Universal 868-HACK by Michael Brough

It has a better metacritic score than Terraria and Junk Jack X, both of which were $5. Why should it cost less?

 

Is it just me, or is there too much emphasis on getting the "Score" powerup early on in the game? I mean, you get 5 points by spending 5 energy... is there any alternate way to boost your score up which is remotely as easy as this?

Seems to me that getting a high score somewhat relies on this method (ie: a high score can't be achieved without relying on this powerup).

 

Possibly, but to play devils advocate, score is a gamble. You have to use resources early that you may need later for survival, and if you don't survive all 8 sectors, it doesn't matter how many points you have your actual score will be lower than completing with zero points. Score also requires you to use siphons on collecting energy rather than on points. And keep in mind that the value of score decreases each level. By sector 8 using it only yields 1 point.

 

Thanks for pointing this out. It's even more motivation for me to finally make it through all 8 sectors without worrying about score. I've come close a few times but haven't managed it yet.

Despite the frustration of countless deaths, I'm still determined to improve and succeed, survive and advance. This game=that good.

 

I have about $75 in iTunes credit. I have no intention on spending it on anything after playing 868-HACK. I could have any app I want without spending a dime, but what's the point when I could play more 868-HACK and improve my skills in that?

You could save more money by buying a single game which is more consuming (in a good way) than an endless drip of 0.99 games that barely have any lasting value.

Also, this is by far not just a "nice game" - it is by all accounts "The Game." I don't know about anyone else, but for me I feel like I have been searching for a game to play for years to come, not just something to entertain me for a few hours. This is it.

 

I tried this about once a day since it came out, and until today I would die 90% of the time as soon as Level 2 opened. Once I made it to 3 by luck. This puzzled me, since people have called it easier than Zaga-33 (scoring aside) and I have beaten Zaga-33 a few times.

I think the key reason I was completely overwhelmed on Level 2 is a factor that maybe could be more visually clear: enemies survive from level to level!

Some kind of visual transition (even really quick) where the current level goes away but the enemies are still there, and then the new level appears, would have made me realize that sooner.

Of course, discovery is part of the game and I wouldn't change that--but that one factor is SO vital to not giving up on the whole thing after the first few plays. Especially if the first lesson you learn in the game is that the only way to survive Level 1 is to grab some goodies right by the door and then run! (Which is of course completely wrong, but the game can reinforce that strategy to newcomers. For about a week I thought my error was in making poor choices of what to grab before diving into the dozen enemies at once that Level 2 seemed to contain.)

Granted, I noticed the enemy survival after only 12-15 plays, but I bet some people will never stick with it that long if they don't notice this factor at once.

We'll see how I do now that I make sure to clean up my mess in Level 1

(P.S. I too would love portrait support: it's the native orientation of the iPad, and the only way to hold an iPhone for one-handed play.)

 

The VERY highest scores (90+) would be hard to achieve without .SCORE, but I just got this score (81) a couple days ago without using .SCORE or even .SIPH - https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BUOFfiwIMAAmqRI.jpg:large (my main progs on that run were .ATK+ and .PUSH)

I've found that my most consistent runs are from using ATK+, it really is killer during the later stages. It's also pretty easy to pick up, because whenever I pick it up (hopefully in sector 1 or 2) I'll activate it right away to easily mop up the 8 enemies it spawns

 

It's fascinating what the brain does and doesn't notice. Myself, I picked up on the enemies-stick-around thing right away, but somehow I never noticed that I had a ranged attack until I got to the third sector.

My guess is that this particular misconception is uncommon (perhaps brought on by your familiarity with Zaga-33?) and that experimentation is a better teacher than tutorials, but still, what an interesting story!

 

I'd say, everything that CAN have a visual cue should have one, ideally. Absolutely not a tutorial, though, I agree! Just a slight change to the level-transition effect would make this vital piece of info intuitive. (Other things being subtle and awaiting discovery? All good! But some things are so basic they can block you from discovering anything else.)

Even if 1 in 50 people abandon the game over that misunderstanding it could be worth such a tweak. After all, it's not behavior seen in other games--it's counterintuitive by past experience to be in a new level yet have your old enemies still in the same spots. (And I suspect it's more than 1 in 50: with so many games on offer, dying instantly 4 or 5 times could be enough to send someone off to play something else!)

I actually haven't gone back--that first week killed the joy for me, and even though I now know why, I don't feel the draw, so I've been having fun with other new stuff. But I WILL try it fresh one day! I'm sure it's great in the end.

 

There sort of is one already: incoming enemies show up as nested squares, so when you go to a new level, you can tell that the enemies from the previous level aren't new, because they aren't in square form. Also, the transition line sweeps under the enemies, not over them. But maybe there could be more cues, I dunno.

 

Looks like Kepa from Rocketcat finally got this. I know he really liked Zaga 33 and his scores for 868 are predictably awesome.

Someone may have already mentioned this, but this game thoroughly rules.

 

I'm on the fence about this one due to the price.. Do people think it will go on sale soon or should I just take the plunge a buy it?

 

Looks confusing going to give it a shot

I have always wondered about these hacking games. I am going to give this one a shot!

 

This is the best gameplay I had this year! You have to try it!

 

I can't believe how many times I've almost bought this.
For some reason the $5.99 price tag always pulls me away.
I'm not the type of guy who hesitates usually, and I'm definitely not the type guy who thinks iOS games are too expensive. More than anything I'm just not sure what the game does, is, or how its even played. All I really do know is it gets incredibly positive reviews.

I have my trigger finger itching, on the purchase button, If someone wants to sell me as to why I should double click the button.

I'm either getting this or Rimdickhouseel or whatever, lol. I forget the name of it.

 

For some reason I feel the same way. This is coming from someone who buys all (or most) of the big name $6.99 games. Who knows.

 

Me too. I always ask for premium games and usually buy the good ones...
What about Rymdkapsul? You tried that?

I've bought pretty much all the interesting new games and now I'm digging through my watch list.

 

Never heard of it.

 

I took the plunge. Will report back.