This cult classic hacker simulator doesn't look like much but offers quite unique experience even 20 years after it's release. The premise is simple: you're a freelance hacker doing more or less morally questionable jobs for clients, from stealing or destroying corporate data to framing other people for serious crimes. Earned money are spend on hardware and software upgrades allowing more efficient hacking. At first contact this game looks very impressive and might feel overwhelming. There seems be lot to do and with very vague tutorial it will take time to figure out how some things work and how to do them correctly. First few hours are really great with feeling of progress when every upgrade is big improvement and even thrilling when hacking with low-end rig seconds from being caught. To emotions adds the fact it has permadeath mechanic and unless one makes backups of save files game over is really game over. Problem is after that few hours you'll start disappointingly realizing that you saw pretty much everything it has to offer and most game mechanics aren't complex at all but in fact very simple and predictable. There's handful of mission types but they're always exactly the same with only names and numbers changing. No surprises or plot twists, basically you done one mission of each type, you done them all. Because of that it becomes tedious rather quickly. And so what that late game missions pay really well if there's nothing to spend money on. Buying all best stuff takes maybe couple in-game weeks. Oh, there's also short (and moderately interesting) storyline campaign with two sides to choose (5 missions each). It starts so late I already had tons of money and highend gear long before and if I didn't read about it I would miss it thinking I did everything and can ditch the game. Anyway it's dirt cheap on sales, has mods (I highly recommend UplinkOS which makes UI much more modern and convenient) and offers really fun and engaging few hours at least.
Well, not that much longer :P I played D1 when it was given for free and wasn't very impressed. Writing was mediocre at best, message much too "in your face" and puzzles felt often forced and didn't make sense. Now I replayed it before trying out sequel and didn't change mind so obviously my expectations weren't high. Fortunately I was proven wrong because this game really is something. Writing and dark surreal tones are quite spectacular and remind me of R. Michalski's best works: Cat Lady and especially Downfall (although it gave me also some dark and twisted To The Moon vibes). The story really got me this time and didn't let go till end. At times felt like it's dangerously drifting into over-sentimental and cliche waters (which did happen in part 1) but almost always manages to restrain in time. And that ending, very powerful, stunning and beautiful. Puzzles are pretty much the same type and quality as previously but as the game is now totally surreal the lack of some real world logic is justified and doesn't hurt (there is even funny, self-conscious comment while opening doors with puzzle lock). Audiovisuals top-notch. I'm content.
