SUPERHOT (PC) Review

SUPERBONKERS

At the beginning of each month, I compile a list of games I want to cover for that month.

SUPERHOT was not on that list.

Instead, it came on my radar when I randomly saw a small clip of the game in action.

From the striking minimalistic visual style to the fast, fanatic action, it seemed like something straight out of the Matrix.

With my interest piqued, I decided to see if there was more to SUPERHOT than just its slick visuals, and came away thoroughly impressed.

The story in SUPERHOT is a bit unconventional so don’t lose your head.

The story in SUPERHOT is a bit unconventional so don’t lose your head.

MSRP: $24.99
Platform: PC
Multiplayer: N/A
Length: 2 hours for main campaign with new modes for high replay value

The main crux of SUPERHOT hangs on the balance between time and action.

As the player remains still, the time within the game moves in extreme slow-motion, where even a bullet moves like a snail going up a hill. As the player moves and takes actions, the game follows suit and moves accordingly all the way up to normal speed when the player is in constant motion.

Think of it as though you are standing in a pool.

If you remain completely still, there won’t be any waves in the water but as you swim and splash around… well, you get the idea.

It’s a great concept and in the context of an FPS, it’s a small bit of brilliance.

The various scenarios the game presents to the player as they are outnumbered and outgunned would be impossible to complete if it wasn’t for this mechanic and even with this incredible power, it’s no cakewalk.

There’s a good deal of strategy involved, given that various actions take a certain amount of time to complete.

For example, I could shoot my gun taking one guy out and then wait until I can fire off another round, or I could simply throw the gun at my next mark, disarming him and grabbing his gun from the air and putting one right between the eyes.

Bullets can be dodged by simply gauging its trajectory and inching away, being careful not to move too quickly all at once.

A typical stage is a flurry of fist blows, thrown objects and gunfire- the likes of which made me feel like an invincible god when everything came together.

What are you trying to tell me? That I can dodge bullets?

What are you trying to tell me? That I can dodge bullets?

The story in SUPERHOT is difficult to describe without spoiling it, so I will simply say that it was neat and more than enough to hold my attention during the short two hour campaign.

There’s an endless and various other modes of play that unlock after completing the campaign but I would’ve preferred a longer campaign along with more scenarios.

As is, I would say that the content felt a little light considering its asking price.

Lastly, I felt the action set available to me was a bit barebones as all I could really do was move or jump.

It would’ve been nice to be able to crouch, run or even slide adding another dimension to what I could do in those extreme situations.

Regardless of the limited content, SUPERHOT is certainly one of the most innovative FPS games I’ve played in recent years, and well worth playing for anyone who’s tired of the same old formula.

Fun Tidbit – You can even edit and upload your successful stage runs to their servers to show off to others but it’s still in beta and not in feature complete form.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Fantastic concept and execution
  • Neat little story
Bad
  • Light on content
  • Limited action types
8
Great
Written by
Jae has been a gamer ever since he got a Nintendo when he was just a child. He has a passion for games and enjoys writing. While he worries about the direction gaming as a medium might be headed, he's too busy playing games to do anything about it.