Hardwar

About

Hardwar is a single player and multiplayer open world simulation game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by The Software Refinery and was released on February 15, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

On the barren moon Titan, within the city of Misplaced Optimism, scavenger operators and ram-runners fight for the right to courier the last of Titan's worthless riches. Caught between the powerplays of neo-feudal corporations and mutant underworld cartels, there is only one escape. Off-planet. ...You're going to need all the Hardwar(e) you can get.

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews

story4 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Hardwar offers a unique and nostalgic experience, allowing players to engage in sandbox-style gameplay with complete freedom to choose their roles, such as trader, scavenger, or pirate.
The game features a compelling atmosphere with a great soundtrack from Warp Records, enhancing the overall experience of exploring the dystopian world of Misplaced Optimism.
Many players appreciate the nostalgia and the fact that the game has been re-released for modern systems, allowing long-time fans to relive their childhood memories.

The game suffers from significant technical issues, including crashes at launch, broken graphics, and bugs that make it difficult to play on modern systems.
The AI behavior is often predictable and flawed, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences where NPCs can get stuck or fail to engage properly.
New players may find the lack of tutorials and steep learning curve daunting, as the game does not provide adequate guidance on mechanics or objectives.

story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
75%
11%
The game's story is described as decent but short, serving primarily as a backdrop to the more engaging sandbox gameplay. While it features a structured plot with interesting lore about aliens and well-crafted embedded videos, players have the freedom to explore and enjoy the atmosphere without feeling compelled to follow the storyline. Some players noted issues with story progression and clarity, but overall, the narrative adds depth to the experience without being the main focus.
- “Great storyline, interesting embedded videos that are craftily done; graphics were way ahead of its time.”
- “It does have a story/lore around aliens, which gives it some depth.”
- “Hardwar has a story too, by the way: a surprisingly competent one told through messages and delightfully cheesy FMVs. I mention this because of its unexpected quality.”
- “The story is basic and not really worth the time.”
- “There's also other issues, like how certain story beats either won't play or skip forward if you obtain items earlier than you should or in the 'wrong' way, which can be confusing.”
- “While the plot and the corresponding FMVs are decent, the game is more about having fun with the sandbox rather than completing the plot.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The music in Hardwar, featuring a fantastic soundtrack from Warp Records, has been widely praised for its experimental electronic and acoustic compositions. Players enjoy the atmospheric experience it creates, enhancing the game's immersive environment, although some noted issues with track transitions that have since been addressed in updates. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature.
- “It's just neat to cruise a few hundred feet off the ground, grooving to the soundtrack, lightning crashing in the distance, the searchlights of monolithic buildings perpetually rotating in the petrochemical smog.”
- “And the music from Warp Records was incredible.”
- “I've noticed that in this version, when a song is done playing, it doesn't move on to the next track compared to the original 2-CD version (since then fixed as of 2/25/2023).”
- “If you're not familiar with the name, Warp Records is a label that's also from Sheffield, mostly dealing in experimental music of both the electronic and acoustic kind.”
- “The soundtrack comprises artists from the Warp Records label from the UK, and it is awesome.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The graphics of the game are described as outdated and plagued by bugs, including broken geometry and flickering visuals, which can detract from the experience. However, some players appreciate the unique atmosphere and the game's innovative design for its time, suggesting that despite the graphical issues, it still offers a compelling experience. Overall, while the visuals may not impress by modern standards, they are considered to hold up reasonably well in context.
- “Great storyline, interesting embedded videos that are craftily done; graphics were way ahead of its time.”
- “Even with such crude graphics, the game manages a great sense of atmosphere.”
- “Crazy neon broken graphics followed by a game freeze.”
- “Once you get past that, the textures are bugged to the point that the 3D visuals in the game are completely unintelligible; lingering on the screen after being rendered, displaying broken geometry, and flickering off and on with correct and incorrect maps.”
- “While its graphics aren't much these days, I still highly recommend it.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
30%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by an eerie, foggy environment that enhances the immersive experience, complemented by compelling lore and a dystopian setting. Players engage in futuristic dogfights while navigating a living economy influenced by their choices, all within a visually striking yet graphically simple world. Despite its short plot, the focus on atmospheric exploration and the unique design of solar-powered aircraft, known as moths, contribute to a captivating overall ambiance.
- “The plot is nice but short; the game is more about enjoying the eerie, foggy atmosphere and the surroundings.”
- “With compelling lore, an impressive dystopian atmosphere, futuristic dogfights, and a living economy that is affected by the players' choices, this game deserves a second chance to make an impression on players.”
- “Even with such crude graphics, the game manages to create a great sense of atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere feels stale and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion I expected.”
- “The game tries to create a unique atmosphere, but it ultimately falls flat and feels lifeless.”
- “While the visuals are decent, the overall atmosphere is dull and fails to engage the player.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The gameplay is often compared to Descent but is considered an improvement, though it features some obfuscated mechanics that may frustrate players, such as complex control remapping and reliance on guides. Additionally, the AI exhibits predictable and often nonsensical behavior, including crashing into obstacles and failing to engage effectively in combat scenarios, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay is similar to Descent but better.”
- “Such mechanics include, in no particular order:”
- “If somewhat obfuscated mechanics, spending up to 10 minutes to remap your controls and looking up guides in case you got lost are dealbreakers for you, I'm afraid you may have to sit this one out.”
- “To elaborate further why the AI is so predictable during gameplay, they are prone to doing moronic things like crashing into a building, wall, or obstacle, queuing up building entrances, being unable to attack when going into tunnels, entering a building, or refueling at lightwells, refusing to pick up dropped loot within the tunnels, and not actually upgrading their weaponry.”
- “Yes, that is only one of the many strange mechanics of this game.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game boasts high replayability, with players often returning to it even decades later. Its numerous gameplay options contribute to a strong replay value, allowing for varied experiences in each playthrough.
- “It is very replayable, and decades later I still find myself drawn back to it.”
- “Because of the many ways you can play the game, the replay value is rather high.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of "Hardwar: The Future is Greedy" is often criticized due to buggy AI ships, reflecting its age as a 1997 title. While players appreciate the nostalgic experience and engaging gameplay, they note that outdated mechanics can lead to frustrating moments that require patience and troubleshooting.
- “Hardwar: The Future is Greedy is like an old sports car: it feels great to drive, the vibes are unmatched, but what's under the hood has become outdated in ways that can be extremely annoying if you don't have the patience to rewire things and do some troubleshooting.”
- “And it's still really good; yes, the AI ships get buggy, but it's from 1997!”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its unexpected and absurd elements, with players finding amusement in the irony of situations, such as the playful remark about the setting not being in space despite expectations.
- “And the funny thing is, it's not even in space! XD”