The Surge Reviews

The Surge is ranked in the 51st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
May 26, 2017

Even with its issues, the game shines.

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5 / 10
Mar 27, 2019

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.

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May 19, 2017

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.

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The Games Machine
Marco Tassani
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
May 15, 2017

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

Ken McKown
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
May 23, 2017

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.

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5 / 10
May 19, 2017

The Surge has a lot of nice ideas, but most of them are stomped on by conflicting with the game design. Not a bad Souls-like, but not one that's particularly easy to recommend either.

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8 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

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.

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May 16, 2017

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.

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75 / 100
May 16, 2017

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.

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GameMAG
xtr
Top Critic
6 / 10
May 16, 2017

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

6 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

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.

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7.5 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2017

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.

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EGM
Top Critic
6.5 / 10.0
May 26, 2017

The Surge's engaging risk/reward combat system and obsession with gear will compel you to want to fight your way through a cataclysmic sci-fi hell. But the repetitive enemy types, uninspired visual design, and unfortunate lack of polish leaves the game feeling soulless.

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7 / 10
May 26, 2017

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

7.3 / 10.0
May 19, 2017

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.

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Atomix
Top Critic
78 / 100
May 16, 2017

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

6.8 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

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

7 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

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.

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8 / 10.0
May 15, 2017

Deck13 has built on the successes and mistakes of Lords of the Fallen and has created something that is able to not only stand toe-to-toe with the Souls franchise but is also capable of standing on its own with its unique identity. The new and different systems The Surge has introduced makes it an enjoyable and different experience for both newcomers to the genre and those who have already played Souls-like games previously. Deck13 has done a great job at combining the familiar and the new to create a unique vision that's both fun and challenging.

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ACG
Top Critic
Wait for Sale
May 15, 2017
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