Cyber Ops

Release Date: May 21, 2020

Strategy, cyberpunk, tactics, 2D, top-down, indie games, singleplayer

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Tactical hacking strategy, based on stealth action and equipped with an extensive storyline. In Cyber Ops we play the role of a unit operator, whose task is to fight modern, technological threats. The production was issued by the Polish company Games Operators.

Plot
Mechanics
Technical aspects

The game is a typical representative of cyberpunk, a kind of science fiction focused on technological body modifications. An important element of the game is the storyline and proper planning of activities as a mission manager, who must provide technological support to the unit of agents. The developers, Octeto Studios, are known mainly for small browser and mobile games. Cyber Ops is their first PC game, and at the same time the most complex of all in their portfolio.

Plot

The game is set in a world in which a young nation called Baltia gained its independence after a long and gruelling war. The main hero of the game belongs to a special Geist Division, established by the government to combat cyber and technological threats. The protagonist, as the Operator, provides support to special agents, performing missions in urbanized areas. He uses its hacking skills to take over the enemy's computer systems from a safe distance, thus pointing the way for the unit on the mission.

During the game we have to pay attention to the opinions of the members of the unit with whom we cooperate, because the relations with them influence the course of the plot and are reflected in the game. The story was divided into missions, which the creators filled with detective, cyberpunk and political motives.

Mechanics

The missions in Cyber Ops are observed from a camera located above the available area. Our task is to provide technological support to the members of the Geist Division and to guide them through industrial areas controlled by the enemy. Our allies are shown on the monitor as white arrows, and our opponents as red arrows. On the other hand, we see walls and field obstacles as green lines, imitating old computer displays. In order for our allies to reach the target of the mission unscathed, we must watch out not only for the enemies , but also for their electronic equipment. The available maps are surrounded by cameras, turrets or alarms, reacting to the visibility of agents. For the mission to succeed, we must disable them without raising suspicion of the enemy. We can do this in various ways: by turning them off, modifying the function or completely destroying them (although in this way we can alert our opponents). The enemies can also be disarmed from our position. For this purpose, we use the overload of systems that control the improvements implanted in their bodies, burning them and killing the owner. The hacking process itself is different depending on the action we are performing - sometimes it is enough to click on a device, sometimes you have to go through a special mini-game.

We are informed during the mission by the individual members of the unit, who comment on each of our activities on an ongoing basis, whether we are doing our job well. The most important thing is not to lose any of the agents, which is best achieved by reaching the goal of the mission quietly. In order to deal with larger threats, we can purchase special upgrades for agents, equip them with newer equipment, maintain relations with them (which improves the communication process during missions), and conduct research on new technologies.

Technical aspects

The developers were inspired by retro visions of the future (mainly those created by films from the 1980s), which resulted in the original graphic design of Cyber Ops.

Videos and Screens

[1:37] Cyber Ops trailer #1