Non-frantic and tactical top-down shooter where you use creative hacking to outsmart foes and use the environment to your advantage.
The game takes place in a gritty, near-future setting where the streets are ruled by violent gangs enhanced with cybernetic implants. You step into the role of a skilled hacker whose closest friend and mentor has been brutally attacked by one of these cyber-augmented criminals. Seeking both answers and justice, you dive headfirst into the underworld, armed with nothing but your wits, a firearm, and your unique hacking abilities.
The controls are kept straightforward because you only need to worry about basic movement, shooting with the left mouse button, and hacking with the right. While the game might initially appear to be one of those chaotic, fast-paced shooters where twitch reflexes are the key to survival, it’s actually far more tactical in design. Strategy, timing, and clever use of the environment are much more critical than simply reacting quickly.
The central reason for this more methodical style lies in the hacking system. This mechanic allows you to link various objects together, creating powerful and often creative chain reactions. When you activate hack mode, the screen fades into black, highlighting every object that can be hacked with a bright yellow outline. From here, you simply click on the objects to connect them in a sequence.
There’s no restriction on distance, but you must maintain a clear line of sight between the objects you want to link. Hack mode itself is temporary and lasts only a few seconds at a time, but you can activate it as often as you like. During this mode, time slows down significantly, letting you strategize even in the middle of an intense firefight. Connections, by the way, don’t go away unless you trigger them or remove them by holding the button.
Once you’ve established a chain of up to three objects, the real payoff comes when you shoot one of the connected nodes. This triggers the entire chain reaction you’ve set up. For example, linking a generator to a locked door allows you to open it with a single shot to the generator. But the system isn’t limited to utility; it also applies to combat. You can link enemies together, and if one of them is killed while connected, the damage ripples through the chain, potentially taking out multiple foes with a single bullet.
The developers wisely avoid bogging down the gameplay with unnecessary limitations. Your firearm comes with unlimited ammunition, so there’s no need to anxiously watch a bullet counter. Other weapons, such as shotguns or rifles, can be picked up during missions by defeating certain enemies. Enemy AI is balanced in a way that avoids frustration. Each opponent has a visible vision cone that limits their field of detection. This means you won’t be unfairly spotted from across a hallway or off-screen. Their hearing is also poor, so firing a weapon in one room doesn’t automatically alert the entire stage to your location.
Although levels aren’t particularly large, they often include clever puzzle-like scenarios that make creative use of the hacking mechanic. One example is a locked door with no generator nearby. The solution is to use a roaming vacuum cleaner that passes through adjacent rooms. By linking a generator to the vacuum, and then connecting the vacuum to the door, you can shoot the generator to indirectly power the door. Since connections remain intact with moving objects, even through walls, there’s plenty of room for inventive problem-solving. You can never get stuck, and there’s always something nearby to help you move forward.
The overall difficulty remains moderate, but if you hit a roadblock, the cheat menu provides options such as invincibility. More cheats unlock as you progress, and activating them doesn’t punish you beyond disqualifying your run from appearing on the leaderboards.
Each stage includes optional side objectives to encourage replayability, but unfortunately, these don’t always function properly. Some missions, such as completing a stage exclusively with a shotgun or destroying every stash of drugs, fail to register even after being fulfilled multiple times. Others may not unlock unless you proceed directly to the next mission, instead of returning to the main menu.
This inconsistency also extends to the achievement system, with several of them not triggering as they should. It’s disappointing, since the game’s structure invites experimentation and multiple playthroughs, but technical hiccups can undermine the sense of accomplishment.
