Make no mistake: Hard Reset is a stunning piece of engineering, not just of technology but expectations. Notice how the PR is almost entirely about what Flying Wild Hog’s throwback shooter isn’t? It’s not Call Of Duty, a console port, overly movie-like, ‘mainstream’, or a delivery system for toxic DRM. So, what is it? All we’ve really been given are euphemisms: that it’s ‘old-school’ (simple) and, having just been announced weeks before release, a ‘study in shortened PR campaigns’ (which I’m guessing means there isn’t that much to show). The dev is right about the endangered middle-tier game, but I’m not sure I’d pay £20+ for a cyberpunk Serious Sam just days after the majestic Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Some types of game are expensive for a reason. Tools and tricks: no-HUD, no gun model, Cinemascope aspect ratio, PlayClaw.