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For many the phrase ‘computer hacking’ means trying to second-guess a friend’s Facebook password in order to tarnish their reputation with lewd comments and status updates. Circuit_Strike.One is presumably aimed at those who fancy elevating themselves above mere social network trickery by pitting you as a Matrix/Tron/Lawnmower Man-style viral insurgent, tasked with taking down a secure network by eliminating a shielded death star-like central core.
Sitting very much in the Geometry Wars camp of stylistic arcade shooter, CS.One looks as though it should be played with your eyelids taped open while an intravenous drip feeds you with a constant supply of caffeine-filled energy drink. The game is an eclectic mix of bright neon colours and flashing lights with a pumping beat-driven soundtrack that morphs with every shot fired and every enemy killed. It comes as quite a surprise when you realise (after multiple game overs under the one minute mark) that CS.One has in place its own style of gaming, and veritably commands you to either obey or be destroyed.
Despite the action taking place inside a computer network, the game has a zero gravity feel to it. The slightest firing of your thrusters (activated by holding down anywhere on the right-hand third of the screen) sends your little spacecraft into a forward moving, inertia-driven drift. A virtual wheel on the bottom left of the screen controls the rotation of your vessel, and by using this classic combination of thrust and turn it’s possible to execute all manner of offensive and defensive manoeuvres. The controls initially feel too fiddly as you fight your urge to race through the levels at impossible speeds; those who were big fans of Asteroids will probably adapt quicker than others but even the most uninitiated will be pulling 180 j-turns after only a couple of hours of play.
It’s clear a lot of effort has gone into setting up CS.One as a brand that’ll stand out from the giants of the genre. Every nuance of the game is infected with a kind of weird 90’s rave vibe, from the unwavering techno soundtrack to the 56k dial up noises that play as you boot up the game. The presentation is arguably the strongest feature but it also goes some way to being its greatest downfall. While the initial concept of flying zero g around a computer network is enjoyable, the novelty soon wears off when you realise it’s all the game has to offer. The stages increase in difficulty and there are a whole bunch of achievements to unlock but there isn’t really any visual reward for ploughing through the levels.
The game’s creator, Shay Casey, recently went on record saying that CS.One is a game for hardcore gamers and perhaps he’s right. If mastering a very solid control scheme appeals to you more than visual diversification then CS.One is a title you’ll definitely want to look into.
