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Uplink (PC)
by butters If you've ever watched a movie with some hacking in and thought "that looks fun" then this is the game for you. Uplink is a hacking game, and is based on the cinematic experience of hacking. Though I have to say, that is putting it a little simply, and gives off the image that this isn't a hard game, but instead some ... glamourised hacking game. As soon as you turn on the game, you see very few signs you are actually playing a game. The options are minimal, but what isn't minimal is the log in screen that you use to access your computer in the game. What I am getting at is that it is very immersive and realistic, so despite the fact that it is based on Hollywood hacking, you should still take it seriously. What you get is a simple looking game that has an amazing amount of depth to it, a game that will draw you in. Because it is a hacking game this means it is text based. Text based games sound a little boring though, since games now allow you to do so much, though it is not the case. You won't be running around the world using different computers and trying to escape from the authorities, but will instead be sitting at a computer screen having to hack certain computers and cover your tracks. You are the hacker, you don't play as one, and it is an important point because due to this, you will no doubt take the game extremely seriously and the game is really immersive. The graphics are simple considering it is largely text based, portraying a hackers computer screen. However a game shouldn't be judged by how good the graphics are, but by how effective they are, and for Uplink, the graphics match the gameplay. They are perfect for what the game is about. Welcome to the Uplink Corporation, you've been hired as a hacker. After a brief tutorial you are let out into the world of hacking, allowing you to do whatever jobs you want, or can do in order to acquire money to buy software, biding your time until the story mode starts. Text based game to a free roaming game may seem daft, but it's an apt comparison because, like a free roamer, you are really left to do what you want and can largely ignore the story, which takes up only a small amount of your game time. You log on to Uplinks server and look through the missions, taking whatever you fancy. Early on you will be doing basic things like hacking computers in order to delete or copy software, though later on things get a little more complicated. I am not saying the early stages are easy of course, because they can be brutal. This is really a game where you need to learn, and learn fast. Slip up the first time and get caught hacking and you'll get a warning, if your lucky. If you're not lucky they you're done, your gateway is closed and you have to start a new account (which is your save file). How difficult the game is really depends on you, as before you jump into the game you really have to fish around for general information. Although the actual missions get more complicated as time goes on, the basics of what you are doing remains the same. You hack into a computer using software you buy (such as a password breaker or decipher) and then do your job, log out and cover your tracks by deleting your logs. First though, you must bounce a connection off as many other computers as you can, to avoid getting traced. You can get traced actively, by spending too long in a hacked computer, or passively, by not covering your tracks. If you fish around you will learn the basic of what you have to do though with no second chances, the game has quite a harsh start. It's extremely fun, even more so when you get into it, though it's one of the few games that could maybe guide you a little longer, especially considering the autosave feature means you can't just cheat and re-load. It is a slight negative of the game, being completely chucked into the deep end with very little knowledge and I certainly wouldn't lament people who may want to read some FAQs on the internet first. However, at the same time, the realism of the game due to the autosave feature and the lack of second chances really draws you in. If it weren't for these negatives, you just wouldn't take the game as seriously and that would take away a large part of what this game is. Finishing a job with seconds to spare really gets your heart rate going. One other negative though is the pacing issue. First, I must mention the story. The story revolves around two rival companies, with one wanting to make the virus "Revelation" to release on the internet, and the other "Faith", the anti-virus. You can play as either side in the short story mode. It starts really well, as you just get an e-mail randomly in the game to notify you what is happening in the story, prompting you to take action. It means the story takes a side role, and you are predominantly an uplink hacker. However, the entire story goes by the date you are on in the game, meaning if you don't reply to emails fast enough or do certain missions fast enough, the story can just drift by you. The last mission also automatically starts, which to me is bad programming because, without spoiling much, the last mission does have a bit of a time limit. Whilst the freedom of not wanting to do the story mode for a while is a great thing, it would have been a smart choice to allow people to pick up the story when they wish. It means the pacing can change from extremely slow to fast within minutes. Pacing issues continue to the side missions. As you hack you level up, granting access to harder missions. It seems like the level of the missions that are mostly shown are also based on time, not your level, meaning you can get left behind even in the side missions. It is only a small complaint since the easier missions still do appear (just rarer), but it's a complaint non-the-less. It means that for the first part of the game you are grinding a little, spending ages levelling up your character, and then suddenly at a higher level you advance at an amazing speed. It could maybe have been levelled out a little more. ~System Requirements~ The game is from 2001 though since the game is text based every computer should be able to run this game. OS: 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista 32MB RAM 300MHz CPU Open GL capable Graphics Card The game can be bought from many places online including Steam. It can also be bought with the developers (Introversion Software) next game, Defcon. Currently that is £18 (New) on Amazon, or £8 (Pre owned). ~Overall~ You get a brilliant game though, though old, is somewhat unique. Regardless of the age of the game it is incredibly addictive and unique, meaning if the concept of the game sounds intriguing, it's worth a go. It's challenging, and you will no doubt have to restart a couple of times before you get the hang of it, and because of this can be seen as a little unfair and that may be a little true. However, once you have got your head round it everything you do will become automatic. For every hack you know you must bypass proxies and firewalls, break passwords and even get past voice analysers by prank calling the right people. The game starts out hard, though doesn't necessarily get harder, but maybe a little more challenging and complex, and certainly more interesting. Whilst you are playing you will be immersed in the world of Uplink, taking everything seriously and really getting the adrenaline pumping. Sure, the game has its flaws-the story is quite short and maybe a little weak, I personally didn't like the end, and a couple of things such as the e-mail page could be cleaned up, but they're small complaints when you consider what you are getting. It's a game like no other, and one that will no doubt grab you again and again, since it's not something you'll just want to play once. For a text based adventure, there's so much you can do, from wrecking computers to hacking banks. You can even clean your criminal record. Nobody tells you to do it, but as soon as you log in to the world of Uplink, you're free. And you no doubt won't want to log out. Read the complete review |
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Uplink (PC)
by illinoiscx This game is probably the most realistic hacker sim on the market. You play a rookie hacker as part of the mysterious Uplink organisation, a group of hackers who hack computers. You use various real life hacking tools such as the File Deleter and Track Tracker. It's all pretty creepy because it seems so real, like at the start where you ... "connect" to your gateway and all that. I've never done any hacking in real life but I'm sure this is as close as you'll ever get without actually breaking any laws. So for anyone out there after some risk free hacking experience, maybe looking into it as a possible career this game is perfect as a way to get some much needed practise on different types of servers and LANs, etc, as well as using all the tools of the trade. The graphics are also representative of real life operating systems and their applications, and no short cuts are made to make life easier for the player. You have to know what you're doing and you have to do it well to get far in this game. The music is great also, proper futuristic and that. Read the complete review |
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Uplink (PC)
by Poison_kitty Welcome to the dark underworld of computer hacking. Welcome to "Uplink". The year is 2010 and you are a hacker entering into the corporation known as Uplink. Through this hacker network you are able to acquire new and upgraded hardware and software and receive contracts and payment for completed jobs. Your integrity as a ... hacker will be tested when a new virus named "Revelation" appears, heralding the destruction of the internet. Will you play the part of the anarchist and help this virus in its task, or will you attempt to stop it? Uplink is the first title out of the small game developer company Introversion Software. Barely noticed when it first hit the E-shelves, this title gradually took hold of the UK gamer-scene. In an interview with PC Gamer, Chris Delay (developer of Uplink) said that they "did not pay for advertising at all, it became known through word of mouth". Interestingly, on Sunday the 16th September 2001 Introversion learnt the true meaning of the "Slashdot affect". Uplink was reviewed on the popular technology discussion site "Slashdot.org" and according to Introversion: "We were getting twenty times our normal visitor count from the Slashdot link alone, unfortunately our web server just collapsed under the weight [and was offline] for several hours." Years after the release date Uplink is still getting rave reviews from many game magazines and review sites; in 2004 PC Gamer produced a "Top 100 PC Games of All Time" list, of which Uplink Appeared at 86th position. When first released in September 2001, Uplink could only be purchased at the Introversion online store. In March 2003 it was picked up by the American game publishing house Strategy First, which slightly modified and resold Uplink under a new title; Uplink: Hacker Elite. In 2004, legal proceedings were undertaken when Strategy First ceased paying royalties for the game, and they filed for bankruptcy shortly afterwards. The game is still available as Uplink:Hacker Elite in some stores however Introversion suggests purchasing the original Uplink as many new modifications and patches will not be compatible. In 2007, Uplink became available through Valve's "Steam" online distribution service, joining Introversion's newer game "Darwinia". Copies of the original CD for Uplink are now quite collectible within the games community as the first 500 were individually burnt and labelled by the three programmers. There are no flashy introduction movies when the game loads; instead the player is greeted by a black screen with a small animation sequence representing a connection to the uplink corporation server, and a registration screen where the player can create a hacker identity. A small feature I really like is that each identity created is password protected; nobody else can play a game without the creator's permission. After registration, the player is taken to the main interface where they are greeted by a list of addresses; not many to begin with but by the end of the game it will be an exhaustive collection. The map in the upper right corner is where the player can connect to these addresses, after bouncing their connection through other computers. Earlier versions of the game included the original Uplink map, however later versions contain the map from Introversion's third game; Defcon. Along the top is a toolbar containing the date and time, speed controls, the IP to which the player is currently connected, and an X which logs the player out of their gateway and takes them back to the main menu. Along the bottom is a number of icons; the largest containing a list of programs available to execute. The other icons include bank details, rank and user information and hardware and memory status. The bottom right corner is where messages will arrive; things such as contract details and messages from the Uplink Corporation, one of which will already have arrived when the game begins. This will include details of the immersive tutorial, which is easy to follow and introduces the player to the basics of how hacking works in the world of Uplink by stepping through a simulated hack. After some time passes, the player will become involved in the main plot and gameplay continues from there. After the main storyline has concluded, you may find yourself asking "what next?" Well you can either continue playing ad infinitum or choose from the many mods made available for the game from both the Introversion website, and the greater Uplink community. You could also try your hand at modifying the game yourself! Introversion released a developer CD containing the uplink source code, as well as a number of tools to aid you. As I'm writing this, I have Uplink minimized in the background and I'm typing away to its soundtrack. I have no problem with this (as I would with most other games); as I find the music quite soothing and reminiscent of many an hour spent at my computer late into the night! The music adds to the wonderful ambience of the game, with the same is true for the sound effects; even though they are basic, they are the sort of sounds you expect to hear. As I have mentioned previously; Uplink's graphics are not there for show. This is apparent by the low graphics card requirement; the only condition is that it must be openGL capable for versions prior to 1.55. Other minimum system requirements include a 300 MHz CPU, 32MB RAM and 25MB hard disk space. As for Operating systems, Uplink (as with all Introversion releases) has been designed to run on a number of Linux distributions, MS Windows, and Mac OSX. Uplink is just one of a number of games within the CyberPunk genre that deals with the theme of hacking. Although it does it very well (it has no holes in its little world that leave you wondering "yes, but WHY?") it's interface doesn't bare much similarity to real-world operating systems. To many people with experience of console-based operations, it lacks the depth and skill required by some other hacking simulations such as "Street Hacker" and "Hacker Evolution". Despite this, the game is well worth the price tag, which by comparison is very little. At the time of writing, you can pick up all three Introversion games (Uplink, Darwinia and Defcon) for just £20. Read the complete review |
Introvision Software PC Game |
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1 review Manufacturer: Introvision Software / PC Game / Genre: Puzzle - Darwinia has been overrun by a computer virus which has multiplied out of control. Your quest is to destroy the Viral Infection and save the Darwinians from becoming extinct. |
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5 reviews Manufacturer: Introvision Software / PC Game / Genre: - You play an Uplink Agent who makes a living by performing jobs for major corporations. Your tasks involve hacking into rival computer systems, stealing research data, sabotaging other companies, laundering money, erasing evidence, or framing i... |
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