The Surge Reviews
It's difficult to summon many negative things to say about The Surge. It checks all the boxes of a successful Souls-like.
When I first caught wind of The Surge a year or so ago I was immediately intrigued; after all Deck13 are the minds behind the success Souls-like pseudo-clone, Lords of the Fallen. Returning to the difficult twisted-dungeon crawling action-RPG genre, Deck13 brings us The Surge, a title steeped in high science fiction and it works. While I am a huge sucker for GrimDark fantasy of the Dark Souls games, the High Fantasy of Lords of the Fallen , the Cthulhu-esque setting of Bloodborne, or the Edo Period-esque world of Nioh, taking that same type of gameplay and placing it in a hard science fiction setting had my eyes alight with a ravening desire to play. After what seems to be an eternity, The Surge has released and goes to show that From Software and Team Ninja are not the only two that can do a punishingly good action-RPG.
A valiant attempt at the 'Dark Souls' formula, but ultimately fails to be anything but references to better games.
The Surge is an action based sci-fi that follows the story of Warren, a protagonist who dreams of being able to walk again by signing up to work for the suspiciously altruistic company CREO. After a rather upsetting process, Warren awakens being hauled to an uncertain fate by a robot that really thinks he is garbage. Fortunately, his newly acquired exoskeleton rig has given him the ability to walk again, and as he stumbles through his first steps, we too join him in stumbling through the game.
Ultimately, one’s enjoyment of The Surge can be largely predicted based upon enjoyment of similar titles. With a fresh take on some old formulas and an aesthetic that moves away from the grim fantasy players are used to, there is no doubt than fans of the genre should give it a shot. That said, it won’t be a revelation to any who have remained disinterested thus far.
The Surge überzeugt mit unverbrauchtem und dystopischem Setting und bleibt trotz sich wiederholendem Design atmosphärisch stark. Das Kampfsystem macht Spaß und verlangt nach Perfektion, und an den Finishing-Moves kann man sich kaum sattsehen – ein gewisses Faible für das hohe Level an Gewalt vorausgesetzt. Für The Surge muss man jedoch kein Souls-Veteran sein. Am Ende reichen Lust und Mut, sich einer echten Herausforderung zu stellen. Wer sich allerdings nur für die Story interessiert oder einfach nur ein gemütliches Action-RPG im Sci-Fi-Szenario erwartet, der lässt tatsächlich besser die Finger davon.
Review in German | Read full review
An action-rpg that hits hard, but rings hollow.
It is a punishingly difficult game, but failure rarely feels unfair. It is certainly not one to be overlooked, especially if, like me, you are looking for your latest Dark Souls or Bloodborne fix.
The Surge feels like the kind of game many within the genre have been awaiting, bridging the gap between a more feature-filled roleplaying title and a stalwart Soulsborne style game, taking inspiration from both genres to form a uniquely new niche creation. Whilst the storytelling is a little lacking - this is something fans have become accustomed to within the genre - what may be a dealbreaker for some is the poor level design within The Surge, offering a cluster of corridors that could well be clones of one another - a step back from what some gamers are accustomed to. But The Surge more than makes up for it within its gameplay, offering new, innovative combat mechanics with a limb targeting system and gory finishers with a crafting and upgrade system that will constantly keep you engaged even having already completed it. Whether you're a hardcore Souls aficionado wanting more or someone wishing to see what the genre may involve, then The Surge offers gamers the perfect chance to dip their toes and see what all the fuss is about.
The Surge is an impressive package overall. Souls fans, or players seeking out a challenging endeavor, will likely be pleased with what Deck13 has brought to the table here. This game builds a strong case for itself as a worthy entry in the brutally challenging third-person action sub-genre popularized by Dark Souls and the like. Although the story isn't quite as memorable as I would have hoped, I came away feeling this game was more about the journey than the destination. Even if the story was great, the addictive gameplay would still be the thing bringing me back for more. With a fun combat loop, huge and dangerous areas to explore that are filled with secrets and precious loot to uncover, and some adrenaline pumping boss fights, The Surge is more than worthy of your time (and patience).
Deck 13 improve on Lords of the Fallen with a sci-fi Souls game in a gorgeous universe, but it still falls short at a couple of hurdles before it can be considered a worthwhile experience for fans of this emergent genre.
The Surge, although an enjoyable experience, really fails to capitalise on the world it is set in. It's a step in the right direction for Deck13, but it's a baby step.
The Surge is a fun and engaging action-RPG for those wanting punishment in a brightly colored futuristic environment. It changes up the formula used by other titles in its genre and for the better. Variety is the spice of life, and that spice is peppered throughout The Surge, from its varied weapons or the many severed limbs and heads of your enemies. Deck 13 has crafted a memorable and engaging title that makes me wish that they never stop doing what they are good at, hardcore, controller smashing games that allows the player to feel accomplished at every enemy that falls to their feet.
Overall though, The Surge is a worthy addition to the genre, and definitely showcases how Deck13 listened to the criticism on Lords of the Fallen.
Deck13 really stepped up their development game since Lords of the Fallen. They have managed to address most of the complaints consumers had about that game, namely the slow combat mechanics, and delivered an enjoyable experience through and through.
If you’re jonesing for something to take the edge of your Souls additiction then The Surge will definitely do the job
Whilst it is clear that The Surge is not a perfect Soulsborne adaptation, it introduces enough new features to be a stand out addition to the hardcore action RPG genre that made me feel accomplished at times and utter despair at others.
The Surge takes a little bit to sink the hooks in you, but once it does, you'll have a very hard time putting it down.
The Surge is an impressive title from Deck 13 and Focus Home Interactive. The context provided by the story, solid visuals, and gameplay advancements are exciting for how this new kind of ARPG will progress into the future. However, slight mishaps in the graphical department with a lack of separation and an occasional lack of mystery hold The Surge back from being truly excellent.
An action-RPG with a good combat system, but it can frustrating at times.
Review in Italian | Read full review