It’s time to be taught a complete new programming language, after which use it to commit (digital) crimes. Exapunks, newest from puzzle-creating megabrain Zach Barth (Spacechem, Infinifactory, Opus Magnum, and so forth), is out right now, albeit in early entry. In Exapunks, gamers get to write down digital viruses and set them unfastened throughout an odd, various (and way more cybepunk) 1980s world to do our sinister bidding. Oh, and hack a weird hybrid of Game Boy and Virtual Boy, if you wish to actually exhibit.
After giving it a fast spin, Exapunks appears like a much more fashionable and story-driven successor to Zachtronics’s minimalist TIS-100. Your little viral code-machines (EXecution Agents – EXAs) run on a easy sufficient programming language. You inform them transfer through port names on the community grid you’re , work together with recordsdata, modify as wanted, then ferry them elsewhere. The tutorial missions have the participant following guides in Trash World News, an in-universe hacking zine. While you’ll want out-of-game reference (a printer or two screens is really useful), it feels extra accessible than TIS-100 to date.
The setting is darkish and barely dreamlike. Your character is a former hacker whose reminiscence is falling aside after being contaminated with the Phage, a mysterious new nanotech virus that step by step converts the human physique right into a meaningless garble of digital junk. While your preliminary missions are that will help you earn medicine to maintain the Phage from utterly devouring your meat-body, the trailer exhibits that you just’ll be hacking your individual mechanised organs afterward within the story.
The early entry model of Exapunks is “functionally complete”. The full important story, degree editor (with workshop assist) and sandbox modes are all good to go, however the last model – due in a number of months – will undoubtedly be just a little extra polished. Knowing how different Zachtronics video games have grown in early entry, I’d not be shocked if the ultimate recreation included a number of further puzzles, too, seemingly geared in the direction of knowledgeable gamers. I do know I’m in all probability going to lose an evening or two to this one over the weekend.
You can discover the early entry model of Exapunks on Steam for £15.49/€16.79/$20, with a last launch due inside “a few months”. You may also purchase printed variations of the Trash World News points, a pair of 3D glasses and a mysterious sealed envelope (the sport will inform you when to open it) on the Zachtronics store here for $15 within the US, and $25 worldwide.
