Hard Life is a free game in which you must make your way through a series of rooms, each one swarming with enemies.

A simple and accessible game

The gameplay of Hard Life is a little like Namco All-Stars Pac-Man. You take control of a grinning yellow square who is menaced by an army of evil red squares. To defeat them, you must rotate and shoot orange blocks at your enemies. At first, you will be vastly outnumbered, but if you choose the right directions to fire in then you will be able to wipe out your foes quickly and simply.

Basic but diverting

Once you have made it through the first room you should have little trouble with the others: the game is not as hard as Shoot Many Robots. Hard Life is an easy game to finish, has only a handful of levels, and lacks replay value. However, the different level layouts add a degree of variety and towards the end, you will encounter different types of enemy, including a boss monster.

Free and fun

For all its simplicity, the fact that Hard Life is free means that it can make for a quick and diverting bit of entertainment, particularly younger players so long as the fiddly controls do not put them off.

Will amuse younger players

With simple graphics, simple gameplay, and simple levels, Hard Life does not have a large amount to offer. But if all you are looking for is a few minute's free entertainment, it has just enough to give you what you are hoping for. Very small children who are just starting out with computer games are particularly likely to find entertainment in this one.