Developed and published by Pillow Castle Games, Superliminal is not a new puzzle game however it is a good one. Released originally on PC back in 2019, the decent community response led to the console release of Superliminal. Ever since I’ve started reviewing video games on GamesHedge, I’ve come across tons of unique puzzle games but here I would say that none of them has been as unique as this game that I am about to review. This is our review of the PS4 version of Superliminal in which we use our perception to make small objects big and big objects small.
Superliminal is a first-person puzzle game with a heavy emphasis on perception-based puzzles. The game is essentially a dream where you are present in SomnaSculpt Dream Therapy by Dr. Glenn Pierce. Your dream plays out in the game like it is real-life but certain mechanics are completely different which makes you believe that you are in a dream and not real-life. Each level starts with you waking up in your bedroom, exploring a small office, and then moving on to the real level where you start solving different puzzles in order to move forward with the game. When it comes to puzzles, Superliminal introduces a completely unique and brilliant mechanic which I really liked.
Superliminal plays out like any other puzzle game where you have to reach the exit of the room by solving different puzzles in the room however these puzzles are where the game really shines. While the puzzles are pretty varied from one and another, all of them use perception in unique and different ways. The most common puzzle mechanic that you use throughout the game is using the perception to change the size of an object. You can pick up different items and move them around and put them next to objects or environments where they might look bigger than their actual size. Release them and you will have increased or decreased the item’s size relative to how it was looking to you.
Using this unique mechanic, you can increase the size of different objects in the game and use them to reach hard to reach places or simply put them on buttons that will open the locked doors for you. Apart from this, you will also have to use your perception to form objects with their designs painted on different items that will allow you to create objects out of nowhere to help you in puzzles or simply open up paths. For example, in one of the levels, I had to align together a giant chess piece which turned out pretty small after it was completed and it opened the door for me.
In another case, I had to make 2 boxes by aligning their designs on the walls. One of them was straightforward but in another case, I had to first create a table with a vase on it by using the same method and the vase had the small corner design of the box which later I completed formulating a complete box. In another instance, I had to pick up the Moon from the sky and bring it back inside the room and it has the door on it which when I made larger, allowed me to enter the next area of the room. Some of the puzzles simply blew my mind. They were the perfect ‘waoh’ moment and I was left wondering who thought of this.
I really liked the art style of the game. Most of the areas are extremely well-detailed and will cheer you up but certain side areas or some connecting rooms are dark and gloomy. Even the music turns off quickly in these areas. The game is mostly linear however some areas offer a little bit of extra exploration. This is not much and in the end, you have to follow a continuous, linear path solving one puzzle after another puzzle. The console versions are more expanded than the PC version of the game as you will find additional hidden areas and more content. There are 9 levels for you to solve puzzles in and try to find the secrets while remaining in the dream state.
Superliminal is not a very long game but your first playthrough is certainly going to take some time. The puzzles will make you scratch your head often and when you find the solution right in front of your eyes, you will be just laughing and gladly move on to the next puzzle. There is not much to do in the game apart from just solving puzzles and reaching the end of the game. Throughout the game, you will often hear the automated AI or Dr. Glenn Pierce remarking on your progress on speaking over the intercom in general. They do not add much to the game but certain dialogues are essential to the small lore of the game and how he comes into play in the whole scenario. Once you know how to solve all of the puzzles in the game, you can speed past through all of the levels of the game easily.
Final Verdict:
Superliminal has been out in the market since last year on PC and this is the very first time that I got to play it and I am amazed at how the game plays around perception like that. You pick up an item that is huge from one angle but bring it close to you and it shrinks down smaller than you. It just simply amazes some of the puzzles in the game as you solve them and move on with your dream. There are subtle messages in the game about coping with mental conditions as well which however does not really come out as prominent. The art style of the game is brilliant and I loved the colorful environments. Superliminal is certainly a puzzle game that should be on your must-play list this summer. After its PC release, the game is now available on consoles as well so if you, like me, were not able to play this game before, I will highly recommend that you try it out now. Now all it needs is VR support.
Final Score: 8.0/10
