I own the game via Steam. Unlike it's sequels 2070 and 2205 you don't need Ubisofts Uplay Software (more a DRM hellhole) to install or start the game. No need for double activations or multiple accounts, no need for an internet connection to use all the game's features. And guess what: With the Venice addon included into the Gold Edition you even get a multiplayer mode with working A.I. - not like in 2070 where A.I. is a joke and requires no economy to declare war on you and have large fleets of battleships for no reason. The production chains might not be as complicated as in its sequel, but it's still the best entry in the series so far. It still looks good, runs fine on older machines aswell; e.g. my fathers no 3,2 ghz haswell i5 combined with his GTX 280 still ran the game fine - not on maxed out settings, but reasonably well for the GPUs age. Also, it's so far the latest Anno in its typical medival type timezone - no future stuff to be found.
SUPERHOT intruduces the mechanic that time only moves in "slow motion" while you don't move. If you turn yourself in a direction or walk somewhere time moves in real time. It is less a shooter more a tactical planning game to survive the endless waves of one-hit enemies that the game spawns in multiple spawn locations on the map around you. The "story" mode is done in 1 1/2, maybe even 2 hours, but I felt it was mainly there to intruduce all mechanics to the player. Those consist of: - dodging bullets as you move - throwing guns or random objects at enemies or punching them to disarm them - switching your body to one enemy (limited to a cooldown) - bunnyhopping over certain parts of the map to jump onto enemies - shooting enemies - multiple meele attacks The missions after the story mode seem plenty at first, but as I realized are really short (a few minutes each) and don't contain any new mechanics or suprises. I was wondering if there would be stealth elements in the game, but it doesn't look like it although enemies seem to have a vision radius. A.I. is really basic - they run at you once spotted and shoot everything in your direction - or, if they don't have a gun, either try to grab one or run at you with their fists. Animations are not as smooth as I hoped for (you can see it mostly in the real time playback at the end of every story mission or your death in one of the many maps) but still look great. The artstyle is clear and helps you to get an overview in every situation. I'm really looking forward to a sequel or expansion to this and I understand that indie developers have to survive somehow, but please, don't charge another 20 euros for it.
