Super Buff HD Review

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Fast Facts

A New Outlook

Super Buff HD is a fast-paced arcade shooter with a linear progression model. The game is also unique in other ways, featuring a bold visual style and comical enemy surfing mechanics. These abnormalities stood out to me and made me excited to get into this title.

When I booted up this title for the first time, I was shown a crudely drawn introduction movie and then thrust into the action. While this description sounds like an insult, it is not. I enjoyed the style of the game a lot, even though I would still consider it harsh at times. The style did not necessarily impress me, but it certainly found a way into my heart. The game immediately sucked me in.

The game further hooked me by showing me all the crazy things I could do. I was dropped into a tutorial that introduced every component of the game. I found it a bit confusing, as there were so many things to learn, but since I had played first-person shooters before, I was comfortable enough to find my way through the level.

Growth Mindset

However, as I continued playing through the levels, my curiosity about different elements of the game kept growing. Even though I did not necessarily understand every component of Super Buff HD at first, the levels served as a sandbox for me to explore and grow my capabilities.

Moreover, the levels encouraged me to get good at every facet of the game. Even on my first playthrough of a level, upon completion, the game recorded my score and time. These figures are then immediately compared to people worldwide, creating a leaderboard with multiple categories. This piqued my interest and often encouraged me to try and learn new strategies so I could compete and further develop my skills.

This also made the game far more dynamic. I would say I did not lose much during the game. Though there was a level or two where I had to try again, I never got stuck on a level or felt completely overwhelmed by enemies. At the same time, I knew that if I wanted to truly master the game, I could compete to increase my score in a level or race through it. This balance worked great to keep me immersed in the game, even though it was not the hardest thing I have ever played.

Enemies to Die For

Another reason I was encouraged to optimize some of these levels was that the levels were fair. Each of the enemies featured in the game clearly telegraphed their attacks. Even if I had to face up against a wall of projectile users, I was always adequately prepared, and I knew how each enemy would act. Not only that, but many of the enemies were completely distinct. Some enemies are stationary, others fly around, and others use their heads like a hammer. The constant variety kept me engaged throughout.

There were even constant boss fights to switch up the pace. These were often quite easy, appearing at the end of some stages, but I still enjoyed them. They usually had funny catchphrases, and their appearance stood out from other enemies, but they were not overly insane. These fights were enjoyable, but I do not think they were the main draw to the game.

Innate Powers

Another reason these fights may not have resonated with me as much was that they did not often leverage or require the use of many of the special abilities my character can use. I do not think I body surfed one time during a boss fight, despite that being one of the cooler components of the game. Further, while occasionally, there were some unique elements, these fights often blended in with boss fights I have played in other first-person shooters, despite Super Buff HD often attempting to be unique in other components of the game.

Still, the reason I wanted those components to appear in the fights was because they were fun. Whether I was attempting to reach a high area by body surfing an enemy or if I was using grind rails to fly through a stage, leveraging these tools made the game both fun and unique. Additionally, if I was interested in getting a high score, I was motivated to use them, as body surfing and grinding on rails gave my main character a damage buff.

While some of the fights were simple, and the game only has a runtime of around two hours, the game is a lot of mindless fun and has a decent bit of replay value with the high score leaderboard and player depth. Levels often did not require me to get a deep understanding of my surroundings, but there is nothing wrong with that. Super Buff HD was fun, encouraged me to get high scores, and featured some satisfying enemies to defeat.

Frightful Sights

To complete the package, the developer designed a world that looks straight out of a children’s colouring book. Super Buff HD has bright and flashy colours, cute and crazy enemies, and a charming world to explore. The presentation, while not traditional, was one I thoroughly enjoyed. The music, while more traditionally inspired by rock and roll, was similarly lovely. It fits the theme of the game, inspiring high-action combat and rapid movements. In total, the game came together nicely.

Overall, Super Buff HD is a surprisingly good package. While the story is practically non-existent, the constant action kept me coming back for more, especially as I looked to attain a high score. Additionally, the unique art style and combat mechanics make the game stand out from many of the other shooters out there, making Super Buff HD a game I can recommend.

Rapid Reviews Rating

4 out of 5

4