HAWKEN REBORN

27%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,632 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
HAWKEN REBORN Game Cover
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Return to the world of high-octane mech combat in Hawken Reborn. Construct your ultimate war machine and shoot your way through hordes of enemies to uncover the mysteries of Ilall in this brand-new Free-to-Play PVE mech game.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

27%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,632 reviews
story79 positive mentions
monetization71 negative mentions
  • The game has potential and is fun for a free-to-play title.
  • The movement and combat mechanics are enjoyable, reminiscent of the original Hawken.
  • The graphics and sound design are decent, providing a satisfactory experience.
  • The game lacks the PVP aspect that made the original Hawken popular.
  • There are numerous bugs and performance issues, including long loading times and crashes.
  • The monetization model is predatory, with microtransactions for weapons and upgrades in a single-player game.
  • story783 mentions

    The story in "Hawken Reborn" has received mixed to negative feedback, with many players finding it bland, generic, and poorly executed. The game features only six short missions that often feel repetitive and lack depth, with a narrative presented through comic-style cutscenes that some describe as uninspired or even AI-generated. While there is potential for a more engaging story in future updates, the current state leaves players wanting more substance and coherence in the narrative.

    • “The story is really good and it follows a good path.”
    • “I like how this leans into the story of the Hawken universe.”
    • “The first few missions are linear and do a decent job of introducing various game elements, factions, and mission types to you.”
    • “The story is bad, the bugs are stupid, and the game in general is mediocre.”
    • “The story feels generic and bland, with glaring plot holes.”
    • “The story is annoyingly boring and the game itself is obviously early access material.”
  • gameplay400 mentions

    The gameplay of "Hawken Reborn" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from the original game's mechanics and feel. While some appreciate the core gameplay loop of looting and combat, others criticize it for being repetitive, lacking depth, and feeling unpolished, with issues such as clunky controls and uninspired AI. The absence of PvP and the introduction of microtransactions have also drawn negative feedback, leading to concerns about the game's direction and overall enjoyment.

    • “The core gameplay is satisfying, direction is given to the player and the new tutorials and UI are good.”
    • “The gameplay is fun in my opinion.”
    • “The core gameplay loop consists of roaming and combat.”
    • “The gameplay lacks the weight, intensity, and fluidity that made the original such a standout in the mech combat genre.”
    • “The gameplay seems to be a dull repetitive loop of wander and gather materials while shooting minuscule human targets and the dumbest AI bullet sponge mechs while doing fetch quests.”
    • “The core gameplay and feel of old Hawken combat has been butchered to painful simplicity.”
  • graphics270 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players noting that they appear worse than those of the original Hawken, which was released over a decade ago. Critics highlight a lack of distinct art style, generic asset use, and poor optimization, leading to a visual experience that feels outdated and unpolished. While some players find the graphics acceptable or even decent on high-end systems, the consensus is that the game fails to capture the gritty aesthetic that made the original appealing.

    • “The graphics are pretty solid.”
    • “The aesthetic was quite cyberpunk, and I loved the futuristic and run-down maps, and the general look of all of the mechs.”
    • “Graphics are good, controls feel solid with an Xbox controller, overall a good experience so far.”
    • “What's baffling is that despite this game being newer, the graphics somehow look worse than the original, which was built on Unreal Engine 3.”
    • “The graphics are worse than the original game.”
    • “The original game, which is over 10 years old, boasts better graphics and art style than this release.”
  • monetization185 mentions

    The monetization model of "Hawken Reborn" has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over the presence of microtransactions in a single-player game. Players feel that the monetization is excessive and detrimental to the overall experience, often describing it as predatory and reminiscent of mobile games, with pay-to-win elements that undermine gameplay. Despite some acknowledging that microtransactions can be earned in-game, the overwhelming sentiment is that the current monetization strategy detracts from the game's potential and tarnishes the legacy of the original "Hawken."

    • “The microtransactions are not necessary, nor do they feel integral to the enjoyment of what game there is here.”
    • “There are indeed microtransactions in the game, but it is a mech, a booster, and a gun, on rotation, that are all available to obtain by just playing the game.”
    • “All in all, this game is free, microtransactions are there, but not even advertised, and it's an open-world first-person mech shooter in open access.”
    • “They took a beloved title and tried to do a cash grab.”
    • “This title feels, to put it bluntly but honestly, a soulless cash grab.”
    • “The monetization went from 'fast unlocks and cosmetics' to 'every single piece and part of progression acceleration'.”
  • grinding93 mentions

    The reviews indicate that the game features a significant amount of grinding, often described as tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over the slow progression and the necessity to farm materials for upgrades. While some appreciate the grind as a core aspect of the looter-shooter experience, others criticize it for feeling overly drawn-out and designed to encourage microtransactions for quicker advancement. Overall, the grinding mechanics are seen as a major point of contention, with many players feeling it detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “No story, dull missions, and a lot of pointless grinding - that's what this game is.”
    • “Every aspect of the game is milked dry for transactions and overly drawn-out grinding.”
    • “The thing looks, feels, and plays like a poorly designed mobile looter shooter with resource grinding and horrific monetization out of the gate.”
  • optimization33 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops, particularly on lower-end systems. While some users report smooth performance on high settings with decent hardware, others find the optimization lacking, especially in terms of graphics settings and user interface. The consensus suggests that the game requires urgent attention to its optimization to enhance the overall experience.

    • “Graphics are pretty nice and performance on max settings at 1080p on a GTX 2070 is excellent.”
    • “And so far the entire game does feel pretty polished in terms of performance. I'm on a relatively decent PC (GTX 3060 Ti, i5-12400F, 16 GB of RAM), and on the default highest settings, I could run this game just fine.”
    • “Graphics are good, well optimized.”
    • “The engine optimization is just awful - pressing shift drops my FPS from 100 plus to a complete hitch/stuttering mess.”
    • “My machine is not high-end and it gave me a very high maxed out setting and my performance was near unplayable, and trying to fix the settings manually was not user-friendly.”
    • “The game feels rushed, with shoddy optimization, small amount of content, rough UIs, and lack of interesting gameplay features due to very simple AI with very limited variety, yet it was announced to the public only a few days before the early access release date.”
  • stability31 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with many users reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues that hinder gameplay. While some players acknowledge that these problems are typical for an early access title, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration, as many find the game unplayable due to frequent crashes and unresponsive controls. Despite a few positive experiences, the consensus is that the game requires substantial improvements to its stability before it can be recommended.

    • “Other than one match where my HUD text disappeared for some reason, the 11 matches I've played so far were all fun and bug-free.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or major glitches, making for a stable gaming experience.”
    • “I've experienced consistent performance throughout my sessions, which really enhances the overall enjoyment.”
    • “It's buggy, glitch-ridden, and buffery as heck.”
    • “This game is a buggy mess, even with the settings turned all the way down it's still jittery and laggy. Please, for the love of God, do not get this game if you value your PC's health.”
    • “The fact that it freezes after every mission and crashes to desktop is really unacceptable for even an early access title and makes me hesitant to try this again until it gets an update.”
  • music21 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it forgettable and lacking the impact of previous titles, while others appreciate the sound design and voice acting. Many critiques highlight the music as generic and insufficiently integrated into the gameplay, often failing to enhance the overall experience. A few users suggest that hiring a renowned composer could significantly improve the soundtrack and elevate the game's atmosphere.

    • “I relaxed for 5 ♥♥♥♥ minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
    • “Better music (maybe hire Mick Gordon to compose for you? xd), having the right music helps improve the overall gaming experience.”
    • “The music and sounds are great, and the voice acting is entertaining in a good way, showing narrative and script design are far from secondary considerations.”
    • “Music's a bit weaker than the original, but honestly, how do you compete with rust & ruin? That soundtrack slapped.”
    • “Audio-wise, it's poor and the music is forgettable.”
    • “Most of the time there is no music, but even when there is, even at 100% volume, it's too faint to even tell it's there. When you can tell it's there, it manages to be magnitudes more generic than royalty-free music.”
  • humor21 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as inconsistent and often falls flat, with some players finding it unintentionally funny due to its poor execution and clichéd dialogue. While there are moments of amusement, such as quirky AI behavior and absurdities in the storyline, many reviewers feel that the attempts at humor are overshadowed by cringe-worthy puns and a lack of engaging content. Overall, the game's comedic elements seem to elicit more frustration than genuine laughter, leading to a mixed reception regarding its humor.

    • “The feedback from weapons is top-notch, the sound design is brilliant, the enemies are engaging, allied CPUs aren't dumb as bricks, the voice acting is unique and funny, the in-mech immersion is great.”
    • “It reeks of corporate greed and the irony of this in a game about dystopic corporations is hilarious.”
    • “Luckily, the AI is so bad that they’ll usually get caught on terrain or forget you exist, so it makes it hilariously easy to do this.”
    • “It's Velma levels of bad, with shallow characters, unironic use of overused tropes, extremely cringe and unfunny puns and jokes, and by God, they are always talking.”
    • “The humor feels forced and lacks any real wit, making it more painful than entertaining.”
    • “Jokes fall flat and the attempts at comedy often feel like a chore rather than a source of enjoyment.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    Overall, the atmosphere of the new game has been widely criticized for lacking the gritty, immersive qualities that defined the original. Reviewers note a significant decline in sound design and visual appeal, with many feeling that the new environment feels bland and soulless compared to the captivating settings of the past. The shift to a more generic art style and the focus on PvE gameplay have further contributed to a sense of loss regarding the game's atmospheric charm.

    • “Nanomachine goes rogue and basically becomes a pathogen, now there's the gigastructure, a cuboid mass growing in the largest capital of the colony, and humans are isolated to their hangars and mechs because the atmosphere is poisonous.”
    • “Many nights have been spent on memorable matches in a captivating setting and atmosphere.”
    • “Was a wonderful mech game, with lots of variety, solid PvP, and a gritty atmosphere with great mech customization.”
    • “It doesn't have the presentation, atmosphere, appeal or 'feeling' of the original.”
    • “The gritty and dusty industrial visual atmosphere of the original title is gone, replaced by a vapid patchwork of cheaply bought premade assets agonizingly contrasting with the old Hawken mech models.”
    • “The atmosphere and the charm of the first game are completely gone; Reborn feels utterly soulless.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional response to the game's reboot is overwhelmingly negative, with many players expressing heartbreak over the loss of the original experience and disappointment in the new direction. Users feel a deep sense of nostalgia and loss, lamenting the lack of emotional engagement in the current iteration and expressing frustration over the game's perceived decline. Overall, the emotional impact is characterized by a mix of sadness, nostalgia, and disillusionment.

    • “An utterly heartbreaking reboot to a game with an admittedly tumultuous past.”
    • “I want to cry, that's the only emotion I can express here.”
    • “It inspired a whole generation to reimagine what mechs could be, but this new development is heartbreaking.”
    • “I have the impression that people consider this game as completed and don't realize it's still in early access. I recommend trying it for yourself instead of relying solely on others' opinions. It's understandable that everyone was expecting the old Hawken, but when they see AI-generated art with errors and a somewhat boring story, it can be disappointing. For me, it would be better if they added a story mode to the existing Hawken and brought it back for PC players. I need to be happy with what we have because Hawken brings back good memories, even if it's not what I was expecting.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its diverse maps, mechs, and play styles, allowing players to experiment with different strategies and optimize their mechs for higher tiers. However, some users feel that improvements to the HUD and cockpit view could enhance the overall experience.

    • “The variety of maps, mechs, and play styles really made the game enjoyable and highly replayable.”
    • “There is a degree of replay value if you want to min/max your mechs to higher 'mark' tiers.”
    • “Graphically, the HUD and cockpit view could probably use some improvement to provide a clearer, more playable experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
3-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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