Net.Attack() - Code or Die!
- TheAwakening
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Overview
Net.Attack() is a roguelike, Survivors-like game with hundreds of drones defending the terminal you’re hacking through. Unlike other roguelikes, however, you must code nodes that execute different sets of attacks, increasing your overall damage per second. Choose the right upgrades and storm each layer with ease. Unlock avatars or buy additional upgrades in the dark market, increasing the odds against tougher terminals. You don’t need to know a lot of programming to play and build your loadout, only the basics.
Gameplay
Your starting loadout depends on your avatar, the very first one being three executors and one ping, a laser that targets one enemy. Enemies may drop experience on death; leveling up grants you an upgrade from three choices, usually offensive, defensive, or support. Once you have collected enough data, opening the loadout menu shows your acquired nodes and, to the right, nodes you can buy with data. Proceeding to the next layer also awards you with a node of two choices.
Nodes are not installed automatically. Connecting the dots must be done manually, and it’s important to check what node does what. The prefix ‘in’ triggers the node, while the prefix ‘OnKill’ triggers when the connected node kills a drone. All kinds of trigger combos can be done with the right connections, further increasing your total DPS. Nodes can be of single targeting (more damage) or area-of-effect (less damage). Just be careful, as you have to follow programming rules: If a node does nothing, or it only triggers under certain conditions, it will waste your executor node. You can reroll nodes at the shop, but you can only buy one.
Enemies are plentiful and scale according to the difficulty. Bigger drones are more of a threat and will often call in reinforcements. Because the counter increases per layer, it is crucial to increase your total DPS, which can be checked at the lower right part of the screen in your HUD. You must survive until the next layer opens, and you must proceed within one minute before the firewall kicks you out. Runs usually last 10 minutes more or less. Watch your health, as it is limited; you can only recover it through specific nodes or health rewards.
Completing terminals grants you data to be exchanged at the dark market, where you can increase the number of upgrades you usually get within a run or unlock game modes and other avatars. Chips can be found exploring the terminal by extracting them within seconds. Difficulty layers increase the rewards you get, but the threat scales even more by adding more drones and increasing their health. Other challenges to participate in are usually puzzles such as connecting the nodes in the right place. There is a daily online challenge that pits you against other players' loadouts and determines which one is the best.
Audio & Graphics
The game setting catches its coding theme as it does best. Graphics were okay and when it comes to hordes of enemies, the optimization is good. There is one music track (that matches the terminal currently playing) that adapts whenever you are editing your code or hacking. The documentation and how the coding does its work all work as expected for this game, but it doesn’t go a lot deeper than that.
Pros & Cons
Pros-
Cool survivors—like with a hacking theme.
Easy to play, a bit harder to master.
Cons-
Might become a bit overwhelming for players unexperienced in coding.
Not a lot of coding depth or complexity as I’ve expected.
Rating: 7/10
My pet can hack this game better than me. D:
