SuperHot: Mind Control Delete (2020)

More of the same... and I love this game for it! It's original, challenging, fast paced, creepy and addicting.

Only three reasons why it didn't score higher: lenght and lack of innovation.

It's too similar to the original and it just seems endless, which might seem cool at first, but it bored me a little. The last thing is the ending. You have to wait a bit over 2 hours with the game on to actually watch it. And it used to be 8 HOURS!

Nonsense...

Despite that, this game is great! I still prefer the first one, but I had a good time anyway.

let's be honest, it's hard to find a FPS that offers something new, and when it does it's usually a twist or some well made or clever execution of several elements. A lot of people don't like SH:MCD for a variety of reasons (which i understand) for one, the gameplay is very different. It plays slow and calculated (as it is inspired from rogue-likes) and feels/paces like a smart-pause type game. It's not really exploratory focused or so strictly-narrative focused like many FPS are. It also has a non-ending kind of ending (which really upset some people.)

MCD: is about the idea and execution of the idea and it does it pretty much perfectly. For a game that is a 'spin-off' or inspiration of a VR game i'm very impressed that another unique and original idea was able to be developed, put into another platform and actually bring something new to the table. (I liked this one more than the VR game)

Yes, the game gets repetitive but that's the point. Get Gud.

Eventually as you master this game it becomes very formulaic and mechanical in how to tactically engage. The temporal slow down is enough to let you think, and as you get better or more fluid (or simply more daring) you can move faster and rely a bit less on the time mechanic. This is a kind of highly satisfying smooth-flowing and natural elegance that fits in perfectly with the games stark and minimal nature which also manages to bring about the feel of a legit, retro game due to this simplicity (which is really rare in the genre as well)

So basically MCD is a perfect FPS. It not only does something different but goes completely renegade on the genre due to the way it breaks ALL the rules in the way it is designed.

You dont get complicated systems, hitscan weapons, hardware-pushing graphics, cutscenes, some kind of story pushing the mediocrity along, ammo drops or reloads, health charging stations, save points, or even an ending. Incredible. Are you ready to give up?

This is a free update! I like the additional tweaks like choosing between body switching, katana throwing and chaging, and going back to Superhot is always fun. However, I do feel that this expansion is repetitive, at some point reusing the same limited number of levels many, many times with very slight tweaks and no clear indication of how far along the "maze" you're in.

Now I got it out of my system and I'm ready for other things. I also found the unkillable special foes annoying.

The first game was near perfect

MCD removes the fun of learning a level's layout and threats through trial and error.

This sequel drops the player into a group of enemies for hack and slash progression. The strategy and learning are gone.

The beauty of the original model was in its synergy with the time moves when you do mechanic. That beauty is all but lost here.

It's fun, I guess, but it isn't compelling, there's no sense of progression in difficulty or gameplay.

The original Superhot was a masterclass in design by substraction. It was the most stripped-down version of the that game you could ever imagine with not a single extraneous element to overshadow the main mechanic. No textures, almost no story, no missions, no experience points, abilities, exploration. Time moves when you move; period.

The problem with building from such a pure base is that the only way is up. Mind Control Delete takes the Superhot formula and adds stuff It adds modifiers, it adds non-linear levels, it adds roguelike elements, it adds more enemies, it adds lives. The result is that while Mind Control Delete promises "more" Superhot, is actually delivers less.

Some of the elements are neat. Enemies that are only vulnerable in some parts, as well as the modifier that makes headshot bullets ricochet towards other enemies force you to improve your aim and rely less on loosie-goosie shotting. Empty shotguns can be used as clubs to beat enemies in the head or even deflect bullets. Other are just annoying. Invulnerable enemies break the flow of the level and are one of the main sources of cheap kills.

A huge change is the pacing. The linear level progression from Shuperhot is replaced by a maze-like series of interconnected "nodes" that house a randomised assortment of half a dozen maps you need to clear in order to proceed. You have a limited number of lives and if you get killed in any of those maps, the node resets and you start over with a different list of maps.

It's not the worst way to structure this game, but is also not the best. The upshot of this arrangement is that you end up playing the same maps over and over again, and if you are in one of the last maps of the "node" with only one life left, you're nudged to a more conservative play-style instead of the flashy dance of death that is Superhot's trademark. Add to it the fact that maps are tiny and all very same-y, and the 10-15hours of gameplay feel like an eternity.

Underneath it all, though, this is still Superhot. The gameplay is tight and enjoyable.

So, the sequel to the lauded, minimalist FPS has just been released from its Early Access stage, gifted to people who already own the original game, including me. Their generosity is appreciated but is MCD worth its weight?

The gameplay mechanics are basically the same as the original SUPERHOT but MCD enhances the battle options by introducing perks, which you unlock by exploring and clearing pathways in the map. These perks can affect melee, throwing, shooting and movement, allowing you to execute the battles in refreshing ways. The explosive objects and charge are some of my favorites. Another addition are the new obstacles and invincible enemies that appear further into the game, adding to the challenge but fairly balanced.

The downside is that the random map arrangements over each stage get repetitive fast, only slightly remedied by the unlocked perks that are randomly generated between the fights. Forcing myself to endure the repetition for progress can be a contradiction to the theme of addiction that the SUPERHOT franchise represents through its subtle narrative. It's hard to recommend this when it feels like the time spent here is less worth than it was in original SUPERHOT.

But maybe it's the backlogger in me speaking, because the game can still be fun for those sticking around long enough to unlock awesome perks and enjoy the onslaught of reds.