Scars Above Reviews

Scars Above is ranked in the 28th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2023

Scars Above is an enjoyable, if simple, entry into the sci-fi shooter genre. Although elements of the game feel a bit rushed or unpolished, none of that will detract from the overall experience. If you have a few hours to spare and you like mysterious adventures on far-flung planets, I recommend giving this one a go.

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7 / 10
Feb 28, 2023

Scars above is a fascinating third-person sci-fi adventure. It features an intriguing narrative that starts out a little slow, but it does quickly pick up and becomes one of its biggest strengths. The gameplay is a lot of fun, but doesn’t do anything particularly innovative to stand out from other similar titles. The game features some aesthetically pleasing environments, as well some really uniquely creature designs but the characters lack polish with the mouth movements in particular making them look a little like puppets at times.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2023

Scars Above is one of the most immersive and enjoyable titles I’ve played in some time. The world, characters, gameplay loop, and challenge make Scars Above a game worth revisiting and re-experiencing. The problem is one would need to get through a truly abysmal opening to feel the investment Mad House Games aimed for here.  Overall, an authentically fun game, held back by a poor opening.

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7 / 10.0
Mar 18, 2023

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

7 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2023

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.

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Niche Gamer
bigbear51
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Mar 1, 2023

All in all, Scars Above is good for what it is. While it doesn’t top out other recent AAA launches, it’s also not a AAA launch in the first place, so it comes with a lower price tag to match what it offers. However, it’s also absurdly short for what it is and replay value is lacking. Scars Above is more for those looking for something new and aren’t particularly looking for the next game of the year.

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70%
Feb 28, 2023

A perfectly decent chunk of linear extra-terrestrial shooting, with a sprinkling of mild Soulslike elements, nice puzzles, and plenty of exploration, Scars Above is a double-A budget game that's worth a look.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2023

Scars Above's exploration gameplay is rewarding, if a little trite and it's characters mostly forgettable – but some inventive combat saves it mediocrity. A decently fun, if not overly groundbreaking, sci-fi action adventure.

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Ken McKown
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2023

Scars Above is a solid sci-fi romp with an identity complex. It wants so badly to be a Soulslike and instead feels more like a game that just borrows ideas without understanding what makes them work. I enjoyed my playthrough, but I wish it would have leaned into its own ideas instead of trying to mimic something else. The story is interesting, the game play is fun, but I wish it wouldn’t have taken so much inspiration from other titles.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2023

An interesting concoction of genre traits and structures makes Scars Above one of the more engaging action-adventure game attempts even if it does suffer from some combat woes.

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TheSixthAxis
Steve C
Top Critic
7 / 10
Feb 28, 2023

Scars Above is a great addition to the library of single player adventures and it tells an engaging sci-fi story that interrogates ideas of genetic manipulation, free will, and sacrifice. While it loses momentum a little towards the end, it serves as a fantastic advertisement for smaller budget games and is well worth picking up.

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INVEN
Top Critic
7.2 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2023

A game suitable for those who loves Sci-Fi creatures. It delivers the concept of facing various life forms during an adventure throughout an unknown planet quite well. A shooting action which requires puzzle-solving brain work is also quite interesting. However, you need to endure the unnatural modeling, stiff animation and unreasonable level designs before all these charms.

Review in Korean | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Mar 2, 2023

Scars Above really embraces its sci-fi and soulslike themes, offering an atmospheric game with a good balance between exploration, puzzle-solving and battles. It's a bit janky but palatable when you consider the game comes at a budget price. If you're looking for something different than the mainstream cooker cutter offering, Scars Above is worth the time and effort.

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7.5 / 10.0
Mar 23, 2023

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

7.5 / 10.0
Mar 13, 2023

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.

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75 / 100
Mar 2, 2023

Scars Above has some promising ideas for a much deeper sci-fi action game, but not all were fully utilized. While it aims to be a Souls game, it ultimately comes out mostly as a decent third-person shooter. It's true that the game isn't perfect and has its share of drawbacks; still, it manages to differentiate itself from the crowd of soulslike games by introducing some fresh concepts.

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7.5 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2023

With its enjoyable combat, compelling storytelling, and slick world design, Scars Above has been a really pleasant surprise. I didn’t go in with hefty expectations given the game’s budget release, but I found myself gripped into the narrative, whilst the exciting action kept me on my toes. Don’t get me wrong, it won’t win any points for originality as far as its gameplay is concerned whilst some aspects of the visuals and dialogue can be a little lacking, but nothing in the game is bad at all. It can just be a bit by the numbers, but, given the short length, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

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GAMES.CH
Top Critic
78%
Feb 28, 2023

Scars Above takes some time to unfold ist true potential, both in the story and its gameplay. The exploration of this unknown planet in the role of a stranded researcher is unforgiving and refuses to compromise on the almost puzzle-like combat, even if some encounters early on can be frustrating as you get to grips with how the game wants you to play. Scars Above isn't for everyone, as it demands a lot more thought and strategy during combat than it lets on, but if you're willing to learn and be patient, this one's definitely worth your time.

Review in German | Read full review

78 / 100
Feb 28, 2023

A good proposal that mixes several elements of different generosity to create its own identity, but fails in its graphic section.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2023

Scars Above sets out as a standard sci-fi action game and experiments to great success. The story intelligently weaves in some horror elements to keep you hooked with a level of narrative consistency and cohesion that keeps things simple yet enjoyable. Combat is fun and forces you to think on your feet, leaving you properly immersed in the gameplay. With only one save file and a lack of voice and mouth synchronization, the game certainly isn't beyond criticism. Although despite the shortcomings, Scars Above is a great example of a game that isn't afraid to push boundaries, and succeeds in delivering a fun experience that doesn't overstay its welcome.

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