-q or cmd-tabbing out will work; I have to use the power button to restart).”
“The whole interface is rubbish as well, and if you do something sooner than it tells you to do, quests completely glitch out.”
“It only led me to wonder how buggy the rest of the game was, as I could not proceed past the 12th message of the tutorial.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is appreciated for its absurdity and niche appeal, particularly for fans of simulator and decision-based genres. While the gameplay may not align with realistic hacking, the comedic elements shine through, especially for players willing to engage in extensive command typing.
“The funny thing is I really love simulator and decision-based games as well, so I think this title is a really niche genre.”
“Of course, it has nothing to do with hacking and the tasks you're supposed to do barely make any sense, but in the end, it's quite a funny game if you're not afraid of hours and hours of typing down commands!”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers great replay value, encouraging players to revisit levels for faster completion times and improved resource management.
“Great replay value too.”
“There's also some replayability if you challenge yourself to finish the levels quicker and with more funds.”
“There's also some replayability value if you challenge yourself to finish the levels quicker and with more funds.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its intriguing concept, but the lack of a tutorial and steep difficulty curve can lead to frustration, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world and making every moment feel significant.”
“The haunting soundtrack and beautifully crafted environments create a unique atmosphere that keeps you engaged throughout.”
“Each location is filled with intricate details that enhance the overall atmosphere, making exploration a truly captivating experience.”
“It's a great concept for a puzzle game and carries a neat sense of atmosphere, but its refusal to tutorialize and coax in the player results in an experience with a vertical difficulty curve and frustration rather than fun.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is generally well-received, as players find it enjoyable and engaging, enhancing the experience of being a virtual hacker.
