Hacking (Matrix) | Character creation Shadowrun: Hong Kong Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Hacking is a part of each installment of the Shadowrun series. By using terminals you can hack into the net (Matrix) where the character performs independent turns. Hacking is usually one of the ways of completing quests, from inside the Matrix you can unlock various passages, bypass security, and collect valuable intelligence, which can later be sold on the market. After hacking, the character (or companion) has different attributes and skills (computer programs) and he must reach marked locations undetected. Active guards can be found in some rooms (they will always see and attack you), you will have to defeat them. Later in the game enemy hackers will be fighting you as well.
A person that hacks into the Matrix is called a Decker in the game world. The attribute with the same name determines many things related to hacking, mostly whether you will be able to hack through a specific terminal. Additionally, that skill allows you to buy better equipment (Cyberdeck).
When you're inside the Matrix, you can leave it anytime you want (if the alarm isn't active) by pressing the green arrow button on the HUD. The basic objective is reaching the places with data while not being seen by patrolling programs. If such application detects you, you must kill it quickly (luckily, they can't retaliate). If you defeat it before another one sees you, you can quickly hide behind a pillar or outside the enemy sight radius.
Each time you are detected by the enemy the "system tracking" indicator in the bottom left corner of the screen increases. If it's full, "special forces" will arrive and you can't leave the Matrix anymore - not until either you or they die. In some quests in which the alarm can be activated, if it is turned on in the Matrix, it will also be active in the reality.
Once you reach the data in the system, you will see that it is protected by a gate with varying security difficulty level - the better the Decker is, the easier it should be for him to handle it. In the end, however, it all depends on the player. The whole minigame starts with repeating the sequence of digits appearing on the screen. If you succeed, you will increase the amount of available time for the next phase of the task. Once you ready, press "next" - in the next phase characters will appear in the upper part of the screen.
In the sequences below you must find the pattern that consists of the same signs as above, placed in the same spots. If you find the proper pattern, you win. If you select a wrong one - you lose. It mostly depends on the time limit, which can be increased by buying a better Cyberdeck.
You can get through the barriers in another way as well (the so called "force" way) - in that case you don't have to solve the minigame. However, the "tracking" indicator will greatly increase (usually by around 50, the amount is always shown on the screen). In some cases you will also have a chance to enter the password and thus bypass the security.
In case of failure in the Matrix, you lose part of your health and your character might be stunned for a while. If you try to enter the Matrix again (with the same or another character), the alarm will remain active, and all the undestroyed programs will remain on their positions.