Game Review: Hard Reset Redux

Release Date: June 7, 2016

ESRB Rating: M (Blood, Violence, Strong Language)

Hard Reset Redux is a special kind of shooter that takes the simplicity of the genre and blends it with a cyberpunk setting.

Shooter games are always fun to play but it’s a genre that has been over saturated by poor titles and lazy knock-offs. As a result, many great titles are often overlooked upon release, and never earn the success they deserve.

The original Hard Reset is an example of such a shooter, an amazing title that was overlooked at launch. It didn’t have an unforgettable story, or pretended to be a blockbuster movie, it was a simple shooter set in a cyberpunk world. Hard Reset Redux is an upgraded version that features a few minor improvements, while preserving the experience of the original game.

The game is set in a dystopian world where humanity is waging a war against machines that want to control Sanctuary, a network that holds billions of digitized human minds. Players take on the role of Maj. Fletcher, a soldier of CLN tasked with defending the last closed city of Bezoar.

Hard Reset Redux takes players to a cyberpunk world that is inspired by the works of great writers like Philip K. Dick and Neal Stephenson. The story is told through a series of comic panels while the game is loading, these give players the details they need of whats going on.

When it comes to the gameplay, if one has played a title like Serious Sam then they will feel right at home with Hard Reset Redux.

Players are armed with two weapons and battling through the levels while completing an objective. Both weapons can be upgraded with new features (like a built in shotgun) using points earned through combat and finding hidden secrets.

The combat requires players to just shoot the wave of enemies while using the environment to their advantage. The levels have a plethora of explosive barrels waiting to be used, while electrical generators offer a tactical advantage of crippling the enemy.

It may not seem like much, but sometimes all it takes for a title to stand out is to be a basic return to the simplicity of the genre. To a generation that is used to blockbuster titles like Call of Duty, or a sophisticated gameplay setup as seen in titles like Fallout 4, it’s hard to understand what makes a simple shooter so enjoyable.

For old school gamers, the nostalgia of those simple times make Hard Reset a very enjoyable title. For younger gamers, it’s all about getting straight to the action without thinking. No solid story or reason to care about what’s happening, just shoot everything and have fun.

Hard Reset Redux is a simple shooter and a second chance to experience a cult classic. Old school gamers will appreciate the nostalgia, while younger gamers will also enjoy the break from the complex titles.

Final Score: 7/10

Words by Stan Rezaee