Hacker Evolution: Untold

Hacker Evolution: Untold
N/A
Metacritic
64
Steam
51.098
xDR
Our rating is calculated based on the reviews and popularity of the game.
Price
$0.49
Release date
14 September 2010
Developers
Publishers
Steam reviews score
Total
64 (164 votes)

When the number of computers in existence and their processing capacity exceeds that of all mankind, a point of technological singularity is encountered. A massive economic and systematic crisis hits the entire world. Nobody knows the exact cause, and all solutions to fix it, are failing.

Show detailed description

Hacker Evolution: Untold system requirements

Minimum:

  • OS: Windows XP / 2000 / 2003 / Vista / Windows 7
  • Processor: 1 Ghz
  • Memory: 512 Mb
  • Graphics: DirectX compatible video card
  • DirectX®: 8.0
  • Hard Drive: 200 Mb
  • Sound: DirectX compatible sound card

Recommended:

Recommended requirements are not yet specified.
Updated
App type
Steam APP ID
70110
Platforms
Windows PC
Mac
Linux
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Reviews
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Schexshee
Schexshee

Can't be arsed with acquiring the skills of real life hacking? Play this and you can at least feel like a Hollywood-hacker ;)

Varaosa
Varaosa

ENG:

If you like playing around, like adventure, excitement and challenge you, and you're a nerd and you like coding, you like to try out the hacks, by far the best hacker simulation, where you can legally hack! Testimonial!

Also includes a mod editor!

FIN:

Jos pidät leikkimisestä, pidät seikkailusta, pidät jännityksestä ja haasteesta sekä olet nörtti sekä pidät koodaamisesta, tykkäät kokeilla myös hakkerointia, ehdottomasti paras hakkeri simulaatio, jossa voi laillisesti hakkeroida! Suositteluni!

Sisältää myös modi editorin!

Apathy
Apathy

This is the continuation of Hacker Evolution, and it sets up and entirely new scenario. If you enjoyed the first one, you're bound to love this one!

Rain
Rain

This game is simply amazing, from the storyline to the advaced and simple to use edior program that come with the purchase of the game. This game challenges my mind more than any other game I have ever owned. The terminology is suprisingly correct, you don't type stupid commands like "hack facebook" no, no. The interface of the game and how you type commands faintly feel like a linux OS. Don't think that this game is going to teach you how to hack into anything, but it does give you a perspective on how websites are designed and the security flaws within them. I have to say though, it is very much like the original HE just a different design, but same layout.
Pros: Challenging
Unique (The only game on steam store with hack in it)
Many hours of gameplay (endless if you decide to create your own levels)
heartpumping
strategic
Cons: extremely slow loading times on the options screen and new level screen (I think it's because this game was orginally designed for linux and mac)

Τhe Rolling Cheese Wheel
Τhe Rolling Ch…

Hacker Evolution – Untold is pretty much the same game as the previous hacker evolution but with slightly added gameplay mechanics and a different storyline. While Hacker Evolution – Untold’s story is a lot more relatable, it was also quite boring. The scenarios were much more realistic and as a result feel less grand than the first one. The ending was just flat out retarded on many levels, absolutely terrible closure. The levels feel way overdrawn for no reason whatsoever, and by the end it just feels like you are doing chores rather than playing a puzzle game. You can tell the developers were running out of creative ideas for running a hacking simulation game. Overall this game is a poor sequel to the first.

hermetico
hermetico

IF FIRST ONE IS A SHIT, THIS ONE IS EVEN A BIGGER SHIT!.
DON'T BUY THIS FAKE GAME!.
It is not compatible with my Video Card. You can see nothing.
Fuck the developers!

RolanDecoy
RolanDecoy

Another disappointment in hacking games, Uplink still whipes the floor with this one...They are improving though...

Simorq
Simorq

If you like coding and hacking, this is actually a really fun game to play. nice puzzles, excelent tutorial and awesome game mechanics. I would however, have liked it to be less 'shiny' and more console like. that would have been absolutely awesome.

Tibbs versus Japan
Tibbs versus Japan

"Ma hax r 2 leet"

THE GOOD
Interesting gameplay
nice feel
mod editor
good sim all round

THE BAD
Story sucks
Mod editor could really use some work

THE UGLY
Narrator from Cybermorph (where did you learn to fly?)

kelvin-s
kelvin-s

Postage stamp text windows with very small unscalable text in what is basically a text game is VERY VERY POOR programing. most of the screen is taken up by static graphics.

you either need very good eyesite or a magnifying glass to play this game, i am glad i got it on special.

this game was probably put out to drum up business for eye specialists

NUFF SAID

Cinetyk
Cinetyk

Having only barely known about "hacking" games, I decided to give it a shot, as this game was on sale for 2€. I found myself having mixed feelings about it, and writing a lot, so bear it with me. (skip to the last paragraph, above the PS, if in a hurry)

Right off, you notice that the game doesn't support 16:9 or 16:10 resolutions and the text is small and hard to see, and nothing can be done about that. Still, I was intrigued and started playing. The intro of the story lacks a bit of depth and background, but you get the idea. The game is mainly played in a command-line console, with some other monitor screens that are the same throughout the game. Although the atmosphere is right (the music, though not brilliant, helps) the presentation is limited and repetitive, there's not much to see. Essentially, the gameplay is that of a slow paced puzzler where in each "level" you have to figure out the best way to complete the objectives (gain access to computers/systems, steal files/money, upload viruses/trojans, etc etc) by taking down security measures (passwords, encryption) in various nodes/computers in that screen, and also finding "hidden" ones. Each action raises your trace level; if it gets to 100% you get traced and loose. You’ll have to delete “footprints” of your activities and pay your ISP to reset your IP, etc, to manage that and avoid getting traced. It is very non-linear, you can never be sure what the best way to proceed is, and there are non-essential things you can do, which may or may not be to your advantage: for instance, you may find a link to new servers that have money to steal, but they can also have nothing of interest and only serve to increase your trace level. Also, you'll have to figure out if you'll risk spending money to upgrade your rig or save it to decrease the trace level when needed, which is always a tough choice. That said, progressing through the level and finding out what to do is mostly interesting, and the "exploration" involved actually makes you feel like you are "unwrapping" what happened, and helps telling the story and getting the plot forward.

In the first two missions you have lots of help, which is nice if you start off without any knowledge about the series and/or command lines in general. In the third mission you’re more on your own, and that’s interesting. Then, I realized that your trace level sometimes carries from mission to mission (which was not explained), and you may find yourself in a situation where you raised it too high or didn’t get enough money on previous levels to have “room to breathe” to complete the next one. If that’s the case, all you can do is start from the very beginning of the game (!) which is extremely frustrating. There is no multiple save game slots, just the one! And there is no saving in the middle of a mission either! The fourth mission I found VERY difficult because of this. Then, on the fifth one, EVEN MORE DIFFICULT, I finally managed to proceed, but disregarding some “instructions” that were provided which supposedly I should have followed to get to the next level, which was a little confusing!! But apparently, there's (always?) more than one way to get past the level(s?). So, one can safely say the game is challenging and difficult.

All this would still be ok, but the ending, let's just say, is just very abrupt, anti-climatic and unsatisfying. It's really a pity, I mean it wouldn't hurt to write some more lines of text and close the story properly...

In short, the game has some fun if you like the hacking/command-line thing, but it is very a challenging game. Maybe that's part of the point of the game, but with the poor presentation, being repetitive, having a very bad ending, and sometimes being extremely punishing by making you start from the very beginning, I fear that unless you are very passionate about IT/hacking and also like very hard puzzles, it will more likely frustrate you than provide you with fun.

(PS: comparing with the original game (Hacker Evolution), though, this one is better. Not going much into it, the previous one is even more punishing with some game-breaking flaws in the mechanics, imo. After finishing this one and playing a little of the first one, I find myself surprisingly cheering for this one. So, all things considered, if you want to try one, I recommend trying this one rather than the original.)

VeiJari
VeiJari

Is actually interesting and fun idea of a game, i recommend this to players who like to geek out a bit and like typing in games :)

Chiddy
Chiddy

anyone who wants a very challenging and immersive puzzle game i reccomend this to, its quite complex so if you get frustrated easily i suggest against it :) get it now while its only $2

Reincarnate
Reincarnate

Urgently needs a fix so that window mode has different resolution options.

GuiltyCrown
GuiltyCrown

This is a pretty fun simulation/puzzle game. The hacker interface is pretty cool, I like to play puzzle games with some good music in the background like some Drum and base. tho the music on this game is ok but tends to get a lil annoying. Wish it had more of an up to date music list lol But its not much of an issue. But for 2 bucks i cant complain. Tho the instructions can get a lil confusing at times but with time and patience you will conquer. The game gives you a basic understanding of taking the role of a hacker and strategizing your way to make it trough to survive and not get traced or killed. Not much of a story to this game but the concept is pretty cool. I recomend the game to anybody who likes a good puzzle soving game and strategize and has alo of patience. Give it a try.

Taroshik
Taroshik

Awesome game, really fun to play and forces you to use your brain, unlike alot of other games!

Cinderella
Cinderella

On a Retna Mac, tiiiny screen.

PrototypeG
PrototypeG

the best hacking simulator you can play on steam

La Tourelle
La Tourelle

Bought in steam sale for 2€ was bored anyway, got even more bored while playing this. the tutorial is not correct (you'll fail the mission), repetitive etc. Don't waste your money on this

EDIT: this review was made 4 january so without the 'big update' from may.

TTV.Stringer1818
TTV.Stringer1818

it was alittle hard at first but once u get the hang of it. its easy sailing from there

JAR
JAR

Don't Buy this game if you dont know how to HAK! YOU BEST BE A UBER HAXOR! :D

Bonehead
Bonehead

The creativity in HE: Untold is more well developed, compared to the original Hacker Evolution, and the storyline is ok, to a point - then the storyline just gets dropped on the floor, and the game ends.

Can i recommend it? Possibly, the cmd-based game style appeals to me, aswell as the storyline along the way.

Will i recommend it? No, i will not! In a matter of 10 missions (tutorial included) the game will end, way too short!

I would rather sit back with Street Hacker (same cmd-based style), or back to Uplink, and enjoy myself with something longer-lasting than this..

Oh yeah, let's not forget the hardcore DLC, which introduces another 2 missions (yeah, only 2) - is it even worth bothering?

theaer
theaer

Was good back in the day, but don't waste your time on it now.

Ombatron
Ombatron

This game is confusing and the instructions aren't the best. I want to get into the game but I am expecting it to take a while to understand what is happening. It has cool graphics tho they bring you into the game well.

m0s
m0s

[7/10]
This is closest you will get in a game to real hacking (of course a way simpler than real life). The game lacks visuals, but the atmosphere is ok, the missions are interesting, finding the hidden servers is fun, but game is way too short. There's an expansion campaign but it is much harder than the standard campaing, so don't even bother playing the expansion if you didn't finish the standard one. Since there are actually no other games like this one, it's worth owning and playing if you're interesting in hacking, specially for 10$. It won't last much but it's an interesting concept and fun to play.

Flatshoe
Flatshoe

This game is pretty alright. I have enjoyed it.
It is HARD though, really hard, but i think that is what makes it fun.
It is very suspense-full and intense (as far as typing and reading data sheets are)
I reccommend this if you are into typing games or casual games.

Hexadecim8
Hexadecim8

This game, as all the other hacker evolution games, has such a slim margin of error that even getting through the tutorial in one piece will test your threshold for handling frustration.

The hacker evolution games have a strong foundational concept, and solid UI, but the game suffers from arbitrary limitations (like the amount of times that you can use any computer as a hop point.)

Typically, I like to give games the benefit of the doubt. Try it out if it's on sale, I usually say, but there's no point in putting down any amount of money for such a frustrating game such as any installment of the hacker evolution series.

Androidd
Androidd

This was really cool. Different concept than before I enjoyed the changes.

excedr1n
excedr1n

A crappy knockoff of Uplink, a far superior, better engineered, and more compelling game. Don't waste your time even thinking about this game, just get Uplink.

If you must play through it, be prepared for unintuitive mechanics, a useless tutorial, and overly complicated visuals, which, while they make for great screenshots, only get in the way during gameplay.

Draven_Rayne
Draven_Rayne

Hacker Evolution: Untold
This game has a good story and I love the integration of terminal commands.
It definately isn't in the same class as Uplink but there really isn't anything out that is. Hacking Simulation is a very underutilized genre. But if you've already played through Uplink and are liking for a good second choice this is it.

Vic=HKC=
Vic=HKC=

You're an IT specialist contacted by someone warning you about a spy in your company. Guided by a mysterious person, you're being framed by them - it's up to you to reveal themselves so that your name is cleaned...

The plot is the prequel to Hacker Evolution, showing how you came to be a reclused person on an island. However, the end is kinda abrupt. The last level is so easy that it's just a shame that the developers didn't put the work they did for the entire game.

The gameplay isn't differing from the previous game, so allow me to copy/paste part of the evaluation I've written.

Hacker Evolution: Untold is perhaps a writing simulator, as you need to type the command but you need your brains to avoid to be traced and to have a game over. Sometimes, you'll need to begin a new campaign because you can't do anything but try a different manner to avoid spending too much money you've "stolen" or to add to your trace level. That's perhaps the most frustrating thing in HE:U.

You're going to read files, find passwords, find exploit files that will make your life easier, crack, decrypt, use your brains to know how many hosts you need, upgrade your hardware (should I add a faster modem or a better firewall or more CPU Ram?).

Now, the product is stable, there was a time where exosyphen messed up with keyboards (mainly AZERTY) but they're really listening to their customers.

For the graphics, they're simple: a map, a console, your config and messages. While you don't have choice in the matter of customizing the interface, I must say that the green one isn't bad all all.

The best point for this game is the soundtrack, very electro/dance but very fitting. I loved it. I really loved it.

Hacker Evolution: Untold comes with Flight Zero, three more levels to enjoy.

While many will whine about how it's not realistic as hacking game, I'll say: I don't care about realism. I just want to enjoy myself. However, back then, the game had a breaking bug. I've written to exosyphen, like suggested, and they offered me the DRM version so that I could play the entire game. Since then, the bug disappeared, as I could write my solution.

The game is worthy, so go for it!

internisus
internisus

Asinine game design:

Complete all level objectives, including obtaining $2000 and reducing global trace level below 50%. Continue playing. Accrue more than $5000 and spend money on huge firewall upgrade. Use large trace level buffer to hack hidden (bonus) servers. Exhaust all options on this level and attempt to progress to next; cannot. Hit F2 and review level objectives again. Objectives for obtaining money and reducing trace level are now marked incomplete. Cannot progress because elected to spend acquired resources on better equipment and use low trace level for server exploration. Punished for playing too well. Refuse to replay 30-minute level; uninstall.

Play Street Hacker and mess around with mods for Uplink instead. Please someone make a truly amazing new hacking game.

IvanDSM
IvanDSM

Before buying, when i used to play the demo (2 years ago) i thought this game was rad. I really wanted it and since it was 2 reais the other day i got it. After 30 seconds on the tutorial i got REALLY bored. It's got a nice premise, but unfortunately it's a bit too repetitive and unidimensional.

Star31
Star31

I wanna be hacker or cracker :D

[NDAC] Gray Fox
[NDAC] Gray Fox

The charm comes from the majority of the "action" coming from you typing commands into a console and the occasional mouse-over/mouse-click. It's not real hacking by an stretch but it is akin to "movie hacking" as another reviewer put it. Fun in a straight forward, procedural puzzle kind of way, with some pretty decent techno even if it loops a bit too soon.

MV881
MV881

The game is enjoyable, it challenge to puzzle out the best hack, but sadly on the MAC it keeps freezing and then I need to start over again and again.

Zyb3r
Zyb3r

This game is fun up to a point, after which it starts feeling repetitive. It has a steep learning curve for those that like a challenge.

LilShay
LilShay

Great game! If you're into cmd and typing/hacking away - it's for you!

Tekjet
Tekjet

This game crashes constantly on both Windows 7 and 8. Trading Cards don't work. It even froze my laptop and forced me to do a hard reset. The developer doesn't seem too keen on updating or patching the problems, so I would definitely recommend avoiding this game at any price.

JonnyJD
JonnyJD

A nice puzzle/optimization game. With limited resources (machines, money, computer parts) you have to find out which machines to hack in what order to reach the goals of the level.
This is the hollywood type of "hacking", but is very consistent clear. Different length of encryption keys and passwords determine how long the hack takes and the number machines/firewalls between you and the target determine how fast you can be traced. Additionally you have to follow clues to find other machines at all.
The game has okay graphics, but is mainly controled with a terminal/console. If you have a problem with command line tools this game is probably not for you. I personally liked this kind of control a lot.

In contrast to Hacker Evolution Duality you don't have much time pressure and there is no hectic. The emphasis is on solving the problem, not on being fast enough.

I am playing the game on Linux and in contrast to other reports (mostly Windows): For me the game never crashed.
I only had a level where it wasn't clear what machines are part of the objective and why.
Also: Steve's tips are not always the best way to do the level.

crua9
crua9

This is a soso game. There is parts of this game that's about you thinking, but a lot of this game is about pure luck or playing over and over till you get it right. Between this and how often you do things over and over, I'm not sure if it's a good buy.

While I know the newest Hack Evol game has more of a UGI and less command line, it would be nice to see one that's more like real world hacking.

It's too bad that this movie hacking crap is the cloest we have to a hacking sim game.

I hope they devs can make a true hacking sim sooner than later.

Generic Potato
Generic Potato

It says "Brian Spencers's". Nice, good job there. It is also amazing that this game happens to be on sale almost constantly. I wonder why it is...

Even
Even

Do you like waiting for a loading bar?

Do you like starting over one hour of waiting gameplay because you misclicked a dot?

Do you like entering in long, tedious, and unrealistic arcane commands?

Than This game is the game for you!

[H]ypnotize
[H]ypnotize

Hacking is fun Hacking is life

Tedaryum
Tedaryum

Hacker Evolution is a beautiful game of the series. But there is a lot of difficulty stage. Game do not recommend it because it is not HD and supports video modes. Mr. difficult from level occurs. Playing serious challenge stages available. They describe it very well in the game for the hacker to be a tough job. I congratulate those who play. The game is not HD and do not recommend that people take a little more time for me.

Dr NIco
Dr NIco

I enjoyed pretty much HE, and liked HE Untold too.

HEU has some more interesting features, like ability to reduce global trace by deleting logs, or easy rescan of a server with a right click on the map.

The different gameplay stories are variable in interest, more or less original, easy and difficult. Finally I find the HE original story to be more imaginative.

Also, some crash experienced with the mp3 music handled by the SDL libs, not yet completely fixed. Needed some tuning (see discussions) to bypass those. About 3 or 4 crashes in 16 hours of playtime, so you can progress in the game anyway. This was not the case with HE, using ogg music, very stable and never crashed.

Definitely, HE and HEU are well immersive, and that would be a dream to get some really creative scenario, like Tom Clancy’s or Ken Follett’s!

WrathFire
WrathFire

I'm an ethical hacker by trade so I love this series of games.

Karhu
Karhu

I sorta enjoyed this as a puzzle game, but it was too easy. If you want a more interesting experience, don't upgrade your hardware. Only upgrade exactly what is recommended when you are told to, and the game is still finishable and more enjoyable. Don't compare it to Uplink, you'll be disappointed.

XDRosenheim
XDRosenheim

Something as simple as having two sounds play at the same time, is not working.
Voice: "Incoming trans-"
Computer: "bip"

There is ONE graphics option.
Fullscreen / window-mode

Fullscreen does not support 16:9 ratio

Dustin
Dustin

The same old game, same old typing story.

4/10

Stumpy-G
Stumpy-G

This is not a simulator at all and will not teach you how hack any systems. Getting that out of the way I only recommend this game if you like:

    • Command Prompt Games
    • Challenging puzzles
    • Figuring out the story through context
    • Repeating the same puzzle multiple times
    • Linear game play with minmal margin for error

Not sure what the creator of the game was thinking, probablly wanted to push out another version of the original, but this one is easier IMO. The first one had many stopping points as the clues were not as intuitive as in this version, but this version is very linear in nature. The first one allowed you to make upgrades to you machine early on without sacraficing parts for trace cash. If you make two or more mistakes with finding your servers, you might have to sell your upgrades or completely fail.

My only complaint is that I couldn't upgrade my machine like I did in the first one, and had to just stick with firewall level 1. I did enjoy the chanllenge of the game overall, but it's not everyones cup of tea.

Note: Edits made only for typos.

MaxioTech
MaxioTech

Worth it!


Hacker Evolution Untold

- Is a hacking simulator game, although it has nothing to do with real life hacking, it's still challenging, in it's own way.

The game has an build-in modding editor, which allows you to make your own stories within.

If you like these type of games, I'll recommend you to try it out.

deathsmistress
deathsmistress

The first DLC is worth the 1.99 is costs. The second DLC is way too easy and I beat it in under an hour....

Sushi Go Round
Sushi Go Round

Crashes non-stop. I want to play this game, but its impossible to run it without a crash. Had it for years, never got to finish it.

Rafael Cavacchini
Rafael Cavacchini

In short, the game has some fun if you like the hacking/command-line thing, but it is very a challenging game. Maybe that's part of the point of the game, but with the poor presentation, being repetitive, having a very bad ending, and sometimes being extremely punishing by making you start from the very beginning, I fear that unless you are very passionate about IT/hacking and also like very hard puzzles, it will more likely frustrate you than provide you with fun.

NoSpax
NoSpax

... Welcome to the 80's.

Stopped while playing the tutorial, because it started to piss me off while reading the instructions on how to use the exploit.
This game only has one console. ever heard of multi-tasking?

Oh, and not to mention, if I press ENTER in the plot device before the actual title screen, the game crashes.
"Press ENTER to continue"? yeah. PRESS ENTER TO UNINSTALL.

Synol
Synol

"Hacking" on rails. No exploration just some boring as hell mini-game of resource management. Would not recommend installing it even if you got it for free.

Blue Snoop
Blue Snoop

Eh For People With Big Brains Def Not Me XD

[LFT] Nutz
[LFT] Nutz

This game got me put in prison.
Giving it another go.

Fenrir
Fenrir

I bought this game because it looked cool and had Hackerz Online vibes (mobile game no longer available) and much to my amaze, the game is unstable. No amount of verify integrity of files is fixing it sadly. I cannot recommend playing this game at this time till a possible update fixes the instability, otherwise the other issue found is that when using the command given to do a task is a bit broken in the tutorial rendering the game unplayable.
The game has a good concept however with these 2 game breaking bugs it makes game play difficult. Has anyone else run into this issue?