Superhot

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Players: 1

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Review:

Superhot is a First-Person Shooter with the unique gimmick that “time only moves when you do” (technically that’s not completely true – time just moves very slowly unless you’re moving or taking an action). After becoming a hit on other platforms and venturing into the realm of VR, Superhot makes the jump to Switch pretty much completely intact.

To be fair, as First-Person Shooters go, Superhot was never a game with graphics designed to push the envelope – rather, it focused on a clean, slick presentation where everything seems to be made out of a crystal substance, the world around you is depicted in white, objects you can interact with are black, and enemies are red. However, while this presentation may not impress on a technical level, it makes for an extremely memorable presentation that perfectly fits the game’s themes of a reality-bending virtual reality game that may be more real than it seems at first. Plus, the game’s focus on stop-start-stop slow-motion action makes it extra impressive when objects and enemies shatter.

Oh, and for those worried that the game’s visuals might suffer in the transition to the Switch, don’t – this game plays like a dream on Nintendo’s platform, with 60fps framerates and smooth resolution in both handheld and docked mode. Plus, the Switch version adds in optional gyro aiming, although to be honest I feel that this game needs it less than most First-Person Shooters, since it’s less about on-the-fly accuracy and more about taking your time to line up precision shots.

As for the gameplay, if you haven’t played it yet, know that Superhot is incredibly fun in a way that no First-Person Shooter can quite compare with. The time-controlling nature of the game encourages players to be thoughtful in how they’ll approach the game’s levels, as one hit is all it takes to take you down, and you’re constantly outnumbered and surrounded. Is it more important to take out an incoming threat, or to dodge the hail of bullets coming your way? Should you fire at the enemy gunning for you, or hit the bullet out of the air? The game is constantly challenging the player to think their way through these fights, and then rewarding them after each level by playing the whole thing at full-speed, where it looks like you’re a total bad ass with perfect moves and spot-on aim.

This is all couched in an interesting story about a guy enjoying a new “cracked” game that increasingly takes on more sinister tones. The game’s hypnotic and insidious nature itself becomes a part of the story in ways that I won’t spoil here.

Sadly, the game’s campaign is over way too quickly, clocking in at just a few hours. However, completing it unlocks challenges and an endless mode, which extend the game’s life somewhat. That said, man, I really wish this game built on its amazing foundations to be something even greater, but maybe that’s just me being greedy.

As of this writing, Superhot is in my opinion the best First Person Shooter on the Switch. It’s unique, inspired, and has gameplay that is amazingly addictive despite its simplicity. Plus, the Switch port is damn near flawless. If you have not yet gotten this game on another platform, you should definitely give the Switch version a try. Heck, even if you have it on other platforms, it still may be worth your while to get it for on-the-go play. In any case, Superhot is an excellent First-Person Shooter that’s a must-have for fans of the genre.

tl;dr – Superhot is a First-Person Shooter where time slows down to a crawl unless you’re moving. It’s an inspired and unique entry into the genre, and the port to the Nintendo Switch is virtually flawless. I wish the game’s main campaign was longer, but there’s still plenty to do here, and it’s all immensely enjoyable. If you’re a fan of First-Person Shooters, this game is a must-have.

Grade: A

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