Hard Reset is a 2011 first-person shooter game developed by Flying Wild Hog[2] and released for Windows in September 2011.[3] The game features a cyberpunk plot within a dystopian world, and draws inspiration from the works of William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, and Philip K. Dick to create its story, setting and atmosphere.
| Hard Reset | |
|---|---|
 Cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Flying Wild Hog |
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Director(s) | Michal Szustak |
| Designer(s) |
|
| Artist(s) |
|
| Composer(s) | Wojciech Blazejczyk |
| Engine | Road Hog Engine |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | Windows
Windows, PS4, Xbox OneAmazon Luna
|
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
In 2012, Hard Reset received a free expansion titled Hard Reset: Exile, and was then bundled as Hard Reset: Extended Edition. In June 2016, a remastered version called Hard Reset Redux was released alongside versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with upgraded graphics and new weapons and enemies.[4] Redux was made available for Amazon Luna in October 2020.[5] The game received mixed reviews from critics.
Gameplay
editHard Reset is modeled on video games such as Quake and Unreal, which results in more straightforward gameplay than most contemporary first-person shooters. The various stages have secret areas with hidden pick ups such as health and ammunition. The environments are designed similarly, as there are explosive barrels and various vending machines outfitted with electroshock anti-vandalism defenses, that can trigger splash damage by being shot at, scattered throughout the levels, which the player can use by luring enemies near them. The game lacks a multiplayer mode, which was a chief criticism.[2]
Unlike most old-school first-person shooters, which feature a liberal variety of guns and throwable weapons that can be stored in a magic satchel-style inventory, Hard Reset features only two weapons, the CLN Modular Assault Rifle, and the EEF-21 Plasma Rifle. Both weapons have unlockable firing modes, the Modular Assault Rifle including the option to strap add-ons such as grenade and rocket launchers, and the plasma rifle allowing railguns and stasis modules.[6]
Exile and Extended Edition
editHard Reset: Exile is a free expansion for Hard Reset. It was first released in April 2012 as a part of the boxed Hard Reset re-release called Hard Reset: Extended Edition. The expansion is available for all Steam owners of Hard Reset for free since May 2012. Hard Reset: Exile features a few new weapons, levels, enemy types, and a boss. It further continues the story of James Fletcher, as he journeys into the outer city's robot-controlled territory and tracks down the Corporation's secret weapon that is self-aware and blocks the path toward the "Resistance" bases.
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PC) 73/100[7][8] (PS4) 69/100[9] (XONE) 67/100[10] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | (PC) 8/10[11] |
| Edge | (PC) 4/10[12] |
| Game Informer | (PC) 7.75/10[13] |
| GamePro | (PC)    [14] |
| GameSpot | (PC) 7/10[15] |
| GameSpy | (PC) [16] |
| GameTrailers | (PC) 7.9/10[17] |
| GameZone | (PC) 7.5/10[18] |
| IGN | (PC) 7.5/10[19] |
| PC Gamer (UK) | (PC) 58%[20] |
| PC PowerPlay | (PC) 9/10[21] |
| The Telegraph | (PC) [22] |
| VideoGamer.com | (XOne) 7/10[23] |
| The Digital Fix | (XOne) 6/10[24] |
Hard Reset and Hard Reset Redux received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to the review aggregator website Metacritic.[7][8][9][10]
Reviewers cited the visual quality and the intensity of the gameplay as strong points, evoking comparisons to other "old-school" shooters as Serious Sam or Painkiller. Common points of contention were the game's relatively short length, limited level design, and the perceived difficulty.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ "Defend Against the Cyborg Apocalypse in Hard Reset Redux, Out Today globally on PC, Xbox One and on PS4 in North America". Capsule Computers. 3 June 2016. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ a b GameSpot staff (29 July 2011). "Hard Reset Q&A - What's Old Is New Again". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
- ^ Fahey, Mike (29 August 2011). "Hard Reset Gets a Firm Release Date, Solid System Reqs, and Sharp New Screen". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ "Hard Reset Redux release date set for June". Eurogamer.net. 19 May 2016. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ Gartenberg, Chaim (20 October 2020). "Hands-on with Amazon's Luna game streaming service". The Verge. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ HardResetGame (9 September 2011). "Hard Reset Weapons Trailer". YouTube. Google. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Hard Reset for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ a b "Hard Reset Redux for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Hard Reset Redux for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Hard Reset Redux for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ Sterling, Jim (12 September 2011). "Review: Hard Reset". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ Edge staff (16 September 2011). "Hard Reset review". Edge. Future plc. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ Biessener, Adam (9 September 2011). "Hard Reset: An Afternoon Of Sci-Fi Carnage". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ Nichols, Scott (13 September 2011). "Review: Hard Reset (PC)". GamePro. GamePro Media. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ VanOrd, Kevin (12 September 2011). "Hard Reset Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ Meunier, Nathan (12 September 2011). "Hard Reset Review". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ "Hard Reset Review". GameTrailers. Viacom. 15 September 2011. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ Liebl, Matt (14 September 2011). "Hard Reset Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ Onyett, Charles (13 September 2011). "Hard Reset Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ Cobbett, Richard (25 December 2011). "Hard Reset review". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. p. 80. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ "Review: Hard Reset". PC PowerPlay. No. 196. Next Media Pty Ltd. December 2011. p. 58.
- ^ Bell, Sean (26 October 2011). "Hard Reset review". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ Orry, Tom (3 June 2016). "Hard Reset Redux Review (XOne)". VideoGamer.com. Resero Network. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ Porter, Ryan (24 June 2016). "Hard Reset: Redux Review (XOne)". The Digital Fix. Poisonous Monkey. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2018.