Thank you ByteRocker’s Games for providing us with a review code!

Net.Attack() is a survivors-like hacking-themed game where your goal is to sabotage enemy systems while surviving the increasing number of security response adversaries. If you’re new to survivors-like games, your objective is to survive waves of enemies coming at you. Some of them will drop experience shards which will grant you buffs (you get to choose) when you level up. Your foes will also drop in-game currency, which can buy equippable nodes that utilize programming logic to add to and power-up your various attacks.

Most of the levels/heists are broken down into seven waves that last a couple minutes apiece. Before each wave, you’ll get to choose from a free programming node to equip. Most hackers start their heist with an OnTick() node that executes whatever command is connected to it at regular intervals. The most basic attack is a ping which zaps opponents. As your character levels up they can learn elemental attacks and summon fire, lightning, tornadoes, and other nasty assaults. Each connected attack node will add execution time, and it’s critical to not bog things down by connecting too many nodes to a source node. If you ever have the ability to purchase another OnTick() node, buy it ASAP!

There are thirteen hacker characters/avatars to choose from, but most of them will require unlocking by purchasing them with the dark in-game currency. Each hacker has a unique trait like 10% damage, 50% player health, -25% incoming damage, an additional revive, and more. Their purchase prices vary.

You can also spend dark currency on the DarkMarket to purchase mini-games and permanent upgrades. The mini-games include a Snake clone and a Space Invaders knockoff. I highly recommend prioritizing purchasing an additional revive/life as soon as you are able. There’s a maximum of two revives to buy, but the second one is very costly and will take a bit. Other notable upgrades include permanent speed boosts, health increases, additional shop items, lower prices, the ability to get duplicate nodes for free, and many more.

There are fifty-six Steam achievements to unlock. Nearly half of these achievements are earned by completing the level devil1976() successfully with each of the hackers. Another achievement is available for surviving the twenty-minute challenge level with each avatar. The twenty-minute challenge levels are pretty tough since the last two minutes of them invoke a firewall which constricts the level size to draw the player and enemies alike into the center of the stage. To make matters worse, the PCB-themed levels are not perfect squares and have some dangling sections that you don’t want to be trapped in.

The tutorial levels are pretty easy, but the difficulty ramps up at a reasonable pace. I like how each hacker has unique skills, which provides a fresh spin on the same levels. In total, there are three different worlds with similarly named levels. Once a level is completed, it’s available for other hackers to attempt as well. I have yet to successfully complete a twenty-minute challenge with any of the hackers and I have nearly fifteen hours into this game. There’s plenty of gameplay to be had in this $7.99 title.

Net.Attack() is pretty family-friendly with cartoon violence against robot-like enemies. There isn’t any swearing in the game but one of the achievements has sh*t in the title.

The visuals look nice, and I think the blue world’s circular chips are neat looking. The other two worlds have green and maroon PCB backdrops with your standard square-shaped chips to hack. Hacking chips is accomplished by hovering around them until they explode. The explosions will damage nearby enemies, and your character will replenish health in the process, so it’s a win-win scenario.

I like the electronic synth background music. The menu music has a modem connection sound, which added some nostalgia. The sound effects are cute and each of the hackers has a different sound they make when they take damage.

If you enjoy rogue-like or survivors-like games, Net.Attack() is worth checking out. The asking price is reasonable and it has been on sale with a 70% discount. At less than $4, this game is a steal!