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The rise of the "boomer shooter" has been interesting to watch. Those sorts of games have always enjoyed some level of popularity, but seeing them become so succesful to the point of influencing other games outside of the genre is impressive in an age where video game molds seem very set. Hard Reset, though, is a game from before this renaissance; and so is uniquely interesting to me, someone not especially a fan of the genre.
The thing that was most immediately apparent to me was the style of combat; no frills and furious, it harkens back much more to early shooter games than its contemporaries. Most of the enemies are close range combatants, so movement is critical; a large portion of damage can be avoided through good strafing. The game occasionally devolves into slugfests, but for the most part I found it refreshing.
Gunplay is simplified, and probably my major critique. Instead of an arsenal of different guns, you essentially have two; a kinetic and an energy weapon, which you gradually unlock variation modes of. Each mode has multiple upgrades, and it doesn't end up being boring gameplay wise, but I would've loved to see a bit more visual variety in the weaponry.
In all other areas aesthetically though, despite its age the game is a treat. In a post Cyberpunk 2077 world, it's extremely on the nose setting is almost quaint; and the visuals, while certainly a bit plain, are much less drab than it's kin. Or maybe I just prefer a blue cityscape to red hellscapes and yellow sandscapes. It lacks subtlety, but I'd rank it highly amongst shooting gallery backdrops. For the few hours it lasts, I think anyone with an appreciation for the classics can have a fun time.