“Time Only Moves When You Move”
The challenges in the time-twisting SUPERHOT (PEGI 12) game depend more on strategy than the speed of your reactions. It is available in both VR and non-VR versions. Here we will be looking at the non-VR version and the controls required to play it on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Time will pass extremely slowly (almost unnoticeably except for bullets moving fractionally), until you use a movement action. Movement actions are firing or throwing a weapon, punching, jumping or moving your position on foot. Aiming, however, will not speed up time, giving you time to look around, plan you next move and aim. The speed you complete a level in during the story mode does not matter, however there are some challenges which are unlocked upon completion of the story which do time you. For instance, there is a speedrun challenge which measures the time during movement (but not between) and another which times you throughout the level including when you aren’t moving.
Compared to many FPS’, SUPERHOT uses fewer inputs than you may usually need. There are separate inputs for movement (Left Stick / W,A,S,D) and aiming (Right Stick/ Mouse), however due to the time element, gameplay is designed for them to be able to be used one at a time rather than combined.
Aiming requires accuracy as part of the games’ mechanics, with no auto aim available. When aiming is inaccurate in certain instances, for example if an input is pressed to pick up an item, time will still move on as the input has been pressed (even if the item was not picked up due to missing it with the crosshair). So if an item is missed, it may be that time moves on to a point that you are shot, before being able to fire yourself, for example.
Some of the most used inputs also double up for actions, meaning there may be a choice of inputs depending on which ones you may be most comfortable using. For example, when picking up a weapon with an Xbox One Controller A is the prompt in-game, but RT, B and RB can also be used for this action. On PlayStation 4 you can use Cross, Circle, R2 or R1 and on Nintendo Switch you can use either A, B or R. On PC with Keyboard/Mouse this is LMB (remappable).
Similarly when firing a gun, striking with a weapon or punching, RT is the Prompt onscreen, but A or RB can also be used. On PlayStation 4 this is R2 or Cross or R1 and on Nintendo Switch this is ZR or A. On PCwith Keyboard/Mouse this is LMB (remappable). There is no reload button, instead a key mechanic in the game is automatic reload, which needs time to pass before you are able to fire again.
In situations where either you have run out of ammo or there isn’t time to wait to reload, you can throw your gun or weapon. On Xbox One this is B, on PlayStation 4 it is Circle and on Nintendo Switch it is B (or RB). On PC with Keyboard/Mouse this is RMB (remappable).
Jump can be used tactically and is only required a small number of times in the main game, such as in one level to jump over an oncoming vehicle. This is LT on Xbox One, L2 on PlayStation 4 and ZL on Nintendo Switch. On PC with Keyboard/Mouse this is Space (remappable).
In later levels an additional input is added to “Hotswitch,” which allows you to teleport into an AI when aiming at them. Like Jump, this is only fully necessary a small number of times in-game but can be used tactically throughout after it is introduced. On Xbox One it is X, on PlayStation 4 it is Square and Nintendo Switch it is X. On PC with Keyboard/Mouse this is E (remappable).
Additional actions include ‘typing’, whereby set text typed automatically but requires an input to emulate it being put into the text field. This is prompted as RT or LT, but LB or RB or X or Y or Left or Right Stick movement can all be used on Xbox One. On PlayStation 4 R2 or L2 or R1 or L1 or Square or Triangle or Left or Right Stick movement can be used and on Nintendo Switch RZ or LZ or LB or RB or X or Y or Left or Right Stick movement can all be used. On PC with Keyboard/Mouse this is any letter key, number key, Space or mouse movement.
At any point during a level you can hold Y (Xbox One) to restart or press it when you die to restart immediately. Otherwise, when you die you can wait a short time for it to automatically restart. Rather than pause a game, you return straight to the menu using Menu on Xbox One, Options on PlayStation 4, [+] on Nintendo Switch and Esc on PC.
Settings across all platforms include a sensitivity option for aiming. This is from 0.3 up to 2.0 on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and from 0.1 to 2.0 on Nintendo Switch and PC and can be adjusted in increments of 0.1 (default is 1.0). There is also an option for an Inverted Y Axis for aiming. On Nintendo Switch you can also alter the Gyroscope (motion controls) sensitivity between 0.1 and 2.0. In game the motion control can be turned off or on using the [-] (minus) button. Depending on whether it is on or off, it can be temporarily turned On/Off whilst holding down L during gameplay.
There is not an option to remap controls for controllers in-game, however on PC you can remap the keyboard bindings for gameplay (see below for keyboard defaults). On PC you are also able to run the game in a window, which can be useful when using additional software to play. It may also be worth noting that you can use Mouse/Keyboard alongside a controller at the same time (tested running SUPERHOT on Steam).
Listed below are the controls for each platform (Xbox One, PC, PS4 and Nintendo Switch):
List of Controls
Xbox One/PC Controls (Controller)
Gameplay:
Move = Left Stick
Aim = Right Stick
Shoot/Strike/Punch = RT (or A or RB) – Press
Pick Up = A (or B or RT or RB) – Press
Throw = B – Press
Jump = LT – Press
Hotswitch = X – Press
Additional:
Menu = Menu
Next Level (“Hand over the Control”) = A – Press
Messaging: Type = RT or LT (or LB or RB or X or Y or Left Stick move or Right Stick move) (Press). Send Message = A (Press). Dismiss Message = B (Press)
Restart Level = Y – Press to restart immediately at death or hold for set duration (approx. 0.9 secs) to restart during level
Edit Replay = X
In Edit Left Stick = playback control, A = record (Hold), B = Back/Discard Clip, X = Save Clip
Xbox One & Menu Controls:
Navigate = Left Stick or D-Pad
Select = A
Back = B
PC Keyboard/Mouse Controls:
Gameplay:
Aim = Mouse
Move = W,A,S,D (remappable)
Action (Shoot/Strike/Punch) = LMB (remappable)
Throw = RMB (remappable)
Jump = Space (remappable)
Use Skill (Hotswitch) = E (remappable)
Additional:
Menu = Esc
Next Level (“Hand over the Control”) = LMB – Press
Messaging: Type = Any letter key or number key or Space (Press) or mouse movement. Send Message = Enter (Press). Dismiss Message = Esc (Press)
Restart Level = R – Press to restart immediately at death or hold for set duration (approx. 0.9 secs) to restart during level
Edit Replay = F5
In Edit: W,A,S,D = playback control, LMB = record (Hold), Esc = Back/Discard Clip (Press) and Upload = F5 (Press)
PC Mouse/Keyboard Menu Controls:
Navigate = W,A,S,D or Mouse Cursor
Select = Enter or LMB
Back = Esc
PlayStation 4 Controls:
Gameplay:
Move = Left Stick
Aim = Right Stick
Shoot/Strike/Punch = R2 (or Cross or R1) – Press
Pick Up = Cross (or Circle or R2 or R1) – Press
Throw = Circle – Press
Jump = LB – Press
Hotswitch = Square – Press
Additional:
Menu = Options
Next Level (“Hand over the Control”) = Cross – Press
Messaging: Type = R2 or L2 (or R1 or L1 or Square or Triangle or Left Stick move or Right Stick move) (Press). Send Message = Cross (Press). Dismiss Message = Circle (Press)
Restart Level = Triangle – Press to restart immediately at death or hold for set duration (approx. 0.9 secs) to restart during level
Edit Replay = Square
In Edit: Left Stick = playback control, Cross = record (Hold), Circle = Back/Discard Clip (Press), Square = Save Clip (Press)
PlayStation 4 Menu Controls:
Navigate = Left Stick or D-Pad
Select = Cross
Back = Circle
Nintendo Switch Controls:
Gameplay:
Move = Left Stick or D-Pad
Aim = Right Stick or Motion Controls (Tilt)
Shoot/Strike/Punch = ZR (or A) – Press
Pick Up – A (or B or R)
Throw = B (or RB) – Press
Jump = ZL – Press
Hotswitch = X – Press
Additional:
Menu = [+]
Turn Motion Controls On/Off = [-] – Press
Temporarily Disable/Enable Motion Controls = L- Hold
Next Level (“Hand over the Control”) = A – Press
Messaging: Type = RZ or LZ or LB or RB or X or Y (Press), Send Message = A (Press). Dismiss Message = B (Press)
Restart Level = Y (Triangle) – Press to restart immediately at death or hold for set duration (approx. 0.9 secs) to restart during level
Edit Replay = X
In Edit: Left Stick = playback control, A = record (Hold), B = Back/Discard Clip (Press)
Nintendo Switch Menu Controls:
Navigate = Left Stick or D-Pad
Select = A
Back = B
For more information, visit the SUPERHOT website: https://superhotgame.com/
Any questions, get in touch via the Contact Us page.
