Supplice

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Supplice review
Camrin Santchi

Review

They’re Called Classics for a Reason

Not Old, Retro


There's a certain existential crisis in learning that something you love has gotten 'old', in part because it makes you feel old as a result - but that also allows for nostalgia, recalling things that have changed over the years back in the state that codified them originally. This holds particularly true for what is commonly described as the father of modern FPS games - 1993's Doom, meaning that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the game and meaning we're ripe for nostalgia. Enter Supplice, a new game that harkens back to the 90's first-person shooter, specifically citing the Doom modding community as inspiration.

Well Worn Path


Gamers entering Supplice are thrown right into the action, in a world that is graphically designed to bear a close resemblance to the likes of Doom and Wolfenstein within an abandoned facility that appears to have been taken over by something either science fiction or downright supernatural, and enemies that bear a resemblance to demons. Armed initially with only a drill, players explore this crumbling facility and attempt to unravel what occurred, getting tips from an Artificial Intelligence called Charon at select terminals since the communications system in the player character's suit appears to be malfunctioning.



It is while exploring these levels that players will take note of the attention to detail that the developers at Mekworx had while creating Supplice, from the skyboxes, to the weapons being at the centre of the screen rather than off to the side like newer shooters, to the item drops rotating so that they are always 'facing' the player. It is a treat to the senses, especially if you fondly recall this era of gaming. The specific feeling reminds this reviewer of the secret levels in Doom (2016), which faithfully recreated the original maps that started it all.

Skill Issue


Besides the aesthetic, when it comes to older games there are often two things that are noted, both of which apply to Supplice. These aren't necessarily standout 'issues' with the game, particularly since they intentionally harken back to the 'good old days' of shooters, but they can make for a different or less enjoyable experience depending on just how much the player actually enjoys the trappings of retro shooters.

The first of these to note in Supplice is the length. Supplice is made up of 'maps', again harkening back to older games, and while they are decently sized there are only five of them, making the game feel a little on the short side. That ties well into another of Supplice's traits that really leans into being a time capsule of sorts in regards to older games - the difficulty. Back when games were shorter, especially compared to the simply massive titles that you'll get these days in AAA titles or particularly Role Playing Games, a way for developers to make games feel longer is often called 'artificial difficulty' - a title that is not exactly unearned. This can apply to enemy placement and numbers, traps, limited ammunition for a preferred weapon, or any other such design choice that could lead to a longer time spent on the game. Supplice manages to avoid some of these issues - but some particular traps appear to need luck to get out unscathed rather than relying on player senses of timing or strategy.

Again these 'Cons' are only such to some, Supplice is meant as a love letter to the 90's shooter after all. It shows in the work of the developers that they did not only draw reference to the fondly remembered portions of these games, but even the parts that were phased out as game length naturally increased over the years. As mentioned above, this attention to detail really sets Supplice apart in the genre, so technically this could even count as a pro depending on how you look at things!

Priced to Move


Overall, Supplice is a standout game that really emphasizes the aspects that people remember of the 90's FPS, but one final bit of attention to detail that should make any fan of the genre give Supplice a closer look is the pricing. The game is $15 on Steam base price, not counting any potential bundles or deals that may be occurring at the time. This price point makes the game feel a lot easier to swallow despite the short length, relatively speaking, meaning that players itching for something along the lines of a so-called 'boomer shooter' may want to pick up Supplice.


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7.4

fun score

Pros

Nostalgic Style, Attention to Detail, Reasonably Priced

Cons

Short, Artificial Difficulty