At first glance, the world of Mindstrike might seem familiar: “People with amazing powers, eh? Oppressed by overbearing authorities, you say? Sounds like one of a dozen Marvel comics with an ‘X’ in the title.”
But Mindstrike is not a world for superheroes. Wearing a cape, mask, or flashy bodysuit is a good way to get yourself killed. There are no supervillains, no high-tech secret headquarters, no elaborate 12-step plans for world domination — and none of the other characteristics of the superhero genre.
So what genre is it?
The world of Mindstrike is that of the thriller:
- The heroes are being hunted by forces too large to face directly, and for reasons they don’t completely understand.
- It’s a world of mysteries and conspiracies, chase scenes and tense cat-and-mouse encounters, secret societies and cover-ups.
- Violent confrontations are brutal, and tend toward quick hit-and-run skirmishes rather than elaborate set-piece battles.
All that being said, you could run Mindstrike as a supers game if you really wanted to. It would be grittier than your typical four-color fare, with lower power levels and higher body counts, but hey — if that’s what your group is into, no one’s going to tell you you’re playing it wrong.*
One way of looking at it is what makes the characters interesting in the two genres. Superheroes are defined almost exclusively by their powers — what they can do. Thriller heroes are more defined by what they are willing to do when faced with great adversity.
Heroes in the comics are powerful. Heroes in Minsdtrike are desperate.
*Unless you post about it on online forums, of course. Then you’re just asking for it.
