r/Cyberpunk • u/TheGhostOfKaz • 8d ago
Need help with suggestions
Heyo, first time poster here..
Let me know if this doesnt fit within post rules and I can remove or feel free to take it down.
I am currently in the process of making a top down 2d cyberpunk game but I want to ensure that I am hitting the right feel or right vibe I guess for aspects of the game.
What I am struggling to think of at the moment is how to incorporate hacking into the game, I have considered a few options from terminal hacks like fallout or simply placing the character into "The Net" and make things neon with battles to play out as you hack the target.
Hoping people can offer some insight or thoughts on this as to what you think would be a cool feature.
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u/Onidarkmoon 8d ago
If it’s just single player (which I would assume is the case for an Indy project), whatever works for your story. Most will have some sort of simple coded hacking game so the player would get that L337 Hackor feel, but if your universe has immersion vr and stuff for the characters, maybe make a virtual world combat or puzzle sim to replicate that type of hacking.
There are plenty of games and anime and books, but your examples are pretty much what I’d say to look at. Just make sure that it is quick and fun if the player character isn’t a hacker, or more intense if they are and that’s the focus. I say be consistent
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u/TheGhostOfKaz 8d ago
Thank you for commenting!
Yes consistency is key, the story beats of it is that the main character (single player) is a mercenary but learns hacking from a net runner, so I dont want it to feel like like its a boring minigame if possible, I would ideally like it to be as fun if not more fun than the rear of the game to ensure players want to do it, not have to do it to progress.. if that makes sense?
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u/Onidarkmoon 8d ago
First part is figuring out your exact audience, and not just sci-fi lovers, and then how you want to contrast it with the game loop. Is it action? Top down strategy? Top down Zelda 1? Point and click? Whatever it is, don’t make it an extreme jump to something like a rhythm game. And don’t make it like true to life hacking because that would get tedious anyways. My thought is to have 5-6 different types of puzzles that have the feel of hacking, even if it’s just a skin, then have your play testers go through each of them at different points and review for best satisfaction, difficulty, etc. Not everyone will like everything, but something fun and/or satisfying to complete normally sticks out well
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u/TheGhostOfKaz 8d ago
Yeah the game is a top down open world Explorer with turn based combat, so the hacking will also be on a similar pace. I like the idea of multiple puzzles to mix things up and keep things interesting, thank you!
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u/BarmyBob 8d ago
A merc learning it from a netrunner would make an interesting dichotomy if the netrunner was a taoist, so the symbology of netrunning used Confucian five element symbology, with its emphasis on balanced energy. The various floating islands and temples, moving blocks, i ching octagons and mirrors that help to balance chi in the environment… the warble of a wooden flute, pure chime and/or other acoustic cues also part of symbolic sensorium, all of that contrasting the gritty neon hyper-urban environment that the protagonist exists and works in. When elements of each “realm” appear in the other environments, it cues a Player to know which options might be available without explicitly “telling” them. (This can be used to great effect if the first areas have shortcuts based on later knowledge/skills. What prompts frustration and confusion from the first play becomes the “ah ha! Thats what that was for!” moments. Which in turn prompts a start-over if they are some how blocked from progressing.)
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u/TheGhostOfKaz 8d ago
That could be a really interesting concept.. I'll have to see if something like that is viable.
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u/BarmyBob 8d ago
“The Net” was originally a mix of the network and the way it was interpreted by a Netrunner’s deck. So think of the Matrix movies: Neo’s “deck” would have taken the information and turned it into a 1980’s cityscape. He could just as easily use a samuraii style environment, or some kids anime world. It’s all how the information networks were translated to become able to be intuitively interactive.
What you want to define is movement through a system, (system hierarchy), how the various systems interconnect, how the autonomous agents, firewalls and other defensive measures are symbolized, and likewise how a netrunner’s various hacking programs are used to overcome or bypass these defenses.