If you are looking for one of the most controversial titles to ever hit the market, reading any gaming article about Hatred will quickly tell you exactly what you are getting into. Released back in 2015 by Destructive Creations, this isometric twin-stick shooter made massive waves and stirred up intense debates across the internet. It is definitely not for the faint of heart, but it remains a fascinating, if brutal, piece of history in the world of PC games. Whether you are curious about the massive media hype it generated or just want a gritty, unapologetic arcade shooter to test out on your desktop rig, it delivers exactly what it promises on the tin without holding anything back.
Storyline
The narrative in this game is as dark and straightforward as it gets. You do not play as a misunderstood hero or a reluctant savior; instead, you step into the heavy boots of a nameless, heavily armed antagonist known simply as "The Crusader." Sick of humanity and fueled by pure, unadulterated disgust for society, his only goal is to go on a violently grim crusade to wipe out as many people as possible before inevitably being taken down himself. There is no redemption arc, no deep moral lesson, and no complex lore to uncover—just a dark, nihilistic one-way ticket through the suburbs and streets of New York state.
Gaming Experience
When it comes to the actual gaming experience, Hatred plays like an incredibly destructive throwback to classic isometric arcade shooters. The mechanics are standard twin-stick fare, giving you a smooth and chaotic run-and-gun feel that works perfectly on a solid keyboard and mouse setup. Visually, it is actually quite striking; the developers used Unreal Engine 4 to create a moody, black-and-white aesthetic highlighted only by the bright red of blood, the flash of sirens, and the fiery orange of explosions. The physics and environmental destruction are surprisingly detailed, making it a mechanically solid, albeit deeply disturbing, addition to the vast library of indie PC games.
