{{Short description|1990 video game}} {{Infobox video game |title = Hard Nova |image = Hard Nova.jpg |caption = Cover art by Nancy L. Fong |developer = Malibu Interactive |publisher = Electronic Arts |designer = Karl Buiter |programmer = Karl Buiter <br /> Scott Fisher |artist = Mark Dickenson <br /> Peggy Brennan <br /> Cynthia Hamilton |writer = Eric Lindstrom <br /> Jeff Haas |producer = Christopher Erhardt <br /> Roland Kippenhan III |composer = Jon Medek |released = {{start date|1990}} |genre = Role-playing |modes = Single-player |platforms = MS-DOS, Amiga, Atari ST }}
'''''Hard Nova''''' is a role-playing video game developed by Malibu Interactive and published by Electronic Arts in 1990 for MS-DOS, Amiga, and Atari ST. It is a follow-up to ''Sentinel Worlds I: Future Magic'' from 1988.
==Gameplay== {{expand section|date=June 2015}} ''Hard Nova'' has a character creation element that allows players to choose their gender, and, unlike ''Sentinel Worlds I'', lead a group of mercenaries.
==Reception== The game received 5 out of 5 stars in ''Dragon''.<ref name="Dragon167">{{cite journal|title=The Role of Computers|last1=Lesser|last2=Lesser|last3=Lesser|first1=Hartley|first2=Patricia|first3=Kirk |journal=Dragon|issue=167|date=March 1991|pages=47–54}}</ref> Scorpia of ''Computer Gaming World'' opined in 1991 that ''Hard Nova'' greatly improved on ''Sentinel Worlds'', and concluded that it "is a pretty decent game, with some interesting touches and a good storyline. While not a long-term epic, it should keep you occupied for awhile".<ref name="scorpia199104">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1991&pub=2&id=81 | title=Scorpion's View / Scorpia Casts Light on Hard Nova | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=April 1991 | accessdate=17 November 2013 | author=Scorpia | pages=29}}</ref> Ken St. Andre wrote in the same issue of ''CGW'' that "it is a very good real-time shoot-'em-up game", but that the combat became boring and amoral and the game offered little exploration.<ref name="standre199104">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1991&pub=2&id=81 | title=Hard Nova - Hard Look | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=April 1991 | accessdate=17 November 2013 | last=St. Andre | first=Ken | authorlink=Ken St. Andre | pages=58 | issue=81}}</ref> In 1993, Scorpia said that ''Hard Nova'' was "definitely worth your attention if you like space games".<ref name="scorpia199310">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=111 | title=Scorpia's Magic Scroll Of Games | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=October 1993 | accessdate=25 March 2016 | author=Scorpia | pages=34–50}}</ref>
Jim Trunzo reviewed ''Hard Nova'' in ''White Wolf'' #26 (April/May, 1991), rating it a 5 out of 5 and stated that "It's hard to imagine what could be missing from ''Hard Nova''. A simple, menu-driven interface, beautifully detailed graphics, a strong and open-ended storyline and realistic roleplaying features make ''Hard Nova'' worth the many hours you'll spend playing it. For those who enjoy an occasional walk on the wild side, try roleplaying a mercenary who's into something much bigger than he/she can possibly conceive. "<ref name="WW26">{{Cite magazine |last=Trunzo |first=Jim |date=April–May 1991 |title=The Silicon Dungeon |magazine= White Wolf Magazine |number=26 |pages=58, 60 |url=https://imgur.com/a/H6RzTK5}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{moby game|id=/hard-nova}}
Category:1990 video games Category:Amiga games Category:Atari ST games Category:DOS games Category:Electronic Arts games Category:Malibu Interactive games Category:Role-playing video games Category:Science fiction video games Category:Single-player video games Category:Video games developed in the United States Category:Video games with gender-selectable protagonists