SuperHot Review |
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by Philip Cole
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SuperHot is SuperGood.SuperHot started life as an esoteric browser game with a simple premise - Time only moves when you do. From this simple start Piotr Iwanicki and the Superhot team have crafted a superbly simple but incredibly fun game off the back of their Kickstarter campaign.
The game is, really, the closest thing to being an Agent in the matrix that you will ever get. Your character is placed in a variety of themed brilliant white arenas and forced to face off against waves of red guys with varying guns and swords. A visual style which makes it VERY clear and easy to see what you need to focus on and what you can or can’t interact with. It also looks amazing and the enemies shatter like crystal when they get shot or hit which looks amazing given the variable speed of time. |
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You then aim to kill them whilst not dying yourself - a task easier said than done as everyone dies to a single hit. What gives you the advantage is the aforementioned control of time allowing you to dodge bullets like a pro. The game really is built around situational awareness and not allowing yourself to be painted into a corner. You need to be able to move as the AI is very good at flanking you and aiming where you are going to be and forcing you into a juke - If you find yourself stuck in a small area then you’re going to receive a load of buckshot to the face.
Now, this control of time would make it sound like the game is a cakewalk and at times it can be but then the game will throw a level at you that starts you in a lift with three enemies already aiming at you and this is where the more puzzle side of the game comes in. How do you deal with this situation? What’s the best way to go? What comes up next? |
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There is rarely only one solution - Sometimes you’ll want to lob a snooker ball at an enemy to make him drop his shotgun so you can close the gap and grab his weapon. Other times you’ll want to hang back and lure a katana wielding red guy into range, then use his sword as a javelin to grab an outright kill. Other times you’ll find a slightly different route and encounter an enemy with an assault rifle you can jump and then rain lead on the others - They’re all equally valid ways to finish the level.
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The game features an.. Interesting Story made which I won’t spoil for you apart from saying that, at times, it’s creepy as hell. I genuinely had to stop playing it late night at night once because I felt so unsettled/prepared for a jump scare (I think early 2000s jump scare videos and F.E.A.R. have ruined me for life - See the Firewatch video for more evidence) It’s not the longest but then you aren’t playing the game for the story. There are umpteen challenges and endless modes all sorts that add interesting ways to play whilst also allowing you to feel like an absolute badass. You have speed runs (timing just the movement), speed runs (total time), quickest time to a specific number of kills, do the levels with just a katana (and a speed buff…) and so much more. There is lots of jump in/jump out content for blowing off some steam at the end of the day - And it never gets frustrating!
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All in all, this is a perfect follow up to the original 2013 Browser based proof of concept and definitely worth a shot at £16. It’s a puzzle game for the FPS lover and a great FPS game for the puzzle fan.
TL;DR
Superhot is awesome, you feel like a crazy time-wielding ninja, great for FPS and Puzzle fans alike.
Review copy and images supplied by Publisher
