171.5 hours played
Written 15 days ago
What is there to say about Hatred that hasn't already been said? Since I've played this game for a long time—and it was my very first Steam game besides TF2—I might as well have something to say about it for once rather than enjoying it in cold silence.
Note: My review [b]does[/b] contain heavy spoilers!
[h1] Gameplay [/h1]
The gameplay is the main attraction. From the very beginning, you are provided a fully loaded AK-47 and 3 grenades, all to help you get started on your genocide crusade. Civilians? Helpless and panicky—unless one manages to grab a gun, in which case they’re still pathetic. Cops shoot back. SWAT is armored and hits harder. And soldiers? Absolute tanks. Good accuracy, body armor, and a love for lobbing grenades. Executions aren't just a flair move like in [i]Postal Redux[/i]—they restore your health, which makes them crucial in tougher fights. A big improvement.
Destruction physics are where Hatred shines. Blowing up buildings, turning cars into shrapnel, or watching a gas station erupt into flames—everything reacts to your chaos, and it feels [b]damn[/b] satisfying.
Now, about throwables:
[b]Grenades[/b] are the MVP. Great blast radius, wipe out enemies instantly, destroy vehicles, buildings—just keep in mind friendly fire is a thing, so don’t go full Rambo near a wall.
[b]Molotovs[/b] are a mixed bag. Great area denial and barely hurt you, but no executions possible. Trade-off.
[b]Flashbangs[/b] are genuinely useless. They might disorient enemies a [i]little[/i], but half the time you’re the one getting blinded. Worst throwable by far.
Vehicles, unfortunately, are a mess. They're way too fast, controls are twitchy, and the physics are laughable—run into a bush and it's like hitting a wall. You’ll want to use them for protection, but honestly, you’re better off on foot unless it’s a SWAT van or humvee.
The gunplay is fine. You’ll usually just stick to whatever has the most ammo lying around. That said, good luck surviving [i]Downtown[/i] or the [i]Army Base[/i] on Insane. That last one especially feels like a brick wall of nonstop soldiers. Even as someone who has beaten it on Insane, I’ll admit: it’s a difficulty spike that borders on unreasonable.
P.S: If you want some tips or need help, I am active in the Discussion forums!
[h1] Graphics [/h1]
I’m not a graphics snob, but the monochrome aesthetic here? Beautifully bleak. The black-and-white vibe, with blood and explosions in color, fits [i]Hatred[/i] perfectly. Pedestrians’ facial animations are a little weird sometimes, but I didn’t play this to admire their jawlines.
Also, the isometric camera works better than you'd expect. It gives you a wide, commanding view of the battlefield and ties into the whole "cold and calculated" perspective.
[h1] Story [/h1]
Let’s not pretend there's a grand narrative here. Not Important is a psychopath who says, “I just ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ hate this world and the human worms feasting on its carcass,” and then proceeds to go full murder machine. That’s about it.
It’s edgy. It’s over-the-top. It’s very 2000s nu-metal levels of angst. But you know what? That ambiguity prevents people from slapping political or ideological motives onto him. He’s just pure, raw hatred. Dumb? Kinda. But thematically consistent.
The ending? Not Important nukes a reactor, kills a bunch of people, and dies in the blast. Would that much devastation actually happen from a single reactor? Highly doubtful. Also, how did this guy single-handedly mow through an entire military base only to get dropped by a few soldiers in the final hallway? I guess they had to wrap the game up somehow.
As for Survival Mode (free DLC): three new psychos inspired by Not Important? It’s okay, I guess. I didn’t care much for them. Would’ve rather just kept playing as Not Important. Thankfully, mods fix that. Plus, Hatred 1.666's Rockshield has a way better ending IMO.
[h1] Music [/h1]
Nobody talks about the music, so I will.
The soundtrack is cold and atmospheric—exactly what it needs to be. You’re not supposed to feel heroic or pumped. You’re meant to feel like a remorseless killing machine. The ambient droning sells that vibe.
That said, it doesn’t [i]stand out[/i] much. Most of it fades into the background, and that’s fine... though some tracks (like the choir in the Power Plant or the tense tones in the Army Base) do hit harder. Still, if you’re looking for adrenaline, just throw on some metal and mute the in-game music.
[h1]Level Design[/h1]
Level Design is important in games because getting lost or not knowing where to go can confuse the player. Thankfully, Hatred's level designs were made well, enough for you to not get lost no matter where you were. There are always objectives on the mini map, and the isometric view gives you plenty of room to look for where to go. Only the Sewers is the one I get iffy with because of how claustrophobic it feels. The Train is narrow and also constrictive, which makes me believe Hatred should be more of open than feeling like you're in a cave slowly eating you alive. The levels all provide enough open space anyhow (Home, Downtown, the Truck Stop) for you to explore and enough uniqueness. Not much complaints here.
[h1]Overall[/h1]
Hatred is a short, brutal, unapologetic ride. It knows what it is and doesn’t pretend otherwise. The gameplay is satisfying and cathartic (if repetitive at times), the destruction is delightful, and the atmosphere is grim but consistent.
If you're looking for a complex narrative, deep characters, or moral introspection—look elsewhere. But if you're here for raw, visceral chaos and tight gameplay mechanics, this is it.
Score: 9.5/10.
