Scars Above Reviews
Scars Above can at times come across as fairly generic, it’s still however a decent enough sci-fi mystery and I think at the right value point you can have an enjoyable time working through it.
There is some promise in Scars Above. The game presents solid foundations to build upon, and the fact that this is the maiden title from Mad Head Games is an achievement on its own. On the visual side, the game is a looker and performed admirably on PC. However it is hard to overlook its game design and technical shortcomings. While its use of repeated sci-fi tropes doesn’t do it any favors. Perhaps Scars Above will be the necessary learning experience that will likely enhance the studio’s future projects.
Despite all its interesting ideas, Scars Above fails to overcome its flaws and remains a mediocre experience, and with a vague ending, we can hope that the next installment, if any, can address all the shortcomings and fulfill its potential.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Scars Above is not your average shooter, but it will pleasantly surprise you. This is because you don't play a soldier, but a scientist. Because of this you will have to rely more on science instead of combat training. Despite the repetitive elements, due to the Souls-like touch, you will be faced with enough challenge. Scars Above has many layers, which makes for a unique experience.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Story-driven sci-fi adventure is a rare guest these days. Despite low-budget limitationб Scars Above is a worthy experience to spend a few evenings with it.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Here is a game that falls short of its potential, but still won't make patient gamers unhappy. If its general sloppiness and various bugs don't get on your nerves too much, fans of the genre can give it a chance.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
I hope Mad Head Games gets another chance to build upon these ideas in a future sequel. But for now, as it stands, Scars Above is still a perfectly serviceable and surprisingly challenging shooter primed to indulge Sci-Fi fans.
Despite Scars Above’s stellar visual presentation and challenging combat, it suffers from lackluster story-telling and repetitive gameplay. Thankfully it does manage to redeem itself to some extent by effectively blending its exploration with combat and puzzle-solving even though it may get frustrating at times. If you like titles like Dead Space, Returnal, or Control, it may be worth checking out. But considering its inconsistent animations and glitches, it’s best to wait for a sale on this one.
Scars Above is a game that will help you turn off for a few hours, without needing to be challenged by gameplay while being entertained by the visuals and storyline - if your eyes haven't glazed over by then.
I really enjoyed Scars Above on the XSX and it was an enjoyable experience from start to finish, without the grind that are sometimes associated with third person games. Overall Scars Above delivers a strong narrative with playable gaming mechanics that is visually presented well, particularly with its alien world and its diverse denizens. So if you're looking for a healthy distraction that provides the right amount of challenges, then look to the skies with Scars Above.
Scars Above is a competent enough game that efficiently gets you through its six-hour runtime. It won't make you forget its influences, but if you can find this one on sale, you could definitely do a lot worse.
Scars Above may be a little on the repetitive side, and sure it’s not perfect. I wouldn’t say it’s not worth trying out, but I would also classify it somewhere between a quick fix to expect nothing too lofty. The characters are forgettable, the story is not important, and its mission statement is worthless to its protagonist in the sense that there’s no goal to attain, rather a moral standard to which in a dire situation as this would be a judgement call, rather than any level headedness applied.
Despite a tedious beginning and many generic traits, Scars Above comes alive near the end with decent third-person shooting set in an intriguing alien world that is oddly familiar in more ways than one.
Scars Above is a game that have a lot of ideas but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The game feels like a lesser version of Returnal with pacing and animation problems, that being said the game does have some neat concepts (specially the combined damage), but it doesn't get the time it deserves and feels a little bit undercooked.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Scars Above will seek inspiration from many other works, but it does not emerge at any of the points it has carried. Poor quality of kinematics and dialogues, rudimentary and frustrating gameplay that reveals almost no motion capture, and dubious visual quality. A project that has to be looked at outside the most demanding levels of a high-profile, budgeted title below. You don't ask for a full price, nor could you, but even with a more desirable price I can't recommend it, fail the most important, reward the player for the hours you play it, and that Scars Above can't do it.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
All things considered, Scars Above works because its pain points are, for the most part, forgivable when the runtime is this short. For me at least, the opening was thrilling enough to trigger fond memories of Mass Effect’s heyday. And the final product is admirable when you remember that this is a fledgling studio with a lot of ambition that merely fell just slightly short in a few areas.
Scars Above is unfortunately bland, with dull combat and very few puzzles. It has hints at interesting ideas and ambitions, but couldn't execute on those.
Overall Scars Above shows large promise in being a story that will be remembered and enjoyed by various types of gamers. For the price it is going for on the PlayStation Store (£36.97 at the time of writing this), it is a steal for an immersive and beautiful experience with plenty to shoot, investigate, and discover.
Overall, Scars Above just can’t rise above its AA roots. This translates to some cut-rate animations, character models, and environments. The game’s primary weapon is good enough, as is the story and combat. But just being adequate is a tough sell. It’s hard to imagine Scars Above moving to the front of the Soulslike line.
Apart from some cutscene jank, Scars Above is still a fantastic new release that delivers a really great gaming experience.