SUPER HOT SUPER HOT SUPER HOT SUPER HOT. That’s the obligatory introduction to this review. There is obviously no other way to start it. But SUPERHOT is a PC game that will have you wanting to make this joke to your friends. A simple, yet new, concept of “time moves only when you move” makes for an addicting and different FPS puzzle game.
Story
Story is one of the weakest points of SUPERHOT, but at the same time, not absolutely necessary. It’s a short story, but it quickly becomes apparent that the story is not the main part of the game. It can be best described as a long tutorial that gets you ready for the new modes it unlocks (level, endless, and challenges). Killing the Red Dudes is the real point of this FPS.
In SUPERHOT, you are a VR gamer who quickly realizes that not only is the game addictive but that it is slowly taking over your mind. Anything more descriptive than that and I’ll be giving away the story!
Although I wish the plot was longer and more in depth, it doesn’t need to be. It’s to the point but most importantly, a good story, no matter the length.
Graphics
The graphics of SUPERHOT were simple but important and absolutely perfect. Simplicity was key in this case. You’re in a VR world and the graphics in this game are on point to what you’d expect. The glass shards of the dying Red Dudes is probably a favorite of mine. They represent the computer and VR world perfectly and there isn’t a thing I would request changed for the game in this area.
Sound
I will say the audio was a bit disappointing as there were very few sounds in the entire game. There were a few gun shot sounds or glass breaking (and of course the repetitive SUPER HOT after each level), but I found it lacking. I found myself wishing the sounds to be sharper and a bit more immersive.
Gameplay
This. This is what makes SUPERHOT one of the best games I’ve played so far this year. The stop when you stop, move when you move gameplay is so much fun and a bit addicting. It takes some getting used to as you’re so accustomed to constant movement in video games. Once you get the hang of it, you come to realize how many options you really have. But, then, you also have the knowledge that each wrong move can result in your death.
As advertised, time only moves when you move (for the most part: I have noticed in some cases, things DO move, very very slowly, even if you’re not). This gives you the ability to stop and assess your situation. But know that even a glance around counts as moving, so the Red Dude that is right behind you with the katana can kill you before you even know he’s there. I must have died a hundred times in some levels trying to make sure I knew where all the Red Dudes were hiding.
At the end of each level, you’re treated to a ‘real time replay’ of your actions, making you look so much cooler than you really were.
Verdict
This game is a must have in my library. Even with the shorter story and simple graphics and audio, I absolutely recommend it. The graphics, audio, and story aren’t the point of SUPERHOT; it’s the gameplay. And it’s the addictive gameplay that will have you coming back for more.
*Reviewer finished and/or played the game to such an extent to give an informed opinion on the game and its content
