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SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE, a full length standalone first-person shooter where time doesn't really move much until you do is out now and it's pretty magnificent.

The feeling of being able to duck and weave through bullets, like something out of the Matrix is what truly makes SUPERHOT MCD so fine. Being able to throw a bottle at an enemy resulting in them dropping their weapon, so you can run in and grab it mid-air is just so ridiculous and enjoyable.

Is it pretty much SUPERHOT 2? Yes—and no, it's complicated and I can see why it's not called that. It does basically everything you would expect another game to do: take the basic idea from the original and build on top of it to create something a bit different while also being very familiar. It's not just more SUPERHOT though, it's quite a different game overall. One that pulls you into it in a similar way with a very similar feel and then expands. New levels, new weapons, entirely new game mechanics and the list goes on. Once again though, time is actually always moving. Time only moves when you move? No, it is moving, just super slowly.

While the first game played out something like a puzzle, MCD is a lot more random and depends on your ability to think on your toes. It's much more like a shooter than the original, complete with a health system and all. A fun shooter though and I've very much enjoyed it. Run out of bullets, throw the gun, pick up a bottle and throw that too and yes even the balls on the Pool table can be thrown. So many things to turn into a weapon.

There's even a node-based map to pick areas that gives it a roguelike touch, with most slots giving you a small series of missions. This is where you can also pick up some extra abilities to unlock, as some nodes will be abilities instead of levels to play through. You get a little tutorial of the new abilities when you acquire them too. You can even repeat nodes you've completed if you particularly enjoyed them.

As you progress through each node in the series of missions, you get to 'hack your mind' and unlock special powerups like more health, starting with a gun, having thrown items explode when they hit something and there's a good few more with them all resetting for the next node.

It's not only in-level upgrades you get to pick, as you also come across special Cores to unlock other main abilities that can stick around. So if you don't like multiple hearts, use something else. One of these lets you pounce forwards and hit enemies in the head with force, which I will admit to having quite a lot of fun with. Here's a quick video to show it in action:

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The enemies do gradually get a little more difficult too, it's not just the plain red crystal-like people always chasing you. It starts throwing in enemies that only have specific body parts that you can target like an arm or a leg. Not only that, some of them come running in with a weapon that's part of their body and breaks with them so you can't pinch it after you punch them in the face. There's a few nice twists like that.

I will say there are times it becomes repetitive though. Mostly due to the small missions and locations but thankfully the gameplay shines through that I didn't notice it too often. Overall though I've had a ridiculous amount of fun with it and that's the most important thing here. There's moments it's made me panic, plenty of times I've had a huge grin on my face for the tricks I managed to pull off and it's just body-smashing fun.

How is the Linux version? Well, compared to how the original launched (rough) it's a completely different experience. It's wonderfully smooth, the input feels really great and it performs perfectly. The only thing that I couldn't get to work is replay recording. It's also pretty good with a gamepad but I do much prefer mouse control for such an FPS.

If you wish to pick up SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE it's available from the Humble Store, GOG and Steam. You don't actually need to have played the original either. If you purchased the original before now, you should have been given MCD for free.

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11 comments

PublicNuisance Jul 16, 2020
Awesome news. I was thinking of insta buying it on sale but the more I think about it I enjoyed the original enough to pay full price for it once the sale ends.
dpanter Jul 16, 2020
Perfect timing as I finished SUPERHOT today, installing this right now.
scaine Jul 16, 2020
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  • Mega Supporter
I'm gonna be controversial (not really) and say that the game doesn't even really start until you get Recall. Sure, Charge is great fun, but starting every level with a Katana is great, being able to throw the Katana is great and being able to pull that Katana back into your hand (cleaving enemies as it does so) is REALLY GREAT. But once you realise you can deflect bullets back to enemies with said Katana... yeah, this game is incredibly good fun.

Jedi's are fine and all, but they're not Super. Hot.

I LOVE this game.
dpanter Jul 16, 2020
Want to get rid of the launcher? (Steam version)

Replace the launcher binary superhotmcd with a shell script that launches the game binary SUPERHOTMCD.x86_64
The replay feature is broken on Linux, but this is a Unity engine game and if you force Vulkan, replays work for some bizarre reason. Use as you see fit.

#!/bin/bash
./SUPERHOTMCD.x86_64 -force-vulkan


Save this 2-line script as superhotmcd and don't forget to make the script executable!
Press Play to kill more red guys


note:
Same trick works with SUPERHOT, just use the correct game binary name SUPERHOT.x86_64 :)
Beamboom Jul 16, 2020
Excellent!

Now, here's hoping they will follow up with a VR version this time too. Cause this kind of gameplay is fantastic in VR. One of my favourite experiences thus far.
mylka Jul 17, 2020
this game needs a workshop
i just bough Crazy Machines 3 for 1€ on steam and the workshop is great. same with portal 2

superhot is predestined for a workshop
Cyril Jul 17, 2020
Excellent!

Now, here's hoping they will follow up with a VR version this time too. Cause this kind of gameplay is fantastic in VR. One of my favourite experiences thus far.

They clearly said "no" to that, but you can hope.
ikiruto Jul 17, 2020
Want to get rid of the launcher? (Steam version)

Replace the launcher binary superhotmcd with a shell script that launches the game binary SUPERHOTMCD.x86_64
The replay feature is broken on Linux, but this is a Unity engine game and if you force Vulkan, replays work for some bizarre reason. Use as you see fit.

#!/bin/bash
./SUPERHOTMCD.x86_64 -force-vulkan


Save this 2-line script as superhotmcd and don't forget to make the script executable!
Press Play to kill more red guys


note:
Same trick works with SUPERHOT, just use the correct game binary name SUPERHOT.x86_64 :)
Thank you. Without this hack, both games would not start, although the day before yesterday SUPERHOT was launched.
scaine Jul 17, 2020
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  • Contributing Editor
  • Mega Supporter
When did they add a launcher? Just tried it there, and sure enough, there's a launcher now! Also, replay works fine for me...
dpanter Jul 17, 2020
The launcher dropped for both games when MCD released.

edit: After the update today, looks like they removed the launcher. Smart move. Replays still only work with Vulkan. The Steam overlay works for me now as well.


Last edited by dpanter on 17 July 2020 at 11:16 pm UTC
Beamboom Jul 19, 2020
They clearly said "no" to that, but you can hope.

Yeah I know, but they also said they are experimenting regularly with VR ideas. I still have hope, very much so. Just maybe not very soon.
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