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Uplink

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8.9 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 66 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Introversion

Developer: Introversion

Genre(s): Strategy, Simulation

Players: 1

ESRB Rating:

Release Date: February 1, 2002

Summary

High tech computer crime and industrial espionage on the Internet of 2010. You play an Uplink Agent who makes a living by performing jobs for major corporations. Your tasks involve hacking into rival computer systems, stealing research data, sabotaging other companies, laundering money, erasing evidence, or framing innocent people. You use the money you earn to upgrade your computer systems, and to buy new software and tools. As your experience level increases you find more dangerous and profitable missions become available. You can speculate on a fully working stock market (and even influence its outcome). You can modify peoples academic or criminal records. You can divert money from bank transfers into your own accounts. You can even take part in the construction of the most deadly computer virus ever designed. [Introversion]

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Gamer's Pulse

It doesn’t have the flash and hype of big name, but it is one of the best games I have ever played.

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Yahoo! Games

One of the most innovative games we've seen in years...It delivers all the immersion, innovation, and entertainment you can ask for.

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Computer Games Magazine

Couple this sort of tension with the cerebral challenge of building a hacking career and you've got a game that makes crime pay. [July 2003, p.87]

AltGaming

While the lack of true visual quality can be overlooked, the slightly confusing, and at times overwhelming interface that you're presented with can add to the nerve wracking nature of the game.

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Armchair Empire

A fairly satisfying gaming experience... that goes for deeper strategy – actual gameplay! – rather than a flashy package.

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IGN

It isn't one of those games that will keep you enthralled for hundreds of hours, but it is most certainly a great change from most of the clones that are released onto the market these days.

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GameSpy

Solid, immersive gameplay that sadly does lose some steam after extended periods of time. But, it's a fun ride for those looking something a little different from the norm.

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GameSpot

This is a game where you can get lost in the moment very easily.

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PC Gameworld

Good if you’re methodical and like to play your games in short bursts. Not for twitch gamers or those who play to relax; it’s a surprisingly stressful experience!

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Cheat Code Central

Uplink will serve its purpose as a game that can be played sporadically. It's doubtful you will want to play it for extended sittings but it's got a lot of potential replay value providing you don't overdose on it during a weekend binge.

Gamers' Temple

A unique game that is definitely worth a look by anyone looking for a gaming change of pace. Its long term appeal is questionable, though.

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AceGamez

A misunderstood and sadly unappreciated diamond in the rough.

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GameZone

While a very nice and original concept, Uplink will only appeal to a select few.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 66 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jim F. gave it an8:
Though the gameplay eventually becomes somewhat repetitive, and the story arc begins too late in the game, this game is most definitely, and by far, the best 'hacking" game out there.

Kron TheMad gave it an8:
This is a great game but I question the need for the repackaging... yes thats right this is a seriously old game, giving it a new UI and bundling it on steam seems to be all it took to get noticed. I first played it in '98. ....wonder if I can still make my own boards?

EdTheRabbit gave it a9:
Don't play this in your office - they don't like it when you tell them you're trashing a rival's mainframe - truly brilliant, a gameplay over SFX formula that we should see more often.

[Anonymous] gave it an8:
One of best game of this kind ever played. The only thing that I don't like is that you can lose everything just because you've been traced. Why do we can't save? Yes I know, its less realistic but its a videogame. I just tried the demo. I pass through a few times. In one of these times, I tried to pass trough Uplink bank and Internal services system. It was too much complicated for me. And fast too, even with dozens of bounces. So I abandoned that. Later, I bough a new gateway and just before getting it (It take 24h to switch gateway) I got caugh for been hacking intio Uplink corp servers . GAME OVER! Worst ting in the game. But the game, when you don't get caugh to Game Over, Is the best in it kind.

Daniel W. gave it a10:
Incredible game, great replay value, and it's available on steam. The only problem some people may have is how it works, and how they can trace you down, even after disconnecting. However, this is what gives it such great replay value. You play, you learn more, you beat the system.

Christopher P. gave it a4:
This game carries an innovative and exciting concept, but the execution is grossly off. Most guilty is the interface: there are quite a few strange quirks in entering information, for instance, requiring the mouse cursor to constantly be within the field you're entering information in, or it will be deselected. You'll spend most of the game entering information, so this bizarre interface error gets annoying very fast. At resolutions above 640x480 the text and buttons are uncomfortably small, barring the player from playing at more attractive high resolutions. Then comes the basic gameplay, which sounds exciting at first due to the entertaining concept, but in practice is tedious and pointless. You'll start by simply hacking passwords and performing basic tasks like copying and deleting information. As you "rank up", you'll get access to more advanced missions e. g. editing profiles and databases. Starting with cracking passwords is horribly dreary; rather than actually using thought to find the password yourself, you use a tool and select the password field, and the crack will eventually find the password. No, it's not fun. Hacking and editing databases can be fun for a while; going through lists of information and creating queries to find a specific entry and altering it somehow while you have the threat of being traced is modestly fun. The huge problem is, however, is that tasks like these encompass almost the entire game, and there is a very thin list of tasks to accomplish. You'll be tediously working through mission after identical mission to earn the right to partake in large-scale scenarios with a goal that takes some skill and thought to reach. These are the only worthwhile reasons to play the game, with your requiring advanced tools such as voice recorders, decoders and IP apps. Unfortunately, it takes an excessive time commitment to reach these scenarios. In the meantime you'll be clicking dozens of password fields and altering information ad nauseam. Other quibbles include an unnecessary "upgrade" system that forces the player to buy expensive new equipment before being able to perform another mission with or without the rank required also hurt the experience. Also, when you're "caught", it's game over and your save file is deleted, which I assume is to increase the intensity and fear of being caught. This can be worked around by just copying it from the save folder when you want to, but for a game that offers so little reward for so much monotonous work, it's cruel to force the player to work through the multitude of horrendously boring introductory missions again because of a single mistake. Also well worth noting is the method of covering your tracks by deleting IP logs, and this design choice doesn't seem to show any purpose. After every mission or attempted mission there will be logs where you were. These logs have to be deleted to prevent you from being traced. What this means is you'll be revisiting certain places both yours and foreign solely to click your log deleter then a log in a list, often with a dozen or more individual logs, and you'll have to do this very frequently. A game focused on a fictional portrayal of hacking is a terrifically exciting concept, but because this game suffers from a frustrating interface, poor pacing, lack of variety, and poor design choices, the concept's potential is unfulfilled. Not recommended, even to indie game fans.

Ryan E. gave it an8:
It's always fun to (pretend to) break the law. It misses the 'oh shit, the CIA is after me' factor of hacking, but that can't really be emulated. fun while it lasts.

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