itch.io

Thanks for sharing the game link! I spent around 3 hours in it, mostly figuring out how our hacking device works.

Positives:

1. The computer interface is very well designed and realistic. I like how visually appealing it is.
2. I picked up on a lot of references here. First, in terms of the story, it reminded me of System Shock. Second, once I got the hang of the hacking device, it felt a bit like GTFO or Vampire: The Masquerade. I was a little disappointed I couldn’t change the interface color, but it’s great that you’ve based the core mechanic around this. I actually feel a bit smarter after playing!
3. I appreciate the curator who helps the player, even though that might not align with the story. I got the impression that there’s another ending where we hack everything ourselves without the curator’s help and defeat the enemy AI, but I haven’t tested that theory yet because I spent a lot of time on the game.
4. The message voiceovers are well-done. They’re funny and lighten the game’s dark tone.
5. The graphics are nice—they don’t distract and fit the game well.
6. The story is excellent. I suspected at some point that the AI was manipulating us but couldn’t pinpoint how. The plot twist about the AI communicating with us all along was really well done.

Negatives:

1. I found it tricky to figure out how to bring the PDA to the character’s face. I eventually realized I had to hold down the right mouse button. A text hint would speed up the process.
2. Despite the cool concept, there’s a lot of information thrown at the player without much preparation. Maybe that’s intentional, though—if the game were made too casual, it might lose its charm. I’m not sure how to solve this, but I spent a lot of time trying to figure everything out. Some players might turn it off due to the high learning curve.

Conclusion: It’s a great game, and I love complex mechanics, especially ones involving hacking. I was a bit hesitant to try this genre, fearing I’d spend too much time figuring it out, but your game was my first real experience with these mechanics. I enjoyed discovering how the PDA works, although I was a bit disappointed I couldn’t open all the doors, despite my efforts. Are there secret doors that can be opened? I thought there might be. It’s cool that you included a note-taking feature in the PDA—it really adds to immersion. I also found files on a server labeled “Lupercal.” Is that a Warhammer 40k reference? :) I enjoyed the game, and it would be great if you finished it, added more areas to explore, and included more hacking-based puzzles. Thanks for the game!