Midnight Protocol, developed by LuGus Studios and published by Iceberg Interactive, is a challenging hacking game with some potentially irrational choices similar to Detroit: Become Human. Players will assume the role of Data, a hacker whose identity was suddenly leaked to the police. Without enough evidence, Data is set free at the start of the game and becomes increasingly more determined to find out who leaked the information and why. Finding answers may come at a price that affects both Data's relationships and their honor.

Each new lead comes in the form of email communication between Data and their allies, potential enemies, or unknown sources. When players enter a new address, they'll be met with Intrusion Countermeasure Electronics (ICE) obstacles to avoid or dismantle, and objectives to complete. Objectives range from draining finances to breaking into heavily guarded data vaults for sensitive information or new programs. Players will need to prioritize their objectives and make snap decisions to avoid having their signal traced and becoming compromised.

Related: How to Hack Datapads & Computers in Mass Effect 2

Midnight Protocol has important, sometimes life-or-death, choices similar to Mass Effect. For example, when Data's brother finds himself in trouble, he can either be ignored or helped. Due to his nature and reputation, helping him may compromise Data, but abandoning him can lead to dire consequences. Later in the game, players will need to take sides regarding morality and integrity in the growing fight to take down large corporations and find answers. Midnight  Protocol features a lot of difficult choices that will affect Data's relationships with others and, ultimately, determine the outcome of the game.

Midnight Protocol On the Hook Mission

At its core, Midnight Protocol is a game that allows players to hack networks by entering commands. Data can move, run programs, interface with a variety of nodes, or attack ICEs, all through keyboard controls. There are shortcuts that speed up gameplay, and information on nodes in the network or Data's arsenal is available at any time through the help command. There are a lot of different commands, but they're intuitive and easy to learn. For each turn, players will have two actions to spend, then the trace will attempt to track their signal, and any opponents present in the network will take their turn. Some networks will have a limited number of turns, so players may not be able to complete optional objectives. Every address is unique and will have different obstacles, but the base gameplay mechanics stay the same.

Like Warzone, players can change their loadout before each mission, but Midnight Protocol's weapons come in the form of programs. The Port Scanner may reveal an address' security protocols before Data enters, and some may require specific programs. Data has a Deck that can hold a variety of programs, like Cloak for hiding from the trace and Dagger for breaking ICEs. There are also Hardware upgrades to purchase that can add Deck slots, reveal ICEs, or affect the chance of being traced. Each of these tools needs to be carefully selected for every mission in order to ensure success. It is very likely that some missions will need to be restarted with a different loadout, as there are some addresses with no prior intel, and others that have unforeseen obstacles.

Midnight Protocol System Map

Throughout Midnight Protocol there will be tense situations, difficult encounters, and plenty of mysteries to solve. As answers start to come in, more questions arise, and the game has a few major twists rivaling those in Resident Evil Village. Players will have the chance to choose who they will fight alongside and what kind of person Data will be. Reputation and available missions are affected by every decision in the challenging, high-stakes hacking world of Midnight Protocol.

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Midnight Protocol will release on October 13, 2021 PC. Screen Rant was provided with a digital Steam code for the purpose of this review.