Hacknet
| Hacknet | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Team Fractal Alligator |
| Publisher(s) | Surprise Attack Games |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Hacknet is a 2015 video game that allows the player to perform simulated hacking.
Gameplay
The game is controlled with a combination of a graphical interface and a text based console. It is generally possible to use either interface to perform tasks. The core of the gameplay is to connect to other computers and run dedicated programs to break the security so that you can get administrative powers on the computer. The general procedure is to first run a scan to see what protections the computer has and then run programs matching what the scan revealed.
The game notably averts the common trope of bouncing a connection between several intermediary computers before reaching the target computer. Instead a simplified system of a variable speed countdown is used to force the player to act quickly. If this countdown reaches zero, the player is given one last chance to avoid a game over by hacking their ISP and changing their IP address.
Once administrative powers have been obtained, the file system of the computer is investigated. The exact task on each computer varies for each mission, but can in general be performed by running a specific command to access one or more files on the system.
A few systems have specialized interfaces, such as email systems and databases.
Most computer systems contain text files that can be read. A large majority of the files are quotes from the website bash.org.[1]
Story
The game begins with the player being automatically contacted by an user by the username "bit". The automated message asks, presuming that bit himself is dead, that the player will investigate their death.
After the tutorial, the story largely takes a back seat for openended gameplay, with one mission to address the fate of bit. This mission suggests that bit was involved in shady stuff.
As the final story arc of the game, the player breaks into the computers of a computer security software company . As they do so, they are faced with a mysterious protection system that can't be hacked with the tools at the disposal of the player. As the player manages to find alternative ways into the protected systems, they discover that bit was involved in a project for the company. Specifically, the creation of a highly advanced operating system specialized in computer hacking. The plan for the project is revealed to be to unleash the new operating system to the world in order to cause consumer demand for the protection system.
bit in particular was a major contributor. As the project was nearing its completion, bit was starting to question the morality of the project. Due to miscommunication, one of the project owners accidentally orders an assassination of bit.
Once all the facts of the story have been revealed to the player, they proceed to eradicate all copies of the hacknet project. Additionally, by command of bit himself, they bring down a server critical to porthack, the tool that bit made. Once this final mission is completed bit delivers a few final, voice acted, words and the game credits roll.
Development
Hacknet was developed by one-man studio Team Fractal Alligator, based in Australia.[2]
Reception
| Reception | ||||||
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Hacknet received generally positive reviews from critics.[3]
References
- ↑ Barrett, Ben (August 14, 2015). "Hacknet Released, Is A Game About Being A Hacker". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- ↑ Prescott, Shaun (July 17, 2015). "Hacknet is a hacking game with "real hacking"". PC Gamer. Future. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- 1 2 "Hacknet for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 10, 2016.