Overview

## System requirements

OS: Windows XP
Processor: 2.5 GHz Dual Core
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: Intel HD 4400
Storage: 200 MB available space

HROT is a single-player retro FPS set in set in a small socialist country neighboring Soviet Union, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (ČSSR), after an unspecified disaster in 1986.

## Setting

The game takes place in a dreary landscape of dark skies, barren trees, and the shades of winter. Everywhere, the streets appear empty and lifeless, except for a weird array of unsettling enemies. Frequent bursts of snow and rain make the drab landscape of city locations, with their Brutalist architecture, even more oppressive, and the medieval settings, more forlorn.

## Plot

Main article: Episodes

There is no story to HROT. Instead, the game focuses on atmosphere, making it obvious from the outset that some evil lurks somewhere, immersing the player. HROT teases a real-world environment based on actual locations the Czech Republic. Filled with references to life in 1986 Czechoslovakia, from vehicles to signage to Czech legends, the game grounds you in reality, making for a stark contrast to the unusual enemies that you encounter. The combination establishes an undeniably creepy mood.

In the first episode, Kiss Me Gustav, you are led through a series of urban settings around the capital Prague, including metro stations (E1M1: Kosmonautu Station, E1M5: Palace of Culture), city streets (E1M2: Luna, E1M4: Sokol Gym), and historic places (E1M6: Vysehrad Castle, E1M8: Mausoleum), where it becomes quickly obvious that there is something wrong with the world.

In the second episode, The Degustation, you drift between the ancient and the modern, contrasting locations rich in Czech history (Točník Castle, E2M3: Velhartice), with sterile, industrial ones of the Soviet era (E2M2: Uranium Mine, E2M4: Factory Farm).

## Gameplay

Main article: Cheats
Main article: Difficulty
Main article: Enemies
Main article: Hazards

HROT is a classic First Person Shooter (FPS), complete with all the fast action, rapid-weapon switching, and arena fighting you would expect from a typical entry in the genre. While it is a loving tribute to a legion of classic FPS games, its rapid motion, fluid mechanics, and intriguing enemies make it deserving to stand among the giants.

Weapons are unique, and in many cases are based on either historic medieval weapons (Hussite Crossbow, Hussite Hand Cannon), or on Czech-made ones from the Socialist period (Pistol, Submachine Gun).

Enemies are similarly immersed in Czech lore, from the horrific Konfident, a ghastly floating head of Lenin with a radio controller mounted at the back, to the cthulhuesque Gottwald, who roams a dark tower on octopoid legs. Collectively, they combine to sketch a backstory of the world that adds to the creepy and unnerving atmosphere.

Unlike other FPS and action games, HROT does not have a mechanic for crouching, which simplifies choices when navigating the map, letting the Player focus on the action. Also, while the Player takes no fall damage, he is nonetheless subject to a variety of environmental hazards that can easily make life miserable.

## Development

Main article: Development History
Main article: Release History
Main article: Unused Levels
HROT was originally released as a demo, which was an early version of what became E1M6: Vysehrad Castle. The initial release of the complete Episode 1 Kiss Me Gustav occurred on 30 December 2020, followed by a set of patches, 0.2.6-0.2.8 on 6 February 2021. Since then the developer has published an update every 4-6 weeks, which not included the addition of new content with Episode 2 The Degustation levels, but on-going refinement of Episode 1. As of 30 March 2022, Spytihněv stated on the HROT Discord Hrot-Talk channel that completion of Episode 2 was targeted for 22 June 2022.

## Soundtrack

Main article: Soundtrack
The original HROT soundtrack, composed by Sjellos who is known for Hotline Miami 2, was added in version 0.4.7. It replaced much of the original soundtrack, which was created from commercial sources under copyright, much to the despair of many early fans of the game. However, the new music maintained faithfulness to the dark, moody atmosphere, and reinforces the horror that the game creates.