SUPERHOT Review

• Developer: SUPERHOT Team
• Publisher: SUPERHOT Team 
• Genre: Action & Adventure
• Release Date: 03/05/2016
• Available on: Xbox One, PC, Linux, Mac
• Game Supplied by: Xbox

This game is centralised around the character in the game, playing a VR game. At first it seems quite mundane with not much point, but that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be. Each little segment is like a small chapter, each one drives the story and as you keep going it all starts to build a picture. It’s the most innovative shooter I’ve played in years.

I really enjoyed the theme in this game, the menu is very much like the old DOS prompt or the old computer BIOS screen. Even here there’s lots to explore and appreciate, because the menu is actually part of the game which adds some cool twists later on!
This game is not like other recent FPS games. There’s only you and the enemies – no NPC interaction, no quests or health, you have a simple task of killing everyone else before they kill you.

It sounds simple, doesn’t it? Hey it’s OK, if it gets hard I can stop moving, look around and make a decision, easy! Considering weapons and ammo are limited, enemy spawn points are hard to determine, plus you simply can’t shoot, turn, shoot, dodge and shoot your way out, you have to wait between shots, just like every other game!

This game needs a bit of trial and error and I didn’t mind having to spend a few goes completing a level, because what was really gripping me is the story. It reminded me of old point and click games like Beneath a Steel Sky where you’re given just enough story between each segment to keep you interested, and I was dying to find out what was going to happen!

Within the game there are various abilities, of course there’s grabbing a gun and shooting, but when you’re out of ammo, then what? My favourite is chucking your empty weapon in the guys face, punch him, grab his rifle then shatter his body with a shot to the head. It would seem they’re made out of glass, so on death, each enemy will crumble in a different way, and as you move past you can hear the tinkling pieces scattering on the floor beneath your feet.

You are able to jump, but be warned because as soon as you leave the floor you will keep moving until you land, thus moving time along too!

The detail in this game comes from the gameplay, it has been very well balanced to be enjoyable, not too difficult and because the levels aren’t too long, when you die and return to the beginning, it’s not such a hardship. Though once you do complete that troublesome level you’re able to review your antics at normal speed, save the video to be exported or even edit them to highlight your most favourite moments!

Summary

The ‘time on movement’ feature isn’t just a gimmick it truly gives this game life and an edge over its peers. The story is woven into the gameplay very well, they complement each other perfectly and drives you to keep playing. By design this game doesn’t need detailed landscapes or beautiful skies, the focus is on surviving, however, you are playing a VR game, in this game…