HROT

A great true retro shooter done right, with a lot of attention to detail. Combat is very satisfying and a ton of fun, HROT's gameplay and controls are extremely smooth as well. Each level is unique and actually corresponds to real world locations, there are many secrets to be found, many unique enemies and bosses to best. Endless mode is also included and it's really great. Even though this is an early access game, you already get two thirds of the full game now, so go get your copy and have fun, it's well worth it.

Crafted with love and talent by a single guy, HROT is a great entry in the ever-growing list of modern throwback shooters. The combat is perfectly serviceable: the fast running speed makes for hectic hostile encounters, most of the weapons are simple, satisfying and find a role to fill... and the numerous enemy types are interesting to fight, each having their own strengths and weaknesses (some are plain annoying though, but used sparsely in the campaign). It’s a fairly challenging game especially in superior difficulties, with even basic mooks being able to ruin your health if you’re not careful… But even at its toughest the game is fair, as the levels usually leave you enough room to dodge projectiles, or at least good spots to take cover. Speaking of which, the level design is consistently great. Taking cues from Quake, Chasm and Duke Nukem, It’s very non-linear and fairly complex, encouraging you to explore every nook and cranny - but never too esoteric nor complicated enough for you to get lost or stuck on a puzzle. The Eastern European environments that serve as a backdrop are surprisingly full of interactivity, and fairly believable. Indeed, HROT’s dark, gloomy (and oftentimes frankly wacky) portrayal of a decaying Soviet state filled with strange enemies is a sight to behold, and a good enough reason to play it. Its atmosphere is not hindered by its graphic simplicity: it’s not going to win any beauty contests, but you have to respect its sense of detail, unapologetic use of gray-brown colors, and period-accurate visuals - it has pretty much no fancy modern effects and looks straight out of 1997. Is HROT one of the best boomer shooters on the market?… Not really: it’s overall quite basic, and a lot of its counterparts have deeper and more satisfying mechanics. But you have to play it anyway: it’s a fun, unique romp with a surprising lot going on. Despite its simplicity, it won’t bore you for a single second and will keep you involved until the very end.

Fenomenal boomershooter. As an older gamer, i do remeber those days of former Czechoslovakia and i do love some parts of this history (not the influence form Soviets tho). And this masterpiece just takes it to another level for me. Architecture is great, all the reminiscent of former times, all the sign and names in almost all the levels. Enemies are mostly basic, except the on one the wheelchair (tough MF). Everything is in like 3 shades of grey and brown, just like my favored Qauke. Level design is surprisingly complex and with a lots of secrets. And soundtrack isnt bad either. Difficult at times, but qiute rewarding. Play it like its 1996, baby!

Comparisons to DUSK abound, and with good reason. DUSK is still probably the better title overall, but that is no discredit at all to HROT. HROT was clearly made with a lot of care, and it’s a delightfully weird game with its own distinct personality. HROT's shooting and movement are rock-solid, and I found usefulness in each of the game's weapons. HROT's merits don't end with gameplay, though. The game’s limited color palette can be off-putting but it's thematic as hell, promoting an atmosphere as heavy as depleted uranium. Combining these visuals with excellent level design, the missions remain both readable and memorable. HROT makes quite a few references to Czechoslovakian history and culture, which is both interesting and unique for this kind of game. It balances atmospheric horror with absurd or outright plain silly humor, and is a ton of fun to play. The 1st episode is a gritty battle through a run-down post-Soviet city culminating in a boss fight against Klement Gottwald, former leaderof the Czechoslovakian Communist Party, now reanimated and sporting robot spider legs. And what was my reward for conquering this darkness? A beef stroganoff recipe, of course.

Great Old School Shooter with funny moments and cool Level Design. :)