Superliminal | Xbox One Review
One of the most impactful puzzle games in my life is Portal. A game that has left such an imprint on my life as a gamer that I have been chasing after the same high for years. When I first saw the trailer for Superliminal from Pillow Castle, I knew that there was something there and I had to discover it for myself. I love puzzle games, and anything that makes you think outside the box and plays tricks with optical illusions and forced perspective has huge potential. So let’s take a step inside and have a quick look on why I think this game could be the possible scratch for the puzzle game itch.
Since Its Inception
You play as a character who has been tasked by a mysterious Dr. Glenn Pierce to experience a dream therapy program. While in the program, you become stuck in a loop and must discover a way out by delving deeper and deeper into your dream state to find the exit. However, as you travel deeper and deeper you are met with strange and unique puzzles that expand the way you think. Each room you encounter has objects that you have to manipulate using perspective to change their size to escape.
In the Eyes of the Beholder
For example, the exit is high up on the wall and there is a cheese wedge in the room. If you pick up the wedge and hold it up at arm’s length against the back wall it looks larger. When you release it, the wedge drops to the floor and is now significantly larger allowing you to walk up it and exit the room. It sounds strange writing it down, but once you experience something like this in the game, it all makes sense. Not all the puzzles are this simple, and they grow to be quite complex. Further into the game I reached a puzzle involving an apple that took a solid 20 minutes to discover the solution.
Minor Glitches
The game does have some minor faults, mostly dealing with controls. Sometimes the objects are difficult to grab causing some issues. Superliminal was originally released on Steam, and a mouse and keyboard would likely solve some of these control issues. Also, I feel that the game is lacking in the music and noise department. While it is there, I wish there was more. I found myself putting on music in the real world to supplement gameplay. I also was slightly disappointed when I finished the game because it left me wanting so much more.
Another fun thing about this game is some of the side jokes that have been placed in the game. The loading screens on occasion gave me a little chuckle due to some of the unique ways the developers have played with the 100% loading bar. One such instance I watched it load to 1000%, and another it just flew off the screen. If you play through the game, take a look at the white boards that are located in the game and read them as well. When you near the end of the game, you are presented with a message that really leaves a lasting impact. I really love this added touch to a fairly simple game, which to me is something that is needed more in games.
Final Thoughts
Superliminal is a wonderfully crafted game that forces you to look at puzzles in a new light and stimulates the brain to look for interesting solutions. If you love puzzle games I would highly recommend you play through this game. I really do feel that this game is, in a way, a spiritual successor to the Portal series and I had a lot of fun playing it. I am really hoping for a follow up from Pillow Games that falls in the same thread of this style of game.
To hear me talk more about Superliminal, be sure to listen to Episodes 302 (48:02 time stamp) and 303 (44:07 time stamp) of The Gaming Outsider Podcast.
This review is based on an Xbox One copy of Superliminal provided by Evolve PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch with a PC version coming on Steam in November.
Superliminal
$19.99
Pros
- Fun Puzzles
- Great Brain Stimulation
Cons
- Lack of a Good Soundtrack
- Short Game
