Uplink
Price (at time of posting): $9.99
Style: Strategy, Hacking Sim
Developer: Introversion Software
Publisher: Introversion Software
Released: 23rd Aug 2006
Price (at time of posting): $9.99
Style: Strategy, Hacking Sim
Developer: Introversion Software
Publisher: Introversion Software
Released: 23rd Aug 2006
Description
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| Finding a nice long route. |
Gameplay
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| My sad little gateway. |
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| Finding a "steal this file" mission, hard right? |
One annoying ‘feature’ is that your mistakes take law enforcement awhile to track down, in line with the hacking simulation factor no doubt, but this takes away your ability to instantly understand your mistakes. Often this leads to another annoying realistic feature of the game, permadeath. Early in the game if you make a mistake there’s no going back. Your hardware is seized and your account locked. Due to the initial difficulty, and permadeath we recommend new players watch several tutorials on how to get started, as the game is still challenging even when you know what you are supposed to be doing.
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| Covering my tracks after a successful hack. |
Once you read up a bit on the mechanics, you will find that most missions are similar: hack into this system with these security measures using your hacking tools, change the system or steal this file somehow and cover your tracks. You will ‘bounce’ your connection off several nodes, start a trace tracking tool and defeat the security system within your allotted time. Money earned and spent on better hardware will make your tools faster; better software nets you better features. Once you complete your task you must cover your tracks by modifying the connection log entries, and if you get desperate you can bail and remove the log entries from another node along your connection path you setup. Keep in mind that you may think you just pulled off one of the greatest hacks of all time…but it takes time for the law to track your path down so you may not find out until sometime after when you are permadead.
Overall, Uplink will provide you a balanced game that will make you feel like you are actually doing some of these impossible tasks instead of playing a 10+ year old British game. Read the online tutorials, play the game, and watch as your blood pressure rises with the steady beep of your trace tracker.
Review
Meehandlebars Rating: 7
Rosebud... You'll understand what I'm talking about when you play this game.
I enjoyed this game. I am simultaneously relieved and upset that this game doesn't actually show you how to hack in the real world. Why both? I want a game to be as realistic as possible, and I think it would be cool to have hacking skills. On the other hand, I don't want this game to pass out hacking skills to those people who will take advantage of said skills and hack into my computer again. Yes, again... I don't want to talk about it.
Anyways... I enjoy the thrill as you try to accomplish what you have been hired to do in the most efficient and speedy way possible while watching your tracking program so you have enough time to cover your tracks, break the connection and delete your initial bounce from your first connection point.
The only problem I had with this game, was that I always hit a wall that I couldn't get past. And, as mentioned above, I could never figure out how I was getting caught. For the last several missions I would always get before permadying, You would only get a few new jobs (missions) at a time so you couldn't really skip that many.
From what I understand about one of my buddies who is a hacker (legitimately; he works for a security agency who breaks into their networks to let them know what their weaknesses are), I know that it lacks (again, I'm simultaneously relieved and upset). Then again, everything my buddy has told me about hacking has gone WAY over my head, so who am I to say how inaccurate this game is.
Aside from hitting the wall, this game is definitely worth trying out.
Play this game if:
You want to feel like a hacker without the risk of being a real hacker.
Don't play this game if:
Breaking the law (even in games) makes you feel dirty (in a bad way) or if you have no interest in feeling like a hacker (even if it isn't accurate).
Unsalted38 Rating: 9
Initially I was going to rank this an 8, but I honestly think everyone should play this game and because of that I had to bump it to a 9. So why should you play this? Fair question. This game generates a feeling as you play that's hard to describe, from the interesting interface, music, simple but perfect sound FX, and lack of any onscreen helper aids.
That last point is where this games age shows, but not as a negative per say. “Modern” games require you to watch or play through a scripted tutorial or click through screen helper pop up aids before you are set free inside the game. I like this concept when it’s executed well (as discussed in my FTL review). But to gamers who remember a time when the speed of a CD-Rom had a direct effect on how fast a game loads will also remember reading detailed manuals and quick start guides packaged with their games. Uplink was created in 2001 (same year the PT Cruiser won car of the year) when our standards were lower and our games expected the players to do a bit of research before playing. My point is: do play this game, but do watch and read all the tutorials available on wiki’s and youtube.
Play this game if:
You are looking for an immersive game that will make you feel like a hacker from the movies.
Don't play this game if:
You are looking for a quick game to jump into and out of when you beat it on easy.
Links
Get the game: http://store.steampowered.com/app/1510/ ($9.99)
Information about the game: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uplink_(video_game)
Strategy Guide: http://guide.modlink.net/
