It’s Not Fantasy; It’s Hard to Be a God

There are some new screens up for the upcoming hack ‘n slasher, Hard to Be a God. The game may look like it takes place in a fantasy world, but it’s actually science fiction. It’s based off a novel by Soviet writers Arcady and Boris Strougatsky that was published in 1964. The story deals with an alternate reality, where a second planet very similar to Earth exists, called Arkanar. Following a great war however, the two planets cut off all ties to each other developed seperately. Somehow, Earth evolved into a highly-advanced, futuristic society, while Arkanar’s development stopped at around medievel time. You’ll play an agent sent from Earth to Arkanar to investigate the cause of their slowed evolution. You’ll have to keep your futuristic gadgets hidden though, in order to avoid being discovered by the locals. Too much attention might lead to you being revered as a god (hence the odd-sounding title).

So how will this story affect the gameplay? Well for one, the usual magic spells found in fantasy games will be replaced by futuristic technology. While you’ll have the usual medievel weaponry at your disposal — swords, bows, etc. — you’ll also be able to use miniguns and force fields. The game will follow a non-linear path as well, with different outcomes for each scenario. For example, people will react differently to you depending on how you’re dressed and how you act. You’ll also be able to ride and fight on horseback.