SUPERHOT

When I first launched SUPERHOT, I didn't realize that this game will launch me instead, because I would be thrown into a world where I had to complete puzzles and be two steps ahead of everybody else, since if I move, so does the enemy, and my job is to eliminate them before they eliminate me. It's a really unique concept - I thought - but what makes this idea so good other than the announcer satisfyingly saying SUPER-HOT, SUPER-HOT all over again, is that the game doesn't stop being a simple slow-mo puzzle, but it also lets you use their weapons against them, or even do a hotswitch and possess them as the levels get harder and harder.

The SUPER, the HOT and the UGLY

SUPERHOT is really straightforward with its premise, and it's a typical easy to learn/hard to master type of game. The game's levels don't even require 3 minutes to beat in hindsight, and to be perfectly honest, aside from the final level I don't think a player will spend more than 10 minutes on each, which is why SUPERHOT as a game feels like a concept-demo that perhaps will later become a full game with its sequel MIND CONTROL DELETE. It's awfully short, 2 hours at max, even when you really struggle and that's why it didn't really have any impact on me. I thought it was a neat concept, with a super interesting, although focus-lacking story, but that was it.

SUPERHOT didn't really try to change its formula throughout the game, you do the same thing over and over again, with hotswitch being the only thing really that made the gameplay feel a little bit more fresh.

The Story

The story of SUPERHOT cuts to the point instantly; We follow a player, who gets his hand on an .exe file labeled as SUPERHOT, and he decides to play it. Then an Unknown voice says that this file is off-limits for us, but we decide to keep on pushing anyway, which makes this game act like some kind of Virtual Reality cult. It's definitely an interesting yet odd concept that definitely could've been more fleshed out, but regardless for a game like this, it was definitely a surprising uplift to witness.

Replayabilty

Once the player completes SUPERHOT's story, he gets to play two game modes, which could be broken down into multiple sub-game modes as well. We have ENDLESS mode which acts either as an unlimited/1 minute timer PvE wave system, or you race against time. It's simple, but probably wouldn't do much to a player's interest who wants to play more SUPERHOT. The other game mode however is much more interesting and as the name says too... Challenging. CHALLENGE mode lets you complete the game's levels (except the final one) with some tweaks. For example restrictions such as: you can only use a katana, bare hands, you can use hotswitch from level one, 1-round mode (where the guns only have one shot), and even a 1-Life mode for masochist gamers out there. These challenges - you guessed it- are tied to achievements, so I would only recommend you really dig into this game mode, if you plan for a 100% completion. Aside from that it will probably frustrate you (not that you wouldn't be frustrated going for the 100%).

Overall

SUPERHOT is a fun-game, that acts as an idea, or a concept, rather than a full game, but when it isn't full-price it sure does offer a fun time, and thanks to its uniqueness it won't be forgotten or referred to as "some random Indie game". I would recommend everyone to at least once give SUPERHOT a try, just for the story alone.