Since the early days of the cyberpunk pen-and-paper RPG setting, I’ve been fascinated by the idea of highly skilled computer hackers roaming the vastness of cyberspace looking for people to fight; digital cowboys whose fingers twitch nervously a few centimeters from their 101 shooting irons. The realization that real hackers are just regular people sitting at standard keyboards was a bitter disappointment. I’d like to believe that when you’re staring intently at boring rows of glowing text, you’re seeing something similar to PWN: Combat Hacking in your mind’s eye.
I’m in no way suggesting that Erik Asmussen’s iOS game is anything like an accurate representation of two security experts engaging in an electronic battle of hooks and crooks in the servers of a large company. I just like to imagine it that way. No rave lights, no Cookie Monster virus — just rows of nodes to divide and conquer.
The concept is simple — eliminate competitors by taking over nodes, eliminating their influence on the server. Both sides begin with a node from which they start. The more nodes you control that are connected to an enemy node, the faster you can conquer it.
As the campaign progresses, power-ups are unlocked, tools that can be used for a limited time and give players an advantage over their opponents. Viruses take over enemy nodes. Scanners heal your nodes and reveal any Trojans that an enemy has planted. Temporarily block a group of your opponent’s nodes, hindering his progress while you move along happily. Each unlocked power-up makes strategy more important.
The highlight of PWN: Combat Hacking is the multiplayer. Unfortunately it’s only possible via Bluetooth, but once you’ve found a capable live opponent and the trash talk begins, the gaming experience is great. This tension, this drama – simply perfect.
It’s not hacking — companies would be ill-advised to model their security systems after strategy board games — but PWN: Combat Hacking is exactly how hacking should be.
PWN: Combat Hacking
- genre: Multiplayer board game
- developer: Erik Asmussen
- platform: iOS
- Price: $1.99
Get PWN: Combat Hacking on iTunes.
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