Superhot: Mind Control Delete Review – Elegant Killing

Title: Superhot: Mind Control Delete

Developer: SUPERHOT Team

Publisher: SUPERHOT Team

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Version Tested: PC

Official Site: https://get-mcd.superhotgame.com/

Release Date: July 16th, 2020

If you look at any first-person shooter over the past five years, you’ll see very little that changes. Every single one usually comes down to a set amount of guns, and maybe a few abilities that change the game a little. This isn’t bad by any means, as games like Prey 2017 and Dishonored 2 prove to be great first-person shooters in their own right. With Superhot though, that changed. The idea of time only moving when you move takes what you expect from a shooter, and forces you to think more critically. It’s what makes it one of the more memorable shooters I’ve played in recent years. It was a little short though, resulting in a lot left to be desired. Thankfully, that’s where Superhot: Mind Control Delete comes into play. Released today, I got the chance to play it and overall, the game is very, very good.

Superhot: MCD’s Beautifully Refined Gameplay

People are likely going to expect Superhot: MCD to be a sequel to Superhot, but that’s not what this is. MCD takes what made the first game special, and innovates on that to make it more unique and exciting. You have your standard Superhot gameplay, but the introduction of cores and hacks make the game special. They’re different modifiers that change how you play, from hacks that cause bullet ricochet to cores that allow you to swap between bodies. Not every hack or core may feel great to you, but each one holds its place in the sandbox for different playstyles. It’s like Superhot this time around is trying to be more adaptable, and it succeeds in every way here.

And that only lends itself to the rest of the gameplay. It truly compliments the elegant killing that made the first one great, with that being improved upon immensely. You have new weapons that test your skills, and different throwables that hold varying levels of power. For example, a binder may only stun an enemy while a record will slice enemies in half. It all joins the overarching feeling of choice the game holds. What you pick up and how you choose to use it will determine how the rest of the battle plays out, and it allows for a lot of forward-thinking. The first game had this, but nowhere near the same extent as Superhot: MCD thanks to the new tools and hacks. It makes the game feel familiar for veterans, but still fresh to keep playing.

Differing Levels

The biggest issue I see this game having though is its repetitiveness. There are new things introduced consistently to freshen things up, but all across the same levels for the whole game. This can be taken in two different ways. Some may believe that it allows you to learn and master each level, but others will just find it repetitive. As much as it pains me to say, I’m worried many will feel the latter on that. Possibly with a few more levels that could have been alleviated, but not from what’s there.

Thankfully, each level that is there is meticulously crafted in a way that shows there was thought put in. From the minute details to the placement of objects, everything feels like it was put there for a reason. I don’t want to go into what each area has as it’s more fun to find that for yourself, but I can guarantee you won’t find a stone out of place. Once you figure out where your big power items are, it becomes an elegant dance that you run. Everything plays around you, and you’re left to use that however you see fit. I’m excited to watch playthroughs of MCD to see people learning each level and some mastering further than I did.

Story and Options in Superhot: MCD

The other thing that I feel needed more is the story. I for one understood the story partially and what message it was trying to say. It’s very artistic, similar to how Superhot: MCD feels a lot of the time. It makes you question things about yourself, but you have to go deep to find it. All that shows the story is displayed through various text pages and things directly said to you. It’s up to you to pick up the pieces, and I have doubts that many will want to do that. A story can have depth to it and be good, but there needs to be something for those who won’t think about it too much after closing the game.

As a final note, I’d like to touch on the options and accessibility. From what I saw in the final build, the options feel somewhat barebones. There doesn’t need to be a lot since Superhot: MCD isn’t exactly a demanding game. I still wish there had been more in gameplay options rather than the bare essentials. The same goes for accessibility, as language support is about as far as the game goes. As always, this won’t matter to the average players. For those that have issues with accessibility though, it can be the meaning between playing and not playing a title.

Verdict: Superhot: Mind Control Delete takes what made the original Superhot special, and turns it into a more complete experience. With different hacks and core that change the way you play and new tools in each location, everything feels more fresh and great than ever before. The elegant killing may be marred by repetitive levels, a vague story, and lacking options, but the rest of the game more than makes up for it. If you’re a fan of Superhot or want something fresh, Superhot: MCD is the most innovative way to play the most innovative shooter in years.