Hard Reset Review
Solid PC shooter that creates a unique game speed with two upgradable weapons and outstanding visual effects.
Environmental objects are incredibly deadly and will cause you to shift weapon focus at opportune times. Cars explode, explosive barrels catch fire and cause chain reactions, computer systems send out arcs of damaging electricity. These environmental objects are strategically placed in larger combat areas. Backing into an explosive barrel as a gorilla type robot charges is not a good idea. You can corral enemies towards these hazards but it’s not quite as fun as the environmental interaction in Bulletstorm. The phenomenal effects associated with these environmental objects are part of the reason why the game looks incredible.
Amazing weapon effects can be a little overbearing
The custom engine for Hard Reset produces glorious visuals at an incredibly smooth frame rate. Textures are crisp, shadows look natural and the high dynamic range lighting is very impressive. Computer terminals and upgrade stations display a seamless mouse cursor like in Doom 3. The levels are tiered or go around in loops requiring little need for the built in compass. The various effects are great but they sometimes get in the way of the enemies. It’s almost impossible to see beyond one electric mortar let alone two.
The story in Hard Reset is minimal and told mostly through drawn cut scenes with voice over shown between the levels. Although the level pacing is good the story was quite hard to follow and ended abruptly after a boss battle. The story tries desperately to link with the disconnected levels when a character becomes a voice in your head. The story at least provides the framework for your goals and situation but perhaps more in game story would have helped. Levels also ended unexpectedly in the middle of a room which diminished the good pacing.
The pacing in Hard Reset is alternates well between taxing combat and slow exploration. Some areas you enter close the door behind you and this will give you a good indication that hell is about to break lose. Once the battle is over you can leisurely investigate the areas for currency in secret corners. Occasionally these secrets are combined with additional enemy spawns which may catch you by surprise. There are no puzzles or gimmicks outside the standard two weapon system that proves sufficient.
Nothing could possibly go wrong down this tunnel
Less than five hours will have expired when the last robot falls at your feet. Although short Hard Reset is a good shooter that is as satisfying as it is attractive. The cyberpunk world is beautiful and the level design flows well with plenty of secrets to find. Robots pose a threat and the upgrade system works to produce a difficulty curve that remains fair throughout. If you die it will be because you have used your weapons poorly. The deliberate and slower switch weapon style creates tense combat. Hard Reset is a fine PC shooter that looks and plays as good as big budget titles.
Our ratings for Hard Reset on PC out of 100 (Ratings FAQ)
Performance
(Show PC Specs)
CPU: AMD Phenom II 955 @ 3.2GHz
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 1GB
RAM: 4GB DDR3
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 1GB
RAM: 4GB DDR3
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
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Sep 12, 2011 13:03:49 (Sep 12, 2011 13:03)
