Hrot

Hrot
Developer(s)Spytihněv
Publisher(s)Spytihněv
Composer(s)Sjellos
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release16 May 2023
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Single player

Hrot (stylized as HROT) is a 2023 first-person shooter video game developed by Spytihněv. The game is a homage to the 3D shooters of the 1990s and is primarily inspired by Chasm: The Rift and Quake.[1] The early access version was released on 29 January 2021, and included the first of three episodes.[2] The full version was released on 16 May 2023.[3]

Plot[edit]

The story is set in Czechoslovakia following an unspecified disaster of 1986. The protagonist leaves a civil defense shelter under Kosmonautů station to fight strange intruders who attacked Czechoslovakia. He fights these enemies throughout Prague and other places of Czechoslovakia. He eventually finds out that Orloj isn't working as it lost a gear. According to a local legend, the country will suffer if the clock is neglected and its good operation is placed in jeopardy. The protagonist reaches Strahov Stadium. He fights the supreme commander-in-chief of intruders who damaged Orloj and defeats him. The protagonist then destroys his heart and takes the gear from Orloj that was placed in the commander's heart. It allows the protagonist to repair Orloj and save the country in process.

Gameplay[edit]

Hrot is a retro-styled first-person shooter. Players explore and navigate to the exit of each level, facing monsters and finding secret areas along the way. Usually, there are switches to activate or keys to collect in order to open doors before the exit can be reached. Reaching the exit takes the player to the next level.

The campaign is divided into three episodes. It is set in 1986 in an alternate reality Czechoslovakia which was struck by an unknown disaster. The first episode has 8 levels with a boss fight in every second level. Each level is set in a real location in Prague. This includes Vyšehrad or Vítkov Hill.[4] The second episode, which was inspired by the Hussite era and Bohemian castles, released on 22 June 2022.[5][6][7] The third episode, titled The Gastroscopy, features another 8 levels and an additional secret level.

Development[edit]

Hrot was in development since 2017. The developer used his own proprietary engine, programmed in Pascal and utilizing the GLScene graphics library. The idea for the game first came in 1997 when Spytihněv considered developing a game similar to Quake or Chasm: The Rift.[8] The game was announced in September 2019.[9] The early access version was released on 29 January 2021, and included the first of three episodes called Kiss me Gustav.[2] The second episode called Degustation was released on 22 June 2021.[10] The full version with the final episode called Gastroscopy was released on 16 May 2023.[3]

Reception[edit]

On Metacritic, Hrot received Generally favorable reviews.[11]

Rock Paper Shotgun praises its design but criticizes its weapon selection.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Beahm, Elijah (20 June 2020). "HROT Is a Vicious, Wild Retro FPS About Surviving a Dieselpunk Czechoslovakia". The Escapist. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b Chalk, Andy (29 January 2021). "HROT is a new retro-FPS that looks like Dusk in the mid-80s Soviet Union". PC Gamer. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b Wilson, Mike (14 May 2023). "Quake-Inspired Throwback FPS HROT Leaves Early Access May 16 [Trailer]". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  4. ^ Blaine, Lucas (11 February 2021). "HROT Is Retro Shooting Soviet Style". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  5. ^ Hajda, Patrik (29 January 2021). "Vyzkoušejte českou retro střílečku HROT z postapokalyptického Československa" [Try the Czech retro shooter HROT from post-apocalyptic Czechoslovakia]. Tiscali.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  6. ^ Bigas, Jiří (2 January 2021). "Druhá epizoda retro FPS HROT nás vezme mezi husity" [The second episode of the retro FPS HROT takes us among the Hussites]. Vortex (in Czech). Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  7. ^ "HROT: Episode 2". Steam News. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  8. ^ Holman, Daniel (28 October 2019). "Ve vývoji je český Quake odehrávající se v Praze!" [A Czech Quake set in Prague is in development!]. VisionGame.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  9. ^ Bigas, Jiří (30 September 2019). "Česká retro FPS nás vezme do Prahy v roce 1986" [Czech retro FPS takes us to Prague in 1986]. Vortex (in Czech). Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  10. ^ Bigas, Jiří (22 June 2022). "Česká retro FPS Hrot má novou epizodu" [Czech retro FPS Hrot has a new episode]. Vortex (in Czech). Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  11. ^ a b "HROT for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  12. ^ Litchfield, Ted (22 May 2023). "Hrot review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  13. ^ Makal, Pavel (19 May 2023). "Hrot – recenze střílečky pro starší a pokročilé" [Hrot - review of shooters for older and advanced users]. tiscali.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  14. ^ "HROT - Cesta do temnej a strašnej doby Československa" [HROT - A journey into the dark and terrible times of Czechoslovakia]. Sector.sk (in Slovak). 24 May 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  15. ^ Lane, Rick (19 May 2023). "HROT review: serviceable Soviet shooter saved by scintillating level design". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
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