SEUM: Speedrunners From Hell is not an easy game. SEUM is a first person speedrunning game, with the objective being to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. Taking place in hell, SEUM follows a trucker whose beer gets stolen from him by a demon. After cutting off the demon’s arm and taking it as his own, he must use quick platforming to navigate each level and recover his lost beer.
There are around 100 levels in SEUM: Speedrunners From Hell, and each one is unique. Some levels will have you navigate corridors of blades spinning in the floor, while others have you floating around pyramids and avoiding spikes in it’s labyrinthian corridors. Each level also has a subgoal. As per the title of the game, the object of each level is to get to the exit portal as quickly as possible, and each subgoal is to do it in a faster time.
Some of the levels have near impossible times to beat, but thats honestly what makes SEUM so great. With the quick pick and play gameplay, it’s easy to get lost in the “just one more level mentality.” Hitting each levels subgoal is the real hook here, because if I ever missed a time, I always wanted to go back and hit that time goal.
The first few levels of SEUM introduce players into the main platforming mechanics, as well as showing players most of the power ups that they will encounter. One of the power ups is anti-gravity, which allows players to hover around levels, while another is a ghost form. Ghost form allows players to reach areas of a level that they otherwise would’ve been able to access, but not return to the main part of the level, ultimately allowing players to be in two places at once. Something that players call always use is a fireball. The fireball can activate switches to open up new rooms, or set a moving bridge into motion.
Each level is buried with secrets as well. Since a demon stole your beer, each level has a hidden beer in it, and some are extremely well hidden. If players find all the beer hidden on each floor of hell, a bonus level opens up which has a hidden piece of bacon. The whole concept is pretty ridiculous, but SEUM never takes itself too seriously so it really works.
As someone who listens to heavy music, it was refreshing to hear that SEUM has a heavy metal soundtrack. The heavy music on display here really lends credence to the gameplay and plot of SEUM. and fits right in. Not just in the story, but to get the blood pumping during the fast paced levels. SEUM controls really well too. There are a handful of tweaks players can make to sensitivity, inversion to controls, and power up controls as well. It probably wouldn’t work with the fast paced platforming if it didn’t control well, and luckily it does. Button presses are responsive and aiming was smooth.
SEUM: Speedrunners From Hell is a game I didn’t know I needed. Filled with hours of content, frustration, and addiction, I’m still going back to replay levels I know I can get a better time on. Priced at $14.99, players won’t find a better pick up and play game with a ridiculous story and addictive gameplay.
SEUM: Speedrunners From Hell is available now for Xbox One and PC. This review is based on an Xbox One copy provided by the publisher.
