When comparing Hack 'n' Slash vs TIS-100, the Slant community recommends TIS-100 for most people. In the question“What are the best educational games on PC?” TIS-100 is ranked 5th while Hack 'n' Slash is ranked 15th. The most important reason people chose TIS-100 is:
TIS-100 has a leaderboard function for all 45 puzzles in the game which allows users to compare score with friends and random online players. This way people can see how high they rank in comparison to all other players.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Intuitively uses coding as a main mechanic
Players can use their hacking abilities to subvert their enemies instead of just using a traditional weapon like a sword. For instance a user can plug into a rock in a level and reprogram the code of the rock to allow for it to be moved and how many spaces. It is an intuitive way to interact with objects and solve the puzzles in the game.
Pro Writing is clever and funny
Like the majority of Double Fine games, Hack 'n' Slash is very cleverly written with humor similar to the Adventure Time series and many jokes referencing the old Legend of Zelda cartoon. This is definitely something for those that get the references of its origins.
Pro Allows you to break the game
The game does not restrict or prevent the player from experimenting, and breaking the game (crashing it) is a common result. It's simple to load back to a previous point in the game and try again with a different strategy.
Pro Competitive score comparing
TIS-100 has a leaderboard function for all 45 puzzles in the game which allows users to compare score with friends and random online players. This way people can see how high they rank in comparison to all other players.
Pro Teaches actual coding
The game is basically text based which means users will have to actually type in code in order to play. This makes for a learning experience for those unfamiliar with coding due to actually having to code in order to play.
Pro Replayability through a never ending sandbox creation mode
Users can create their own puzzles in the 3 available sandbox modes in game. This allows for users to come back to the game over and over to create custom puzzles and experience something different each time making for a lot of replayability.
Cons
Con Design seems lazy at times
Things like a poorly designed map or often not knowing where to go which leads to back tracking that may not even help makes for frustrating play. Really it comes off as lazy more than a design decision.
Con No in game tutorial makes it difficult to learn
There is no hand holding with this game, no in-game tutorial makes it difficult to know how to play. Though there is a PDF manual that can be printed out.