Supermoves review - A thrilling albeit clumsy multiplayer throwback to Mirror's Edge
While the lack of a new Mirror's Edge title has left parkour game fans wanting more, Supermoves is here to satiate that hunger. This release from indie developer Makea Games aims to combine a challenging free-runner with a Fall Guys-style competitive multiplayer. The resulting product is a breath of fresh air in a saturated video game market.
But does Supermoves impress, or does it slip and fall face-first? Find our in this full review of the game.
Supermoves is a challenging yet fun parkour experience
Supermoves is a first-person game (although third-person is also an option), centered around navigating obstacle courses while simultaneously going up against opponents. Early on, players will be introduced to the character creator, which includes options for attire and a gameplay tutorial, explaining how basics like controls, abilities, and momentum work.
In the main lobby, players are free to progress with the story mode called Career or experiment with other facets of the game. That said, there really is no "story" here, it is just a series of worlds consisting of a bunch of levels with different objectives (and occasionally NPCs to help) that must be accomplished.
However, there is nothing to complain about since this keeps things straightforward barreling from level to level.
Objectives range from reaching the finish line or moving through checkpoints as quickly as possible while beating AI opponents to collecting tokens and performing moves for NPCs and tagging graffiti.
Players sprint by default, but they can perform jumps as well as an air flip to reach greater heights or a burst jump to cover a short distance quickly. The latter two are paramount to keeping up the momentum during gameplay. This is because the levels are laden with other AI free-runners, as well as hazards and objects, ranging from bumpers and ball pits to ramps, ropes, tunnels, and trampolines.
Additional moves, such as wall-running, sliding, tight-rope walking, rail grinding, and so on, are also key to progression. With the number of levels in the game, each offering various routes through its concrete jungle setup and a cassette collectible to discover, you'll have plenty to explore.
While levels are quick to complete, the challenging opponent AI and the need to memorize optimal routes guarantee replayability. Clearing a level unlocks the next, leading up to the Supermoves Championships. However, that's just the tip of the iceberg; there's so much more to uncover in this game.
Much to do and much to learn
Back in the main menu lobby, players who want to take a break from the Supermoves Career mode can check out other elements. These include online multiplayer (called Tournaments), a level editor for creating custom levels, and a tab to sift through other custom levels uploaded by users. These are great for furthering practicing parkour skills and tricks.
The Challenges tab allows earning XP in multiplayer matches, which go towards the Progress gauge. When full, players can earn new cosmetic rewards in a Battle-Pass-like tier, though I should clarify that this is a wholly in-game mode of progression. No premium currency, microtransactions, or other forms of monetization exist in the game.
Lastly, the Locker allows players to customize their character at any time, including equipping new hairstyles, glasses, shirts, pants, gloves, shoes, and so on. Unfortunately, much of this is for naught, given there is a glaring issue in the game.
Tripping over its own feet
Before we dive into why Supermoves stumbles, I should mention that the game is good at creating a sense of momentum. Chaining moves together to reach the top of a verticle obstacle course is both challenging and exhilarating, and so is making split-second decisions to seek out a shortcut to cut ahead of others.
Unfortunately, the controls and movement as a whole can feel a tad too floaty or slippery. Although players might get accustomed to it after a while, it becomes problematic during tougher segments, like when one has to hop across small platforms on skyscrapers. Slowing down momentum is tough, making it feel like the protagonist has skates on their feet.
Minus these janky aspects of level design and floaty movement, the gameplay is fun and fresh.
On the flip side, there is the multiplayer. For lack of a better word, online is dead as of writing as there are no other players on the multiplayer servers. This hugely tarnishes any incentive to check out that aspect of the game or even progression as there is no one online to show off the cool new glasses to.
Visuals, performance, and sound
Supermoves is an Unreal Engine 5 game, but it has a simple yet disappointingly bland art design. The choice of engine may also ring bells for some players.
On that end, the title is not particularly well optimized. I reviewed it on the following specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-12650H
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti (8 GB)
- SSD: 1 TB
Despite simplistic environments and linear levels, it was hard to maintain a solid 60 FPS, even at 1440p Medium, without any sort of upscaling technique.
I also had noticeable music stuttering and slowdown whenever Supermoves was running below 60 FPS, which is odd. That said, the game also boasts raytracing for those who like to crank it up to the max.
The title features energetic music, with each area and level having its own specific tunes that keep the beat alive and the momentum flowing, whether you're racing against time or other players.
Supermoves
Reviewed On: PC (Review code provided by Makea Games)
Platform(s): PC
Developer(s): Makea Games
Publisher(s): Makea Games
Release Date: August 28, 2024