Many games have tried to nail the visual aesthetic of Blade Runner, a movie that all but defined the look of the future for many fans of science fiction. Hard Reset is the first game that creates the futuristic, vertically oriented dystopia in a way that feels both real and natural. As I played the game, I found myself continually watching the flying ships cruise past, advertising fictional products. Massive structures fill the sky, and the gentle movement that's always going on above your head is an impressive site.

While we like to emphasize how important gameplay is to a game's success, graphics can certainly help, and Hard Reset looks amazing. Objects have weight, the textures are sharp and clear, and the levels are teeming with detail. The trailer only tells part of the story, as you'll be exploring just as often as you're shooting, and you'll often have time to admire your surroundings. Don't get too comfortable, however. This is a game that revels in its own action.

You have two guns. You have every gun

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The preview code I played jumps around the story, so I won't try to explain what's going on in the game... mostly because I have little idea. You're fighting a pitched battle against machines, and you'll often find yourself battling against swarms of the little buggers as they attack and try to overwhelm you. There doesn't seem to be a ton of AI going on here—they simply lock onto you and attack—but if you could create a military of disposable warriors that might be the best tactic anyway. When you fire your weapons the screen shakes and things explode with the proper loudness; this is a game that wants to assault your senses.

The game only gives you two weapons, but in a clever subversion of the Halo system, each weapon can shift into a multitude of different forms with different attacks. You have one energy weapon and one traditional machine gun. Both can be changed into things such as rocket launchers, shotguns, and other fun surprises. So while your fears are confirmed—you can only carry two guns at once—each gun can do darn near everything you could want.

We were told the game would feature level design that would be reminiscent of Doom, and from what we've played, we can say that's partially true. Each area gives you plenty of opportunities to explore and search for the game's many secrets, but you'll almost always know the way ahead. Other sections are blocked off with doors or gates until the game is ready for you to proceed. You'll find plenty of electronic devices to shoot, and these spray lightning around the level, helping you take out the machines. This is in addition to the ubiquitous red barrels. Even on the "normal" difficulty level, the game can be hard. You'll need to move constantly when you're in a firefight, and if you don't use the right gun at the right time, you'll often find yourself outmatched.

The preview build only had one boss battle, but it was an old-school pattern recognition exercise. You know the type: it's frustrating for 30 minutes, and then it's a snap once you figure out the repetition of movements and attacks. Bonus: the bad guy was huge.

As you kill enemies and find glowing orange pick-ups you'll fill up a meter, and each time you top it off you can upgrade one of your guns, or even get Deus Ex-style augmentations. The developers poured experience on us so we could unlock the higher-level powers and weapons, so it's hard to tell how many upgrade paths you'll get to follow in the main game.

There is also health to talk about, and in this game your health does not regenerate. Your shields will recharge if you find cover, but this happens verryyyy slooowwwlllllyyy... it's not a simple matter of backing up and getting back to full power in a second or two. If you don't keep an eye on health pickups and fight smart, you will die. It feels like an anachronism, but it's a welcome change of pace for people tired of the feel of more contemporary shooters.

So... is it good?

Yes, it's very good. The shooting is satisfying, the physics effects look good, and the world is well designed. The game wears its influences openly, but to its credit it does everything well while scratching that classic gaming. And it offers up graphics that are immediately impressive. I had a great time walking around the environments, replaying gun fights when I died to refine my technique, and agonizing over what attachments to add to my guns.

Hard Reset is coming this September, and I can't wait to play the whole thing. The game's price remains unknown.