![]() Most puzzle games demand that the player perform a complex series of interlocking tasks, drawn from a toolbelt of abilities the player has learned to appreciate. When I started “Superliminal,” I was expecting deep, intricate puzzles. Despite how unique it sounds, the game is actually really simplistic. The rest of the game follows the player as they try to escape the malfunctioning simulation solving increasingly bizarre and surreal perspective puzzles along the way. Very shortly into the game, something goes awry. This therapy is, in the game’s world, a sleep simulation. The player uses this to manipulate the world around them, solving a series of puzzles, all while voice-overs shepherd the player through the game’s narrative - an experimental therapy being given to the player character for some hinted at mental illness. An item that is dragged far into the air, and so looks large, will become large. ![]() If you seek other games that truly challenge your brain, I’d recommend Return of the Obra Dinn or Gorogoa.In the video game “Superliminal,” items become the size they appear to the player. It’s a fun, relatively short game that is interesting to play through. The few paltry sources of light you do get reveal bloody handprints and gruesome blood trails, and I braced for a jumpscare at every turn.īeyond that, there isn’t anything that particularly sets Superliminal apart from other first-person puzzle games. In stark contrast to most other levels in Superliminal, the Blackout level is constantly swathed in darkness. The one level I found most compelling was Blackout, which perfectly emulates the horror game experience. This manipulation is not only limited to the objects you interact with, but it extends to yourself as well, adding another level of thinking to the puzzles.Īs the dream layers increase, the surroundings become more abstract, and the developers took care to craft a different ambiance for each level. If you pick it up and lift it so that it’s way above your head and then let go of it, the rubber duck will fall and drop the size of a bathtub. For example, say you’re given a standard rubber duck. ![]() Your perception of objects changes their size and how they can be oriented in a given level. Gameplay-wise, Superliminal is a fun mind exercise. The aesthetic of the games’ graphics are also similar. The Superliminal player doesn’t have as much freedom as The Stanley Parable player, but both games give a vibe of constant unnerve and the story spiraling into nonsense. Tonally, Superliminal reminds me of The Stanley Parable, where the protagonist explores a mysteriously empty office building at the behest (or in spite) of an omniscient narrator. He informs you of their progress (or lack thereof) in tracking you within the dreamscape and tries to help you wake up as best as he can. Glenn Pierce, attempts to reach you as you descend into more dream layers. The calm voice tries to guide you back to the correct path or occasionally issue error warnings. You find your way down a side path and get a warning that you should proceed back to the orientation room but ignore it and continue onwards. However, you don’t even finish the first dream when you notice the orderly rooms don’t seem very well crafted. It’ll be the key to you progressing through the dream and helping you cope with the problems of your conscious life. ![]() ![]() As you continue, the overhead speaker advises you to look at things from a new perspective. Soon after, a calm feminine voice speaks to you over the PA system, congratulating you on falling asleep and welcoming you to SomnaSculpt technology’s dream therapy session. Perplexed, you sign and proceed out of the room. Imagine you wake up in a plain room with nothing but a table and a terms of service form ready for you to sign. The alarm clock is a recurring, guiding motif in 'Superliminal.'ĭeveloped and published by Pillow Castle GamesĪvailable on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Linux, MacOS, and Windows ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |