In a world of ones and zeroes, there are the zeroes and the one. Computers have been around for a little over a hundred years but in that timeframe, computers have grown into necessities for the progression of civilization. Entire digital universes have been made with their own ecosystems. Those who understand these systems can make the impossible a reality. Everything from airline reservations to studying Mars is possible because of computers. However, in a world where computers are woven into everything, there are those who will work hard to break it and others who will sacrifice their integrity to control it.
Hackers have been around for a long time, ever since Wargames with Matthew Broderick changing grades and almost starting World War III. Movies like Hackers and The Matrix made the practice of hacking and breaking systems to gain a cool look. Older gamers can remember the threat of the dreaded “Y2K” virus, which was set to render all technology obsolete and end the world as we know it. Replicating that sensation of having digital magic at your fingertips is a tough sensation to replicate. DROP – System Breach may not give you the cool sunglasses or clothes of a hacker but it does make you feel like a cool hacker in this slick and engaging puzzle game.
Brave New World
It is the future, information is digital and everything is connected online. Bank accounts, incriminating evidence, top-secret projects, and trader secrets can all be accessed at the push of a button. As an up-and-coming hacker, players are tasked with putting their name out there through various missions and objectives. In a dystopian future with various factions and organizations, players choose which missions to partake in. As their name spreads, so do the risks as well as their rewards. DROP – System Breach is a game of digital danger. The game is reminiscent of a retro-futuristic computer from a 90s sci-fi film and punctuated with a strong soundtrack.
Players are introduced to the gameplay of DROP – System Breach one mission at a time. The earlier missions teach connecting to systems at the start of a mission and detaching from them when completed. Subsequent missions teach other hacking methods such as how to avoid detection from security programs and how to install spyware. Simple computer systems steadily become more complex requiring a more methodical approach to each challenge. This increases the sensation of danger and reward as levels become fast-paced bouts of multitasking and management.
System Shock
The gameplay of DROP – System Breach combines the thoughtfulness of a strategic stealth game with the instant gratification of an autos clicker. DROP – System Breach isn’t cookie clicker but the simplicity in its design and gameplay make the game extremely fast-paced and rewarding. Playing the game involves clicking on the necessary object but with the fast-paced nature, the gameplay displays an acute sharpness. Each task gets faster and instantly more satisfying. What begins as simple asks to install spyware soon turns into retrieving files and planting dirty all to have real consequences in the real world. It’s a refreshing and immeasurably satisfying take on hacking and puzzling that haven’t seen elsewhere, which makes DROP – System Breach all the more refreshing.
To further clarify, DROP – System Breach does the hacking part for the players but it is still up to the player to make the necessary connections and avoid detection. By comparison, Mainlining, another hacking-based video game for the Nintendo Switch, is far more complex. In Mainlining, players are part of a British Intelligence agency and are tasked with locating suspects, acquiring information, and apprehending them with irrefutable evidence for the course. Mainlining involves punching in codes and even URLs into fictional browsers and programs. It’s a much more involved gameplay mechanic with a strong reward for those disciplined enough to see the game through. DROP – System Breach forgoes all the sophisticated aspects and boils it down to a simple interface to infiltrate a system, complete the mission, and exfiltrate before the authorities catch on.
Alphanumeric
The stakes ramp up when players are timed to their objective. The systems start fighting back through counter programs. One such program constantly eats away at the firewall, which is essentially the health bar Players can use stealth by activating certain areas and avoiding others. Additionally, players can activate certain nodes to reduce the effects of programs attempting to break in and find the player. Soon, DROP – System Breach becomes a kinetic and sublime sensation. It is a race to get the job done and avoid detection while outsmarting defenses and overcoming obstacles.
DROP – System Breach isn’t perfect, however. As exciting as the game gets, things become a little too repetitive. This makes DROP – System Breach great for a pick-up and play session but not so much for longer sessions. Additionally, the story takes a back seat as there isn’t really much of a narrative or story. There are people who interact through debriefs and there is the feeling of a larger plan underway. There isn’t much context to the world such as who is hiring you and what are these organizations you are hacking into. Mission briefings detail gangs and such but any information is revealed through the debriefs. If DROP – System Breach has a good story, I’d give the game higher remarks.
Verdict:
DROP – System Breach is unlike any puzzle game I have played before. Its simple gameplay becomes increasingly fast-paced and euphoric as each mission goes on. A stellar presentation using old-fashioned CRT visuals with an electric soundtrack creates an engaging cyberspace in a dystopian world. There is plenty to enjoy here with the multitude of missions and the overall experience is profound. While the story takes a back seat, the gameplay is nonetheless worth the price of admission alone. DROP – System Breach is an excellent game and I encourage those with an interest in its gameplay or premise to give it a chance. Jack in and Hack the Planet.
