Supermoves Review: A Thrilling Multiplayer Throwback Inspired by Mirror’s Edge

Despite the absence of new titles in the Mirror’s Edge franchise leaving fans of parkour games craving more, Supermoves from indie developer Makea Games emerges as a potential solution. This game uniquely blends the exhilarating challenges of a free-runner with the competitive edge of multiplayer games reminiscent of Fall Guys. As a result, it stands out in the crowded landscape of the gaming industry.

But does Supermoves manage to make a meaningful impact, or does it falter and stumble? Read on for an in-depth review.

Engaging Parkour Action with Supermoves

Supermoves primarily offers a first-person perspective (with a third-person mode available), challenging players to navigate intricate obstacle courses while competing against opponents. Gamers will start off by customizing their characters, selecting outfits and undergoing a tutorial that lays out fundamental controls, abilities, and momentum mechanics.

Within the main lobby, players can dive into a story mode named “Career” or explore other game features. However, it’s important to note that the narrative here is minimal, consisting mainly of a sequence of diverse worlds with numerous levels, each with unique tasks and the occasional NPC assist.

This straightforward approach allows players to breeze through levels without excessive complication.

Objectives include reaching finish lines or swiftly progressing through checkpoints while outpacing AI rivals, gathering tokens, performing stunts for NPCs, or tagging walls with graffiti.

Players automatically sprint but can execute jumps and aerial flips to achieve greater heights or use burst jumps for rapid short-distance propulsion. Mastery of these moves is essential to maintaining momentum as players traverse levels filled with AI competitors and various hazards, including bumpers, ball pits, ramps, ropes, tunnels, and trampolines.

Additional skills like wall-running, sliding, tightrope walking, and rail grinding are vital for progressing through the game. With an abundance of levels featuring multiple paths in their urban jungle setting and collectible cassettes to find, there’s much to explore.

While levels can be completed quickly, challenging AI opponents and the necessity of route memorization ensure high replay value. Completing a level unlocks the next, culminating in the Supermoves Championships. However, this is merely the beginning, as there’s much more to discover within the game.

Plenty to Explore and Master

Back in the main menu, players seeking a change from the Career mode can explore various features, including online multiplayer (referred to as Tournaments), a level editor for crafting custom challenges, and a section for browsing user-generated levels. These additional options serve as excellent practice for honing parkour skills and techniques.

The Challenges tab enables XP acquisition through multiplayer matches, filling a Progress gauge that rewards players with cosmetic items in a Battle-Pass style progression. It’s vital to note that this mode solely relies on in-game progression without any premium currency, microtransactions, or monetization tactics.

Lastly, the Locker feature permits personal character customization at any time, allowing players to equip new hairstyles, accessories, apparel, and shoes. However, these options can feel somewhat wasted due to a significant flaw in the game.

Falling Short in Execution

Before discussing the game’s flaws, it’s important to emphasize that Supermoves does an excellent job of creating a sensation of momentum. The challenge of chaining moves to ascend vertical obstacle courses is both stimulating and rewarding, especially when making quick choices to nab a shortcut over competitors.

However, the controls and overall movement may feel overly loose or slippery. While players can adapt over time, this becomes an issue during more demanding sections, such as traversing narrow platforms atop skyscrapers, where maintaining momentum feels akin to balancing on skates.

Despite these clumsy design elements and imprecise controls, the gameplay remains enjoyable and innovative.

Conversely, the multiplayer aspect desperately needs attention, as currently, the online experience appears lifeless with hardly any players in the multiplayer lobbies. This drains any motivation to explore this feature or continue progressing, leaving players without anyone to showcase their stylish new items.

Graphics, Performance, and Audio Quality

Built on Unreal Engine 5, Supermoves features a rather simplistic yet disappointingly uninspired art style. Players might recognize the engine’s capabilities but may find it underutilized here.

Moreover, the optimization leaves much to be desired. The game was assessed under the following specifications:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-12650H
• RAM: 16 GB
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX3070Ti (8GB)
• SSD: 1 TB

Despite its straightforward environments and linear pathways, maintaining a consistent 60 FPS proved challenging, even when set at 1440p on Medium settings without upscaling.

Additionally, I experienced noticeable music dropouts and slowdown whenever Supermoves dipped below 60 FPS, which felt out of place. However, those who enjoy visual performance can also take advantage of the ray-tracing feature available.

The game’s soundtrack is high-energy, featuring unique tracks for each area and level, perfectly complementing the adrenaline-fueled racing against time or competitors.

Conclusion: 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

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