Cortex Papers - Superliminal

The following is a research paper written by the Cortex Stem University that has been declassified and released to the public on April 9'th, 2022.

* Category: Videogames
* Written by: Albert Yennei
* Writing period: Mar 29 2022-Apr 8'th 2022.
* Publication date: April 9'th 2022

## Content

### 1) Introduction

Puzzle games are not always my cup of tea, but Superliminal definitely hits the spot.

Superliminal is a surrealist puzzle game where the core game mechanic involves the player using optical illusions and perspective in order to complete puzzles and navigate a labyrinth of rooms within a dream world. The game's story revolves around the player character who is testing the Pierce Institute's *SomnaSculpt* technology, which was designed as a form of therapy that can be given to patients within their dreams, where a world dethatched from reality is created within their dreams. Throughout the game, the player is guided and accompanied by the disembodied voice of Dr. Glenn Pierce, a researcher and presumably founder of the Pierce Institute, as the player ventures the winding rooms and hallways of the dreamworld.

The game's puzzles are excellent, with each segment introducing new mechanics and features. The puzzles themselves are creative and distinct from each other to be always something new, while also being familiar to the previous puzzles, creating a gradual slope in difficulty that keeps the game fresh. and with the soothing tracks in the background or ambient buzzing and static sounds. Not to mention the pleasing look of the game itself, Superliminal does a tremendous job of setting up it's atmosphere.

### 2) Gameplay

Superliminal's gameplay is easily it's strongest suit, it's unlike anything i've seen before. Using forced perspective to solve puzzles seems like a mere novel gimmick, but the way Superliminal does it makes this mechanic entertaining and stimulating from start to end. I was often shocked at the game's illusions and features.

Superliminal's puzzles are very engaging, when the gears in your head finally *click* and you solve a puzzle, it feels immensely rewarding

### 3) Atmosphere

The entire game's atmosphere is calming, makes sense since canonically it is a happy dream reality for therapy. I can't think of a more appropriate type of music for Superliminal other than what it has; soft, calming piano melodies. Dr. Pierce's narrations are always welcome and aren't intrusive, in fact they help the calm atmosphere since his voice is very gentle and relaxed. The game's look also compliments this, bright colors, symmetrical rooms and hallways, clean and tidy environments, all make Superliminal a very nice game.

The game's atmosphere is very relaxing and calm.

**Except** for when the game doesn't want you to be calm.

The "backrooms" of the game have a constant anxiety inducing mechanical drone and buzz, the third segment features poorly lit green halls, red splotches on the floor, vast expanses of dark. All great changes from the superficial comfort of the "planned" areas.

And the game's last quarter of the game is much more fast paced, significantly so. And provides a nice change of pace from the comfort, the tense music really sends the message of "you have to do this quick, you have to do this now". The fast paced songs help support the fast paced gameplay of Superliminal's last quarter.

### 4) Story

Superliminal's story is, unfortunately- quite lacking. The story is pretty standard, and while *"Dreamworld where people have insurmountable reality changing powers as a form of therapy"* is an interesting concept, it sadly doesn't get expanded on very much. Which is fair since the gameplay is undoubtedly Superliminal's main focus.

Although, the final scene of the game is amazing, Dr. Pierce's speech is quite meaningful, albeit quite vague aswell, and as Dr. Pierce reads his speech, you retrace your steps throughout the games, going trough rooms you've been before, and eventually going to the very first room of the game, where Superliminal ends when you wake up. I always love it when a game does that, ending the same way it starts, and having a 'recap' of your journey up to the climax ending point.

### 5) Closing Thoughts

Superliminal is phenomenal, the 6 hours i spent on it went by very quickly. The game is just damn good.

Superliminal wins the Cortex Game Awards of *"Best Puzzle Game"*, nabbing that award from *Portal 2. A*nd being completely honest, it had a decent shot of winning it's GOTY award, but unfortunately, Superliminal was brought to the attention of the CSU in 2022, which means competition with another game about waking up from your dreams... And that game was so absolutely raw it destroyed the status quo of the Cortex Game Awards and took up the attention of most of the CSU's writers, so the GOTY went to that game instead. (No, *i* *Albert Yennei am not salty about it, haha- not at all...)* Regardless, Superliminal is a damn fine piece of work.

*Cortex Papers gives it an **EXCELLENT** ranking of 89/100.*

Thank you for reading.

*Think harder, Think smarter, Think less.*