Released in 2007 for PC by Burut CT, Hard to be a God is a role-playing and adventure game based on the novel of the same name by Soviet science fiction authors the Strugatsky brothers. The player controls a highly trained agent — a graduate of a medieval secret service academy with both combat and diplomatic skills — operating in the backward kingdom of Arkanar. The mission draws him into cooperation with a technologically advanced Earth civilization, whose resources give him capabilities that border on godlike power within that underdeveloped society. The game features a branching, non-linear narrative with four distinct endings. Gameplay includes a real-time combat system with an active pause, combo attacks, and maneuvers such as stunning and disarming enemies. Rather than conventional magic, the game uses sci-fi technologies, and players can manage a party of mercenaries and volunteers. A global map allows free movement between varied environments.
