Game Info:

Category : Strategy
Publisher : Strategy First
Developer : Introversion
Release : 3/11/03
MSRP (US): $29.99
ESRB: Rating Pending

Screenshots - Downloads - Homepage - Walkthru

Minimum Requirements:

CPU : Pentium 300 MHz or equivalent
RAM : 32
HD Space : 250 MB
Video : 16 MB
Operating System : Windows 98, Me, 2000, Linux
Other:

• DirectX 8.0 or Higher
• DirectX 8 Compatible Sound Card
• 4X CD-ROM

That’s right, a game about hacking...possibly the first one to be released since Activision's Hacker 2 back in the early 80's. However that is only one thing unique about this release. Uplink: Hacker Elite, was until recently, not picked up by a big game publisher, and made it's rounds in the gaming world by word of mouth, and trading. A lot of you won't remember the days of the first true PC games, but quite often, they were written by programmers who loved their work, and they would write a game, pack it in a ziplock baggie, and type some instructions up for the would be user. These would then be distributed to friends and at local BBS meets, until it's popularity increased. Quite often these were made for home pc systems, when bigger companies saw little profit in writing software for the home units. The game was initially self-published by Introversion Software at the end of 2001 through online channels, but has recently been picked up by Strategy First and will see retail distribution in North America.

In Uplink: Hacker Elite, you take on the role of an Uplink Agent who makes a living by performing jobs for major corporations. Your tasks involve hacking into rival computer systems, stealing research data, sabotaging other companies, laundering money, erasing evidence, or framing innocent people. Wow, you mean this IS my job? I was fairly hooked at reading this, and delved into my hacker elite training. You use the money you earn to upgrade your computer systems, and to buy new software and tools. As your experience level increases you find more dangerous and profitable missions become available. You can speculate on a fully working stock market (and even influence its outcome). You can modify peoples academic or criminal records. You can divert money from bank transfers into your own accounts. You can even take part in the construction of the most deadly computer virus ever designed.

Gameplay:

The game play is very simple once you master the user interface. I would guess it took me about 15 minutes with the game and tutorial to fully understand the interface, and grasp the working of the gateway system. The control is very similar to any operating system....You point here, click there, drag and drop this to that. It's good that the control is so simple, because it doesn't really divert any attention to what's going on in the game itself. When you're electronically trying to sneak from point A to point B without getting caught by the user or worse, the feds, you really don't want to be disturbed with control issues. Don't expect any fancy Matrix moves though, this is a thinking person's game.

Although a very good attempt at creating a hacker simulator, it is not completely accurate. I would assume this is a good thing, you don't want to make a game that ends up being a training tool for tomorrow's hackers do ya? In the game, you buy programs to crack passwords, copy files from A to B, track traces, and delete logs. In the real world, you have to do this manually, because systems are so different. The IP addresses contained in the game are in the same dotted decimal notation in use today, but most of the addresses themselves are fake, since no IP address using the current standard can be more than 32 bits. This means you can never have a value higher than 255.255.255.255. Most IT guys will look at this game and laugh at how fake it is compared to real hacking, but very often they will still find the gameplay itself enjoyable. Our own Mortikahn comes to mind for this game, and I will probably send him the review copy so he can giggle, and then have some fun. Did I mention this game runs on Windows and Linux right out of the box? Cool! There is even a Mac version in development currently.

In the game I found that I was not as great of a hacker as I would have liked. I was caught several times and had to pay for the fines from my hacking profits. Lessons learned however, and if you mess up on your log trail once, you won't be likely to leave such a trace on your next attempt. As you make more money hacking, you can buy more advanced tools that can track traces, and probe systems to see where their weaknesses might be. If and when you get caught though, this can stall your plans a tad. Overall you will find yourself quite addicted to the gameplay in Uplink. Often I was aching to get away from the PC for a minute, only to get caught by that feeling of "Ok, I can just hack one more, then stretch". You can loose track of more time in this game than one realizes.

Graphics/Sound:

I sincerely hope you aren't expecting some major eye-candy from this game, it is simple as simple can be. Keep in mind you are working with an OS, and not sneaking into a foreign country to assassinate some official. As such, you won't see dazzling 3D effects, explosions, or extensive cinematics......Just plain old text, and a few graphical representations of your gateway system and user interface. Uplink's graphics are intended to simulate an OS, and do it beautifully. It's easy on the eyes, and everything is within easy mouse-pointer reach.

The one area I didn't like was the game's resolution options, maxed out at 640x480. I guess it makes sense for a game like this, but I found my area getting a little crowded at times. You are also stuck with the same color background, blue. I guess I should be glad they didn't pick yellow, but for now you are stuck with a non changeable blue theme.

The sounds, as with the graphics, are designed to mimic an OS, rather than immersing you in 3D positional audio. There's a nice little background jog for music, which can be disabled on a whim. The various programs can generate audible alerts, but again, they are simple and functional, and go well with the bare bones hacker-OS theme of the game.

The Wrap-up:

Uplink: Hacker Elite is possibly the most unique PC game to have ever crossed my desktop. It's interesting and engaging, while keeping entertainment value by immersing you on a true role playing level. I can easily recommend this game to anyone looking for a break from the 3D hoopla that has become PC gaming, and wants to step back into the time when games were fun and made you think. There are a LOT of secrets buried in the game to be found. For example, there is a password-protected ZIP file located on the CD. I have no idea what's in it, but the password can only be discovered during the course of the game. There are many other secrets and easter eggs to be found in this manner.

The main drawback I did find with Uplink was the lack of Multi player play. Introversion is working on that, and will most likely release that as a sequel rather than an expansion. Time will have to tell....

Screenshots - Downloads - Homepage - Walkthru