Super cool, but crazy short
Superhot first saw the light of day as part of a game jam in 2013 and the subsequent browser game became an instant hit. The short fps had a simple hook. “Time only moves when you move.” The gameplay was matched with a distinctive minimalist style and just the hint of a larger overarching narrative.
The prototype game paved the way for a Kickstarter and in 2016 Superhot Team published a full-fledged PC release of Superhot. The new version thrills with updated graphics and gameplay, but the game’s length and lackluster story make it a hard sell at $24.99
Superhot begins by dropping you into the game’s menu, styled after a basic DOS-type interface. The story starts when a friend sends you an IM with a crack for the cool new game: Superhot. The game itself takes place in a grey-and-white polygonal world, where the player is set upon by faceless red attackers. Time moves in super-slow-mo, but accelerates to real-time whenever you move. This gives you the chance to pull off ridiculous maneuvers: You can push an enemy in front of an approaching subway train, grab his gun, shoot his friend, sidestep a shotgun blast from a third attacker and throw your pistol into his face, giving you an opening to beat him to death. At the end of each level, the words “SUPER HOT” blare over your speakers and the level is replayed at full speed. These replays can also be uploaded as gifs to Superhot’s own version of Instagram (dubbed Killstagram) and shared with friends. You return to the menus between levels to receive the next update from your friend, or to “hack the game.” These interstitial segments are pretty shallow, but they give you a much-needed break from the frenetic pace of the game proper.
The gameplay itself is terrific. The graphics are crisp, there are new weapons, and the levels are bigger and more interesting that those of the browser version. Gracefully dispatching a level full of enemies in slow-mo is as satisfying as ever.
Superhot is an extremely short game. I completed the campaign in around 2 hours. The story is sparse and somewhat unfulfilling, but it is presented in an original way. And thankfully there are several extras, including an endless mode and challenge modes, that unlock after beating the game. There are also a few diversions that can be found by digging through the menus. These bonuses enhance the sensation of living in the world of Superhot, but they failed to hold my attention for much more than an hour or so.
Ultimately Superhot was fun while it lasted. It’s hard to describe the visceral pleasure that comes with blasting away at scores of low-poly red dudes. However, the whole affair was over far too soon and replaying the same levels over and over only added so much to the experience.
