Super Motherload

65%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,162 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Super Motherload Game Cover
Without online co-op, Super Motherload falls a bit short of gaming greatness, but the marriage of entrancing sound and gameplay is still a fun experience.
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"Super Motherload" is a digging and exploration game set in a retro-futuristic Mars. Players manage their drill rigs, gather resources, and uncover secrets in a vast, procedurally generated underground world. Cooperative play, base building, and crafting add depth to this mining adventure.

  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

65%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,162 reviews
gameplay87 positive mentions
grinding56 negative mentions
  • Super Motherload is a nostalgic and fun sequel to the original Motherload flash game, offering improved graphics and gameplay mechanics.
  • The game features local co-op multiplayer, allowing friends to enjoy the digging experience together.
  • The addition of puzzles and a smelting system adds depth to the gameplay, making it more engaging than the original.
  • The game lacks online multiplayer, which limits its replayability and social experience.
  • Many players find the game repetitive and feel that it doesn't capture the same thrill and challenge as the original, particularly due to the removal of death from running out of fuel.
  • The final boss fight is considered tedious and frustrating, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • gameplay192 mentions

    The gameplay of "Super Motherload" retains the core mechanics of the original while introducing new features and multiplayer options, making it enjoyable and engaging for both solo and cooperative play. However, some players find the experience can become repetitive and grindy, particularly after a few hours, despite the addition of mechanics like the smelting system and randomly generated puzzles. Overall, while the gameplay is solid and nostalgic, it may not sustain long-term interest for everyone.

    • “They tried to spice up the way you approach mining by using chain bonuses and the smelter, which is actually a surprisingly in-depth and fun mechanic.”
    • “The drill mechanic was fun, the cycle 'drill → get resources → sell → improve → go deeper' was rewarding enough to make you want to keep going, the fuel meter brought that 'push your luck' feeling that made you evaluate the cost/benefit of continuing or going back to the base all the time.”
    • “The gameplay is far more streamlined in Super Motherload; you get checkpoints, making that part of the game longer yet easier because we play the game in steps.”
    • “On top of that, I honestly think this game was specifically designed for multiplayer as it takes incredibly long to clear the game on your own considering the monotony of the gameplay.”
    • “There's no point in this game; you will spend 50% of your gameplay going up and down.”
    • “The smelter/combos (combine ores) mechanic is both unfun and poorly implemented.”
  • story186 mentions

    The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it mediocre, poorly presented, and lacking engagement. While some appreciate the added narrative elements and the attempt to create a more immersive experience, others feel it serves merely as filler, detracting from the core gameplay. Overall, the story is often described as basic and forgettable, with a few noting that it does have moments of intrigue and potential, particularly in its themes of corporate greed and exploration.

    • “The story is interesting as it deals with something many people today deal with themselves; corporate greed, and how it leads to ruin.”
    • “This game is addictive, the story - whilst basic in premise - is well written and leaves much to your imagination to conjure up all kinds of dark images, like good sci-fi horror should.”
    • “The story progresses as you dig deeper with fully voice acted transmissions.”
    • “The story is also poorly presented over some text message signals you get, no engagement, nothing.”
    • “The story was pretty bare bones (just radio transmissions) and the voice acting was pretty amateurish all around so that didn't keep me either.”
    • “The story was a waste of the devs' resources.”
  • graphics100 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the improved visuals and art style compared to the original, describing them as beautiful and well-optimized. However, some players noted issues such as performance problems, a mismatch with the game's feel, and a lack of engaging in-game visuals for upgrades. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered a step up, they are not without their criticisms, particularly regarding their fit within the game's context.

    • “The sound and visuals are a big step up, it looks and sounds great.”
    • “A very beautiful, streamlined take on the classic formula of the popular flash game, Super Motherload sports new graphics, a deeper narrative, and a few new quality of life features.”
    • “The graphics, music, and overall presentation is actually stunning, and the controls are really smooth and nice.”
    • “The graphics are worse, fullscreen has black bars around it and only takes up about 50% of your screen, and the game runs at like 30 fps, noticeably worse than the flash version.”
    • “Seems like there's some sort of memory leak, or critical error in something with the graphics.”
    • “I have a gaming laptop with a Radeon graphics card and this game still will not 'effin open.”
  • music75 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its atmospheric and well-orchestrated soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some players expressed a desire for the original music theme from the predecessor, the new compositions are described as catchy and fitting well with the game's aesthetic. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some criticisms regarding repetitiveness in gameplay.

    • “Not to mention the incredible soundtrack this game has, good god the OST for this game is incredible.”
    • “This game's presentation is fantastic, featuring a powerful and atmospheric soundtrack by Eric Cheng and beautiful art by Scott Carmichael.”
    • “The music is amazing, though I wish I could have had that original jam updated... could have listened to that on repeat for days!”
    • “The only thing I wish this game had is the original music theme; there was just something about that soundtrack from the original game that I loved.”
    • “As your game sessions get longer, you might end up turning up your own music instead, as the game doesn't offer anything too exciting in the audio department after a while.”
    • “The music is terrible but I still enjoy it.”
  • grinding58 mentions

    The game's grinding mechanics have received mixed reviews, with many players finding the gameplay tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later stages where resource farming becomes a slog. While some appreciate the cooperative mode and the core digging experience, others criticize the lack of meaningful progression and the frustrating necessity to backtrack for supplies. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Getting to the final area is such a tedious slog because of how many random blocks you have to use bombs to destroy or can't drill at all, which means you can't make a straight down tunnel. You end up wasting half your fuel just getting back to where you were unless you waste a bunch of time farming bombs.”
    • “At this point, the main fun cycle of the game is gone because the ship’s improvements are already pointless. This makes the whole section feel extremely repetitive, tedious, and not fun.”
    • “In Super Motherload, you literally just swing past the drop-off, fuel, and repair vendors, and then it's right back into the pit with you, feeling less like an accomplishment and more like a pointless 'do you wish to not lose the game' prompt that comes up every five minutes.”
  • replayability46 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the variety of unlockable characters and multiplayer options that enhance replay value, many find the gameplay repetitive and lacking depth for multiple playthroughs. The emphasis on story in some iterations has also diminished replayability compared to earlier versions. Despite these criticisms, some players still enjoy the game enough to recommend it for casual play with friends.

    • “It has plenty of characters with unique play styles, and different upgrade trees which provide surprising depth and replayability, as well as a fun multiplayer mode.”
    • “Finally, this game has replay value on top of the many hours of gameplay you can get in a single run, plus there is multiplayer mode if you have your buddies around.”
    • “For me, the replay value was through the roof: I could drag a few friends over, throw the game up on the TV, and have a hysterical time.”
    • “By the time I got to a second playthrough, I was mostly disinterested, so the replayability is not that great.”
    • “Finished it in under 8 hours, not really any replayability.”
    • “Too bad it only has a lifespan of about 2 hours, and very little replay value.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unsettling and intriguing qualities, enhanced by a powerful soundtrack and beautiful artwork. While many players find the atmosphere captivating and immersive, some note that overly bright visuals can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the combination of haunting elements and engaging gameplay contributes to a rich atmospheric experience.

    • “This game's presentation is fantastic, featuring a powerful and atmospheric soundtrack by Eric Cheng and beautiful art by Scott Carmichael.”
    • “Despite being a simple digging game, there are crazy amounts of atmosphere.”
    • “Puzzles, strategy, multiplayer, a haunting atmosphere, and a fantastic soundtrack -- Super Motherload packs a wealth of material into a small, though somewhat repetitive, package.”
    • “The atmosphere just feels more unsettling.”
    • “Despite being a simple digging game, there is a crazy amount of atmosphere.”
    • “Also, the world feels too bright; this might just be an effect of playing on a high resolution, but it kind of ruins the atmosphere for me.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting frequent crashes and issues with the Steam achievements system, particularly on the latest version of Windows. While many players appreciate the graphics and gameplay, they also note performance problems such as stuttering and unoptimized particle effects, especially given that the game is still in early access. Overall, optimization appears to be a significant area for improvement.

    • “I was extremely excited when I heard about this game, and on release, I was extremely satisfied with what they did with this game, from graphics, optimization to gameplay. Additionally, it has a lot of endgame content.”
    • “The optimization in this game really enhances the overall experience, making it smooth and enjoyable.”
    • “The developers have done a great job with optimization, ensuring that the game runs well even on lower-end systems.”
    • “Is not optimized for the latest version of Windows and crashes quite often; the Steam achievements system does not work.”
    • “I know it's in early access, but there's a stuttering problem on my computer.”
    • “Particles and stuff are not too optimized yet, it seems.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the accidental outcomes and certain elements, like nuke bombs, genuinely funny. Voice acting is described as ranging from "good but weird" to "unintentionally hilarious," contributing to the overall comedic experience. However, some aspects, such as low ore variation, are noted as not being funny at all, highlighting a disparity in the humor's effectiveness.

    • “Accidentally got the bad-bad ending and it was very, very funny.”
    • “Nuke bombs are hilarious.”
    • “The voice acting ranges from 'good but weird' to 'unintentionally hilarious'.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game's stability is notably poor, with frequent crashes, game freezes, and various bugs that significantly detract from the experience. While some players still find enjoyment in the game, the overall presentation is marred by janky physics and unresponsive menus, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience.

    • “This game combines janky physics, unresponsive menus, grindy gameplay, mediocre story, constant crashing, and a super buggy boss fight to make the perfect 20 hours of torture.”
    • “Game freezes up daily.”
    • “There are a few bugs/glitches that cause some crashes I have experienced, but overall this is a great game to add to the personal arcade.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply resonant, as it evokes nostalgia and a sense of childhood joy through its heartfelt modernization of a classic title. The experience is described as both well-crafted and moving, successfully rekindling fond memories associated with the original game.

    • “This game made me feel like I was a child again, playing the older version of this game.”
    • “But get it for Super Motherload too, which is a heartfelt, well-crafted modernization of a classic.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

Buy Super Motherload

Play time

5hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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