The Surge Reviews
The Surge's unique spin on combat and customization coupled with some tried and true gameplay mechanics from the Souls series coalesce nicely for what feels like a familiar experience in an entirely new setting.
The Surge is a game that is worth your time and there's a lot to love. The setting is perfect and matches the tone of the game and its story very well. That story is hidden behind optional content but it's worthwhile if you give it the attention it deserves. Combat feels awesome with five different weapon types that all play differently and enemy designs that make each opponent fair but very dangerous.
Even with its issues, the game shines.
The Surge had potential, but its excellent combat systems are baked into a game that can't do them justice. The repetitive and drab environments are a huge hindrance, and when combined with a confusing network of corridors, hallways, and ledges, it's easy to become frustrated, misled, and lost. You may find some fun experimenting with your attack options and the smooth framerate on the PS4 Pro does help to make that a better experience, but expecting anything more than that will only set yourself up for disappointment.
The Surge offers players hours of thrilling exploration combined with combat mechanics which encourages you to be cautious and consistent when entering a fight. If technology is going to do this to us in the future, I might have to grab the typewriter from the attic.
The Surge is not Dark Souls little brother, nor it wants to be. It's definitely a souls-like, but with its own personality, some nice level design ideas, and a storyline that won't disappoint you.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Surge is a nice addition to the genre. The combat feels great even when the story and mechanics start to sputter out. The claustrophobic nature of the level design adds to the tension, and it feels good to have a game in this genre that isn't chock full of gothic horror themes. It brings new ideas to the familiar mechanics and executes on them well.
There is no digging through your inventory for that extra elixir or bomb; if you can't figure out an enemy's pattern or weakness, you are dead.
The Surge is a good attempt to shift Souls mechanics into a world of a technological future, but a general secondariness, samely levels, problems with combat and boring enemies leave a touch of disappointment. In addition, the developers have not added multiplayer modes, which can be considered to be an obvious omission. However, to the credit of Deck 13, the game does not cause irritation, allowing you to spend time waiting for new additions to Nioh or a next project from Hidetaka Miyazaki.
Review in Russian | Read full review
The Surge started off great. The combat was fun, the story seemed interesting, and the crafting was enjoyable that is until I got a dozen or so hours into it where everything went from being doable to insanely hard, grindy, and uninspiring.
The Surge isn't interested in creating variation in its gameplay mechanics, or exploring more diverse settings or ideas, or creating compelling characters. It washes over you, but it's a refined wash, and the foundation for a great game to come. The Surge is a good thing, and I'm glad it exists as another answer to the Souls-esque games coming out – its dull, but refined sci-fi action makes the game feel like a first step, if only a step, in the right direction.
Deck 13 serves up a fun alternative to Dark Souls in the Surge, featuring the same type of deliberate combat and punishing difficulty in a more sci-fi package. It's a bit short and could use more diversity in its foes and environs. If you're looking for a different take on the Souls-like genre, however, this one's worth taking a stab, hack, slice or bludgeoning blow at.
The Surge is a good action-RPG and a real Dark Souls-like, so the game is clearly not open for everyone. It offers interesting systems, but we still regret a lack of diversity in everything (weapons, enemies, environments...).
Review in French | Read full review
The Surge is a satisfying sci-fi RPG that pleasantly surprises in more ways than it disappoints. Fans of Dark Souls-style titles will find a lot to like here and the unique combat system keeps it from feeling like a rip-off. It's just a shame that the narrative and world building isn't stronger.
The Surge is a very good surprise because it is more than just a futuristic Dark Souls clon, it's a challenging and fun action RPG with interesting variations on its combat system and a satisfying campaign.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The idea of soulslike ready to approach dystopian science fiction was not only intriguing, but potentially winning. The incipit of The Surge clearly shows a great potential: despite some flows in the combat and growth systems, the game still manages to capture the player, awaken his curiosity. Unfortunately, too much of this potential is lost, due to a bad level design, poorly inspired environments, and a distressing lack of contents.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Surge is a flawed but ultimately enjoyable action RPG. While it can be incredibly frustrating at times, the fantastic combat and body part targeting system does enough to overshadow the bad parts.
Like Lords of the Fallen, The Surge is another rock-solid souls-a-like, losing a little of its predecessor's strong storytelling and atmosphere, but gaining from the change from fantasy to sci-fi and the ingenious mech smashing and harvesting upgrade system. It's not quite on the same level as the Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne or Nioh, but that's more down to the lore and art style than the brilliant gameplay. If you like the sound of a gritty dystopian take on Dark Souls, The Surge is an easy game to recommend.
The Surge is a game you'll play for its innovative targeting system and fun combat. If you're still mourning the end of the Dark Souls series and are yearning for more punishing, action-heavy games, this should help to alleviate some of that pain.