Info about USAC: Code Breach:

Official game description:
IMPORTANT
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**This game requires you to find someone to play with**. If you can't find anyone in your immediate circle, log on to our Discord server and leave a message in the **Partner-search** section.  
**ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**
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**CAN I TEST THE GAME BEFORE THE MAIN STORY?**  
This game contains a **training section** (solo player) to familiarize yourself with the controls and basic mechanics. It usually takes about an hour to complete. This allows you to check if the game works properly on your computer, and to see if you like it at all. The story part is only playable with a **Steam Friend** who also owns the game.  
**ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY**  
*   **The game relies on investigation** and the difficulty varies mainly with the amount of information you collect: the less you have, the more difficult it becomes  
*   For the sake of your own immersion, **hints are incorporated in the environment** and nothing is explicitly displayed on the HUD: this requires observation and reading  
*   **Some situations require strategic analysis**: choose your tactics carefully, certain choices can sometimes make situations more difficult than they are  
    **ABOUT CO-OP LAN**  
    The local mode is **not a split screen mode**, since the two players have strictly different points of view, it is played separately on two computers, like an internet game but on the local network.  
    **ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL MODES**  
    *   Clock mode (speedrun): accurately measure the time it takes to complete the operation, ideal for speedrun  
    *   USAC Real mode (permadeath): the failure is fatal, if you fail the operation, you start again from the beginning, ideal for those who are looking for a real challenge
    **I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS**  
    Come to the Discord, the link to our server is available higher up on this page, in the links to our community section.

Release date: Oct 26, 2022

Categories: Asymmetrical Co-op, Cooperative Multiplayer, Puzzle Solving, First-Person Shooter, Hacking Gameplay, Atmospheric Horror, Action-adventure, Permadeath Variants

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 45; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game is playable on Steam Deck but suffers from inconsistent keyboard input when docked and significant battery drain, requiring players to manage power carefully. Input workarounds like a virtual keyboard exist, but the overall experience is hampered by these technical issues.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: Most reviews suggest the game is fairly priced between $5 and $15. One review explicitly recommends the game for $15 or less, another indicates willingness to pay full price after buying at $8 on sale, and a third finds $5 acceptable on sale. Together these imply a community fair price range with a low of $5 (sale minimal) and a high of $15 (comfortable upper bound).
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: 9.0h
  - Session length: 7.4h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews report total playthrough times ranging from 7.5 to 20 hours, with 9 hours being the most frequently cited for a complete playthrough (e.g., 'Took a decent 9 hours for a completely unprepared playthrough with a friend'). This supports storyCompletion at 9 hours. One review explicitly states a single session of 7.4 hours, providing a direct sessionLength metric. No evidence supports separate gameCompletion (100% completion) or endgame hours, so those are null. The 12-hour quote is included to show the variability in reported story times, but the 9-hour figure is the most consistent with the majority of direct claims.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Player experiences vary; many encounter a rocky start with a buggy tutorial and lack of direction, but after roughly the first hour the game becomes highly enjoyable for those who persist, while a few find no hook at all.
  - Stance: Mixed
  - Anchor: After the first hour of directionless confusion
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: buggy tutorial; lack of direction; boring start; character glued to seat; long train ride; tasks vague and confusing
  - Unlock drivers: first hour completed; getting past the tutorial; direction becomes clear; familiarity with the game
  - Conditions: having a co-op partner; patience with early jank; tolerance for bugs; interest in puzzle-shooter genre; willingness to persist through initial confusion
- Player Archetypes:
  - Asymmetric Co-op Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Solving unique asymmetric puzzles through close communication with a partner
    - Playstyle: Methodical, communicative, appreciates challenge and teamwork
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: puzzle lover; coop fan
    - Reference games: We Were Here; Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes; Portal 2


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Puzzles are engaging and thoughtful (weight 0.69): Many reviewers highlight that the puzzles are interesting, clever, and require genuine thought. The puzzles provide a satisfying challenge without being overly frustrating.
- Excellent co-op experience (weight 0.48): Multiple reviews praise the game's cooperative mode, describing it as amazing and incredibly fun. The co-op gameplay is enhanced by complementary roles and great team dynamics.
- Good graphics and visuals (weight 0.3): Many players find the graphics to be beautiful, exceeding expectations. The visuals contribute positively to the overall immersion and enjoyment of the game.
- Unique puzzle shooter blend (weight 0.29): The combination of puzzles and first-person shooting is noted as a rare and enjoyable mix. The gameplay seamlessly integrates combat with puzzle-solving elements.
- Atmospheric and immersive (weight 0.23): The game's atmosphere is described as spooky, tense, and immersive, effectively building scares. The dark ambiance contributes to a compelling horror experience.
- Enjoyable overall game (weight 0.22): Some reviews simply state that the game is enjoyable and fun to play. This general satisfaction reflects a positive overall impression.
- Engaging story (weight 0.12): The story is praised for being engaging and captivating. A compelling narrative adds depth to the gameplay experience.
- Great pacing (weight 0.11): The game's pacing is noted as spot on and wonderful. The rhythm of challenges and progression keeps players engaged without feeling rushed or slow.

Common complaints:
- Combat underwhelming (weight 0.2): Combat is described as serviceable but not great, with underwhelming gunplay and melee frustrations such as one-shot kills. Feedback lacks specificity, indicating general mediocrity.
- Story poorly told (weight 0.18): Reviewers criticized the story as vague, cliché, and half-baked, with some noting it stopped making sense. This suggests weak narrative execution.
- Technical jank and polish (weight 0.12): Some graphical jank and a need for polishing were reported, though details are sparse. This suggests minor quality issues.
- Lack of gameplay feedback (weight 0.08): Players noted no feedback when hitting enemy weak spots or being hit, reducing satisfaction. This is a specific but low-frequency issue.
- Tight timings and time limits (weight 0.07): Timing requirements and time limits are described as very tight or severe, frustrating some players. This is a niche concern.
- Localization issues (weight 0.07): English localization is imperfect and merely serviceable, potentially harming immersion for some players. Low frequency suggests limited impact.
- Voice chat not working (weight 0.07): In-game voice chat is reported as non-functional or poor, a technical bug affecting communication. Low occurrence indicates a possible edge case.
- Ammo shortage in final fight (weight 0.07): A specific complaint about insufficient ammo for the final encounter suggests a balance issue. Frequency is low but noteworthy.
- Infiltrator role less engaging (weight 0.07): The infiltrator agent is considered less fun than the hacker, indicating role imbalance. Niche feedback with limited data.
- Puzzles need more hints (weight 0.06): Some players feel puzzles could use more nuance and hints, echoing the main puzzle complaint but with less frequency. Minor addition.

Gameplay feedback:
- Co-op puzzle game (weight 0.63): The game is primarily described as a cooperative puzzle experience, with elements of action and horror. It involves two players working together to solve puzzles and overcome challenges.
- Asymmetric roles: hacker/infiltrator (weight 0.51): Players take on distinct roles, such as hacker and infiltrator, which require cooperation and complementary skills to progress. This asymmetry is a core feature of the gameplay.
- Puzzle and action mix (weight 0.36): Gameplay alternates between puzzle-solving and combat, with some combat scenarios functioning as puzzles. Both elements are integrated, though combat is not always the main focus.
- Cooperative gameplay encouraged (weight 0.28): The game is designed for two players to cooperate, with mechanics that promote teamwork and prevent conflict. Communication is essential for success.
- FPS puzzle hybrid (weight 0.2): The game combines first-person shooter mechanics with puzzle-solving, creating a hybrid experience. It includes hacking interfaces and sci-fi elements.
- Atmospheric and tense (weight 0.14): The game features a heavy, atmospheric setting with horror elements and a tense ambiance. This contributes to an immersive and spooky experience.
- Sci-fi and dystopian setting (weight 0.13): The game is set in a futuristic, dystopian world with a sci-fi aesthetic. This includes elements like hacking and advanced technology.

Performance notes:
- Good performance overall (weight 0.12): The game performs well on various systems, with some users reporting stable frame rates even on max settings. No major performance issues were highlighted.
- Small install size (weight 0.08): The game is praised for its small file size, taking up barely any space and being only 5 gigabytes. This is seen as a positive optimization aspect.
- Minor graphical glitches (weight 0.08): Players observed some graphical jank, though it did not severely impact gameplay. Visual artifacts were reported but not widespread.
- Great visual quality (weight 0.05): Graphics are highly praised for excellent lighting, clean character models, and smooth animations. The visual presentation is considered a strong point.

Recommendations:
- Best with a friend (weight 0.94): The game is highly recommended for cooperative play, especially with a friend or partner. Many reviews emphasize the need for a patient and compatible teammate to fully enjoy the experience.
- Highly recommended overall (weight 0.48): A large number of reviews strongly recommend the game without specific conditions. Players frequently use phrases like 'highly recommended' or '10/10' to express their satisfaction.
- Some negative reviews exist (weight 0.27): A minority of reviews are negative, citing issues like confusing puzzles, bugs, or lack of polish. Some players caution against the game or give low ratings.
- Great for puzzle fans (weight 0.26): The game is particularly recommended for fans of puzzle games and atmospheric co-op experiences. It appeals to those who enjoy a mix of puzzle-solving and light FPS elements.
- Better value on sale (weight 0.22): Some reviews suggest buying the game on sale, as the full price may not be justified for all players. A few even consider it a rip-off at full price.
- Sequel and more content desired (weight 0.19): Players are eager for a sequel or more content from the developer. Many express a desire to replay the game or support future projects.
- Requires patience and time (weight 0.15): The game is best played in a few sessions, and patience is required due to challenging puzzles. Some recommend playing it in one dedicated sitting.
- Hacking and shooting elements (weight 0.12): The game involves basic hacking elements that appeal to players who enjoy puzzle games with light hacking or shooting mechanics. It is recommended for such enthusiasts.
- Atmospheric visuals and audio (weight 0.1): The game's visuals and audio are praised, with some recommending it for streaming or atmospheric enjoyment. The cyberpunk aesthetic is a highlight for some.
- Supportive of small studio (weight 0.09): Some recommend the game to support the small studio, but note that it needs more polish. A few reviews mention missing features like Russian translation.
- NG+ not recommended (weight 0.03): New Game Plus is not recommended for most players, suggesting that the initial playthrough is sufficient and the mode may not add value.
- Not for arachnophobes (weight 0.03): The game is not recommended for players with arachnophobia or trauma, as it may contain triggering content.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.22): Players frequently cited confusing and obtuse puzzles that forced them to look up guides or cheat, along with severe role imbalance where the Infiltrator class had little to do while the Hacker solved everything. Clunky controls, lack of direction, and unfair mechanics like one-shot enemies and ammo scarcity further compounded the frustration.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.18): Players felt satisfied with the cooperative puzzle-solving experience, praising the game's fair difficulty, rewarding challenges, and excellent atmosphere. The sense of accomplishment from overcoming tricky puzzles with a partner, combined with good value for money and forgiving checkpoints, contributed to a positive overall impression.
- Excitement (weight 0.16): Excitement stemmed from the unique asymmetrical co-op gameplay, particularly the hacking terminal experience, and the immersive atmosphere with stunning visuals and audio. Players found the intense cooperative moments, unexpected boss fights, and engaging puzzles highly engaging, leading to long play sessions and praise for the game's creative concept.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Players enjoyed the game's fun puzzles, cooperative communication requirements, and immersive atmosphere, with many highlighting the reactor puzzle and typing commands for hacking as memorable. The overall experience was described as a great co-op romp that exceeded expectations in depth and playtime.
- Disappointment (weight 0.08): Disappointment arose from the game's poor execution of a promising concept, including role imbalance, unsatisfying story and ending, lack of polish, and cliche elements. Players felt the game failed to utilize its potential, with issues like missing French audio, short duration, and design flaws diminishing the experience.
- Surprise (weight 0.04): Surprise came from the game exceeding low expectations, with many players astonished by its level of detail, difficulty, and overall quality. Unexpected elements like jumpscares, tense ambiance, and a surprising ending further contributed to this positive shock.
- Fun (weight 0.04): Players found the game fun due to its varied puzzles, engaging co-op gameplay, and relaxed moments with laughs. The enjoyable mix of puzzles and shootouts, along with role mechanics that work well with a good partner, made it hard to put down.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration was expressed for the game's beautiful universe, stylish ending, and exceptional level design, often highlighting the achievement of a small studio. The attention to detail and fundamental understanding of game design, combined with great value for the price, impressed players.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Annoyance was caused by technical issues like stiff animations, bugs, and non-functional in-game voice chat, as well as gameplay frustrations such as one-shot enemies and confusing puzzles with little initial help. These minor but persistent flaws detracted from the overall experience.
- Anticipation (weight 0.03): Anticipation was driven by a strong desire for a sequel or DLC, with players explicitly hoping for more content from the developers. Many expressed willingness to buy a sequel instantly, looking forward to what the devs would create next.
- Fear (weight 0.03): Fear was evoked by the game's surprisingly scary and intense moments, including jumpscares, spiders, and a tense atmosphere with unsettling noises. The ambiance and pressure from exploring areas like Terra added to the horror elements.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Appreciation focused on the game's requirement for teamwork and critical thinking, rare in co-op games, as well as its amazing music, story, and lack of bugs. Players valued the complementarity of roles and the engaging trial-and-error puzzle design.
- Engagement (weight 0.02): Engagement was high due to the game's compelling puzzles that required thinking and communication, often using pen and paper, and a story that was more engaging than expected. Players played from start to finish without wanting to put it down.
- Desire (weight 0.02): Desire was expressed for a sequel, DLC, or additional language support, with players explicitly asking developers to continue the story. The want for Russian language options and more content highlights the game's potential for expansion.
- Tension (weight 0.02): Tension built slowly and crescendoed through the game's pace, with tense and action-packed turns, jumpscares, and pressure from changes in atmosphere. The ambiance and pacing created a gripping experience.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Amusement came from silly puzzles, humorous descriptions (like the Doomba), and shared experiences like playing until 4 AM. The uncertainty and fun of figuring out puzzles with a friend led to laughter and memorable moments.
- Impressed (weight 0.02): Impressed players noted the game's quality and value for the price, comparing it favorably to larger titles like Ubisoft games. The universe and mechanics exceeded expectations for a small studio's work.
- Delight (weight 0.02): Delight was expressed at the clever design, great pacing, and fun co-op puzzles, with many calling it the best value purchase on Steam. The exceptional co-op experience left players pleasantly surprised.
- Contentment (weight 0.01): Contentment came from an overall great experience despite minor polish issues, with players happy to pay full price even after getting the game on sale. The game's quality outweighed small flaws.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia was triggered by the game reminiscent of System Shock or Portal 2 co-op, with players returning to play with old friends. The familiar vibes and cooperative gameplay evoked fond memories.}