Hard Time

4.0 stars

"Funny as hell!!!"

October 13, 2012  |   By Natenator77

Version: Hard Time 1.4

Pros

The pros are that this game can be hilarius. Give you character a funny name, make him look retarded, run around and exploit the game's stupid AI. You will have a blast. Shoot guards and then be arrested only to find that the court rules in favour of you! It can be great fun :)))

Cons

It has average graphics, but really, they only add to the game to make it seem more of a sattire and less of a serious simulation game.

Summary

Let me just say, you won't enjoy this game if you take it seriously... It is not a prison simulator, it is a silly game to mess around in, explore and have fun.

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1.0 stars

"Awful, just awful."

May 25, 2010  |   By Tordah26

Version: Hard Time 1.4

Pros

'Interesting' idea.
Addictive.

Cons

The controls are slow and clunky.
The camera has an obsession with panning, small spaces are impossible to navigate.
The core mechanics suffer from COLOSSAL balance issues... example and other flaws continued in summary.

Summary

Flaws continued...

Eg, I train in the exercise yard to get strength up, but lose health. So rest to get health but lose strength in the process.
Earning money suffers from the same issue. Gain money through working but instantly lose money trying to get friends.
The weapons are dropped after one hit, rendering them useless in a brawl.
Sometimes the character kicks instead of shoots with guns.
Some missions rely on sheer luck, eg, the infiltration of gangs.
The Wardens attack you for no reason.
The Wardens attack EACHOTHER for no reason.
The prisoners have a strange attachment to the Wardens.
Being dragged in to court is a lose-lose situation. Either lose all money for losing or lose respect for winning.
Assault is necessary, otherwise cannot make friends.
A mirror is classed as a dangerous weapon...
The character cannot run up stairs.
Entirely possible to lose all friends by trying to gain more friends.
All actions with criminals are essentially "Yes, I like you" or "No, go away". This leads to frustration when paying $1,000 as protection.
Murder has never-ending consequences, yet murder is required to progress!
The graphics look like something a five-year old made.
The fighting is extremely redundant and slow.
Taking a non-violent route leads to bullying, taking a violent route leads to extended sentences and alienation.
Conversations are repetitive and redundant "Don't worry, I'm sure you didn't do it".
No strategy.
No fulfillment.
No end-point.

So yeah, this game is horrible. And to top it all off, reaching the end reveals a smug little credit sequence that says "This whole game was completed within 3 months, take a moment to see how you feel about that..." and then lists just Mat's name.

Well, let me tell how I feel about it Mat. I could have created a game of greater competence within 2 months. This game fails in pretty much every category. The idea itself is like something I imagined when I was 12. It seems like a unique idea, but is totally flawed in its execution.

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2.0 stars

"Great idea but poorly executed."

May 4, 2010  |   By ateamga

Version: Hard Time 1.4

Pros

The idea of living a life behind bars played out through computer simulation is a great and exciting idea. It was the title that drew me into the game. The game is also free.

Cons

The body movement of the characters is very awkward. The dialogue between characters is even stranger. The graphics are very cartoonish and primitive compared to today's standard. This makes the game feel unnatural and not very smooth as someone said

Summary

I played the game for 10-20 minutes before writing my review. I was excited upon seeing the court room cut-scene play. But unfortunately it got my hopes up. I would recommend playing the game just to see what it is I'm talking about. Just don't get your hopes up as I did downloading a game based on the awesome ideas in the advertisement. The people who made this game just need to go back to the drawing board. I would've given 1 star but the game gets two stars because of the phenomenal idea.

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2.0 stars

"Good Idea, But Needs More..."

April 9, 2010  |   By mikey1975777

Version: Hard Time 1.4

Pros

i can't think of any (i do like the idea though)

Cons

-very hard to move the character
-graphics are large and clunky
-game play is slow

Summary

Although the thought of a game like this is an excellent idea, I think more effort should have been used to help the game flow more smoothly. The graphics and game play reminded me of something between SNES and N64.

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