The Surge

 PC
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 285 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 146 out of 285
  2. Mixed: 74 out of 285
  3. Negative: 65 out of 285

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  1. apokalipto
    Aug 28, 2023
    9
    Very good game. I enjoyed playing this game a lot. I strongly recommend this.
  2. ManHoof
    Jul 29, 2023
    6
    It's a good game. It is unusual within the genre. It also has interesting game mechanics. The plot is normal. The bosses, unfortunately, are quite easy and predictable. Also, the auto-leveling is annoying. The DLC for the game is terrible. If you don't play them, you won't lose anything.
  3. realWhiteMan
    Apr 9, 2023
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. My rating is based on my impressions of the game. This is not an objective review. I play quite a big number of titles per year and decided to review them as a peace of art and not as a product.… Expand
  4. Naked_Snakee
    Apr 7, 2023
    6
    Just text (crutch) to save the game to the list. Such things. Maybe I'll do a review later.
  5. TropShop
    Mar 4, 2023
    8
    A super under-rated action RPG with satisfying combat and a unique limb dismemberment system. The story is a serviceable generic sci-fi plot but the main attraction is the stellar combat system. Seriously, kudos to the animators who created those amazing exicution animations. They make you feel so powerful and never get old. The boss encounters are okay but if you have grown use to theA super under-rated action RPG with satisfying combat and a unique limb dismemberment system. The story is a serviceable generic sci-fi plot but the main attraction is the stellar combat system. Seriously, kudos to the animators who created those amazing exicution animations. They make you feel so powerful and never get old. The boss encounters are okay but if you have grown use to the likes of from software they leave bit to be desired as far as moveset and challenge. Overall, this game is just a ton of fun, especially if you are a phycopath who enjoys severing limbs from your enemies.… Expand
  6. Pmstz
    Jan 30, 2023
    6
    Nice Souls like.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  7. keens
    Jan 8, 2023
    8
    A great addition to the soul-like genre - 7.5/10
    I had a lot of fun with this game. While inspired by souls games, it add it's own twists to create a unique experience.
    The main unique mechanics: 1. Leveling - you don't level by increasing your attributes (str, dex, etc.) but instead you increase your "core" power, which allows you to use better/more implants. So your character is    A great addition to the soul-like genre - 7.5/10
    I had a lot of fun with this game. While inspired by souls games, it add it's own twists to create a unique experience.

    The main unique mechanics:
    1. Leveling - you don't level by increasing your attributes (str, dex, etc.) but instead you increase your "core" power, which allows you to use better/more implants. So your character is defined by the implants it uses, and they can be swapped easily at checkpoints. this give a lot of flexibility and versatility to you play style.
    2. Limb targeting system - when you locked on an enemy, you can target a specific limb (head, arms, etc.). reducing the enemy health and then perform a finisher on it with cut the limb and you will get the armor/weapon it was holding. this is the main way you get weapons, armors and crafting materials in this game. I find it very cool mechanic as you can get exactly what you need form an enemy instead of farming in hopes it will drop the correct item.
    3. Drones - while there is no "magic" in this game (this is a sci-fi game), you have different kind of drones that can fill this slot. the drones can ram or burn your enemies, apply shield on you and more. Unfortunately didn't find the drones useful enough to actually use them.

    Overall a decent game to play.    … Expand
  8. napoxog
    Jul 12, 2022
    9
    I'm not a souls fan.
    But I like sci-fi setting.
    And this game suddenly keeps me playing....
    I like the story, I like gameplay, I like level design...
    I like even graphics which run and look awesome on my old rig in 2k.
    Hail to Deck13. Good work.
    I don't understand why this game is so underscored...
  9. Zeneko90
    Jun 2, 2022
    8
    Nettes. Spiel es hat echt viel Spaß gemacht. Mehr davon! Nicht zu lang, nicht zu kurz. Genau richtig.
  10. Felistisia
    Feb 26, 2022
    7
    The Surge is an action role-playing game with the souls-like game mechanics. The souls-like mechanics are mechanics that make the player have to grind for the upgrading currency by killing the enemy or using the item, which will be lost if the player dies. However, the player has the chance to get it back once revived, but if the player dies, they lose it permanently. Moreover, this gameThe Surge is an action role-playing game with the souls-like game mechanics. The souls-like mechanics are mechanics that make the player have to grind for the upgrading currency by killing the enemy or using the item, which will be lost if the player dies. However, the player has the chance to get it back once revived, but if the player dies, they lose it permanently. Moreover, this game takes it another step further in terms of challenge by limiting the time for the player to retrieve it. The movement and action of this game are flawless, smooth, and precise. This game provides the mechanics of hitting the target body part, where a player could select the part that is vulnerable or the target part to cut. It is easy to control and understand, like moving your own arm and hand. Furthermore, this mechanic relates to the stamina status, which will be used on every movement you do except walking, and the energy status for special moves, so the player has to consider their actions and decisions wisely. In terms of challenge, players have low health, limited health restoration items, and the enemy will hit you very hard, even the started enemy. This forces the player to learn how to dodge and block the attacks, and they can't be careless or else the game will punish them very hard. With all the systems mentioned previously, this game is not recommended for the casual, impatient, or time-constrained player. This game's story and gameplay are very serious and brutal, so the player needs to have consideration and not have depression. The price of the game is reasonable with its impressive graphics in 2017. It is definitely worth the cost. The downside to this game might be the optimization. Because it's an old game, it doesn't have the boardless windows feature. Furthermore, it is possible that it will crash at some point. In conclusion, this game is very fun and highly recommended for challenge players and others.… Expand
  11. Traxillion
    Feb 5, 2022
    4
    Imagine Dark Souls with non of the good features and most of the negative aspects of it given more screen-time.

    That's The Surge.

    Creo world DLC is good while the Wild West themed DLC is rather poor and a waste of time.
  12. Gorbunov2004
    Aug 6, 2021
    7
    Геймплей с отсечением конечностей задумка прикольная и реализована неплохо. Но в игре вообще не понятно куда идти и это бесит больше всего.
  13. pwnarella
    Jun 1, 2021
    0
    This game starts with some great ideas:
    Cutting body parts of enemies to build better equipment, explore new gear sets and implants to overcome stronger enemies, destroy big machine bosses with skill and good equipment. With all the ideas the first 3-6 hours can be fun. But the downsite of the game shows also very fast: The gameplay is very static, enemie routes are maybe 5 meters long,    This game starts with some great ideas:
    Cutting body parts of enemies to build better equipment, explore new gear sets and implants to overcome stronger enemies, destroy big machine bosses with skill and good equipment. With all the ideas the first 3-6 hours can be fun. But the downsite of the game shows also very fast: The gameplay is very static, enemie routes are maybe 5 meters long, the most enemies do not move at all and prefer to bang their head against some wall, while grunting. Stealth mechanics are also pretty non existent, sure you can sneak in form of very slow movement to an enemy, but there seems no real crit system, there is no ability tree except for weappns and so on. The game therefore feels static and repetitive after some hours, no dynamic gameplay can eb found on the AI. Enemies arent warning each other, there are no alarm bells you can kill an enemy while another stands 6 meters away and stares at the fight.
    But the problems of static and dumb AI could be put aside, when the game would offer intersting points on some other side. Here the game also fails utterly: The story could be a reason to keep playing, but it is just a bunch of random story pics from classic sci-fi themes: mad professor who broke moral laws to save mankind? check. Human progression through technical implants? Check. Danger of technology in form of some virus, which took control of the enhanced robo humans??? Check. This goes so far, that mr.evilgenius even has to face the player behind some lab-window to talk the average mad-evil-genius-blabla as in thousands of games and movies before. And this is the point, where i have to say, the negative elements of this game destroy every good new and innovative impression i had in the start. Th gameplay feels static, the story is utterly garbage, the grinding was cool at beginning of the new millenia, but geeez we got 2020, we dont need no more eviolgenius scientists behind some glasses, static mobs and dumb AIs.    … Expand
  14. Tiziown
    May 22, 2021
    8
    Way better than Lords of the Fallen, too bad the bosses were just 5 and they kinda suck, but the rest is good.
  15. SilverOrlov
    May 4, 2021
    8
    I liked: Juicy fights(sounds and visual), pleasant musical solutions(like a calm measured sound in the open space of a factory, or classical music in the administrative sector). Visually, the game is good, albeit sharpy-made. Especially I liked the light and foliage in the mentioned administration, it's a very beautiful solution. Excellent optimization... I really liked the idea ofI liked: Juicy fights(sounds and visual), pleasant musical solutions(like a calm measured sound in the open space of a factory, or classical music in the administrative sector). Visually, the game is good, albeit sharpy-made. Especially I liked the light and foliage in the mentioned administration, it's a very beautiful solution. Excellent optimization... I really liked the idea of ​​bringing something new to the soul's genre(techno, not the Middle Ages). The bosses were very good, interesting and different.
    I liked the general plot of the game. Well, I will not say that it was something particularly exciting, but it was interesting.
    ...
    I disliked: I was wildly enraged by the music in the save zone. An extremely unfortunate choice for constant listening, in my opinion. I really did not like the impossibility to disassemble the weapon. There is no game map(screens are almost useless). A drone is almost useless junk. All energy is much more relevant to spend on other things. Only two drones were interesting: defensive and laser (to lure out the enemy without wasting energy). I will not say that I especially noticed the difference in armor - one, two punches from almost all enemies are sent you to your ancestors. So it is not the characteristics that matter in 90% of them, but what bonus is given for the full set.
    And lastly: I didn't like the way the authors finished the game. The ending itself was interesting, but disappointing with what happened during the subtitles, and wildly laughing at the appearance of a wheelchair... How the hell could it appear there?! ...What is this a cheap trick, c'mon?    … Expand
  16. Hoaaeinshrt98
    Apr 21, 2021
    10
    Excellent... Amazing...
    Awesome... MasterPiece...
    ❤️Thank You Deck 13❤️
  17. X2S_Robert
    Jan 6, 2021
    10
    It is NOT Dark Souls.
    Some "reviewers" here are saying that Uninstalled the game after playing "half" of it...maybe because it was a bit hard to keep going ahead,or maybe because there was no "demon" to deal with,or a fat mage that keep spaming spells against you.
    This is not a useful review but it is my opinion,i finished The Surge and The Surge 2 in New Game+ and it never felt    It is NOT Dark Souls.
    Some "reviewers" here are saying that Uninstalled the game after playing "half" of it...maybe because it was a bit hard to keep going ahead,or maybe because there was no "demon" to deal with,or a fat mage that keep spaming spells against you.
    This is not a useful review but it is my opinion,i finished The Surge and The Surge 2 in New Game+ and it never felt repetitive or boring to me,because it is not Dark Souls bs.    … Expand
  18. Defoxx
    Dec 1, 2020
    6
    Неплохая игра, отличительной особенностью которой является возможность бить по отдельным частям тела и отрубать их. Сама по себе игра короткая, из-за чего не надоедает и быстро проходится.
  19. FabioFisher
    Nov 16, 2020
    9
    It`s amazing game. A authentic souls like. Good combat, good upgrade, good arsenal. Maybe could be more development the history.
  20. JonsGone
    Oct 22, 2020
    4
    It's bad.
    It's so bad.
    Bad as in you get to understand why and how similar games like Dark Souls are good. The level design is horrendous and easily THE worst part of this unoriginal pile of junk. Maps are labyrinthian and paths more than often lead to dead ends, shortcuts to nowhere and severe migranes trying to figure out the way forward. The environments all look identical in every    It's bad.
    It's so bad.
    Bad as in you get to understand why and how similar games like Dark Souls are good.
    The level design is horrendous and easily THE worst part of this unoriginal pile of junk.
    Maps are labyrinthian and paths more than often lead to dead ends, shortcuts to nowhere and severe migranes trying to figure out the way forward.
    The environments all look identical in every single area.
    BUT I GUESS DARK SOULS DIDNT HAVE A MAP SO THERES NO NEED FOR ONE THERE.
    Enemies are bland at best and absolutely horrible at worst and there's not enough blandess in there to patch out the awfulness.
    Bosses are just plain dumb with very little tells as to what attack is coming, where it's coming from and how fast it's going to hit you.
    Mostly it's either guesswork and/or facetanking until it breaks.
    Last boss just straight up goes from standing still to AoE damage in less than a second.
    Went for political commentary on overcorporatisation and climate change until it didn't and just decided to roll with a **** Terminator ripoff.
    Targeting body parts is to loot armor is fine i guess but when you have to fiddle with the controls for a good 10 seconds to target a leg before engaging it gets old real fast.
    CBA, went full caveman and bashed heads until the end of the game.
    Weapon proficiency is dumb AF and disincentivises trying out other playstyles.

    Had to push myself to finish this **** and honestly, its not worth it.

    Dont bother.    … Expand
  21. leSange
    Aug 7, 2020
    6
    +Понравился стиль
    +Довольно отзывчивое управление
    -Задолбало наворачивать круги по локациям, если у тебя топографический критинизм - тебе ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
    -Хорошо что не взял DLC и так поднадоело
  22. greenbey
    Jul 11, 2020
    8
    A-
    "A sci-fi dark souls" can be used to describe this game.
    Gameplay is good, different weapons has different move sets and this makes each weapon type unique with its reach, move set, speed and damage. Dismemberment system is interesting and fun. When you need to upgrade an equipment of yours you need parts from enemies for that type of equipment. Boss fights are not hard but some of    A-
    "A sci-fi dark souls" can be used to describe this game.
    Gameplay is good, different weapons has different move sets and this makes each weapon type unique with its reach, move set, speed and damage.
    Dismemberment system is interesting and fun.
    When you need to upgrade an equipment of yours you need parts from enemies for that type of equipment.
    Boss fights are not hard but some of them has ways you cannot find out immediately to beat them and this makes you think that game is broken or something but no you just missed something.
    Recommended for soulslike fans.    … Expand
  23. Dco326
    Apr 12, 2020
    4
    ISt afora kao dark souls samo nekako meni totalno nezanimljiva iskreno. NEma mape to je jako smaracki borba je onako leveli su mejzovi jebote naporni faozn. Stv nema nista da privuce cak sta vise jako je naporno i dosadno. Nzm ja ne bih igrao ovo nikad vise. Kad sam ja odustao na pola igrice sve ti jano. 4 puta sam crkao jer padnem dok napadam lika jer su im leveli debilni fazon.
  24. OberiousLocke
    Mar 9, 2020
    0
    Short - The first game in over 7-8 years that has forced me to bring Cheat Engine out with insistence on poorly designed enemies that only gets more egregious as the game goes on. Do not recommend unless you're a masochist.

    I'm currently I think towards the end of the resolve biolab area, I'm putting this in now because by this point I've already seen enough to warrant the semi-verbal    Short - The first game in over 7-8 years that has forced me to bring Cheat Engine out with insistence on poorly designed enemies that only gets more egregious as the game goes on. Do not recommend unless you're a masochist.

    I'm currently I think towards the end of the resolve biolab area, I'm putting this in now because by this point I've already seen enough to warrant the semi-verbal castigation of Deck 13 and The Surge. Enemies that don't play by the rules that the Player does, erratic/semi-random enemy behavior make it impossible to really learn like you can in a half-way decent souls/soulslike game. A small list of things that I've already encountered.

    -The four legged robots. They can knock off half your health with a backflip which floors you, and it's a coin toss if, by the time you get off the floor, they immediately screw you for the other half of your health with their heatseeking lunge attack. I say heatseeking because I've literally baited it, ran around a 90 degree corner, only for the robot to jank itself around the corner and hit me anyway.

    -Poorly designed "stability" poise system. I can't stagger a single-rigged enemy out of their attack (like the Hammer guys through Area 2) but enemies can very easily stagger me if I reverse the situations. General rule of thumb, if you need to ask "Am I going to get staggered out of my attack" in the moment, the answer is yes. The reverse also applies, "Can I stagger the enemy out of their attack" in the moment, the answer is usually no.

    -The box robots throughout the Biolabs that can literally slow you to a crawl, and god forbid you're low on stamina because some how COOLANT results in your stamina regen stopping(?!)

    -Enemy attacks frequently have no wind up. Take the hammer guys again throughout the second area. If you don't proceed very cautiously, their first move is going to be knock you into the air for 40% of your HP, depriving you of the ability to dodge, block or heal, before they slam you back down with the second hit, taking off another 50%-ish percent.

    -Obnoxious targeting of limbs. It's a catch 22. If you only target unarmored limbs, you won't get upgrade materials or schematics. If you target armored limbs, they can very easily wombo combo you through your attacks, again displaying the fact that the only good poise system was Dark Souls 1's.

    -Tying the player's healing estus flask analog to a **** equippable. Even things like healing with energy or the injectables you get to start do very little to stop the insane amount of damage enemies do anyway.

    I've tried many kinds of weapons and many kinds of rigs (Lynx, Rhino and Liquidator), and while the numbers may change, there is very little in terms of real difference.

    Overall, 3/10. If your tolerance for bull**** is good, I recommend. If not, maybe pass and go play something less frustrating, like trying to fight a bear.

    I'm revising this to a 0. Everything else I've seen in the final areas, Black Cerberus fight, and now the nanite masses that can do the following.

    -Kill you in a rapid 3 hit combo and there's nothing you can do if you get caught.
    -Stun you so you cannot heal, block, dodge, or attack, while removing 1/3rd - 1/2 your health
    -Launch a giant rock at you that will take off 1/2 your HP
    -Multiply
    -Heal
    -Suddenly need a special execute that you have never had to use a single time in the game to that point.

    So poorly designed this game, and yet people love it. I think we might need another Video Game crash to get Dev's heads back on straight.    … Expand
  25. Babutto
    Dec 9, 2019
    6
    Pros.:
    - story (reminds of Half-Life, Prey, System Shock 2 and so on);
    - game design is nice; - sound effects and secrets. Cons.: - the same enemies over and over again; - the game pushes you to craft that I hate. If you don't craft or kill enemies thousand times to have more scrap, you'll lose on the second location already; - versatility is not high enough; - cheaty enemies.    Pros.:
    - story (reminds of Half-Life, Prey, System Shock 2 and so on);
    - game design is nice;
    - sound effects and secrets.

    Cons.:
    - the same enemies over and over again;
    - the game pushes you to craft that I hate. If you don't craft or kill enemies thousand times to have more scrap, you'll lose on the second location already;
    - versatility is not high enough;
    - cheaty enemies.

    I finished half of the game and then deleted it. "Played" on youtube after. I rarely do this.    … Expand
  26. watchm824
    Dec 6, 2019
    10
    The surge was a pleasant surprise for me. Unusual and exciting character leveling system. Well-designed and interesting levels. And most importantly for me: the atmosphere of Sci-fi and cyberpunk.
  27. CaueV
    Nov 8, 2019
    4
    I tried to like this game. I really did. I had a somewhat good time in the beginning hours, but soon enough you'll see that deck 13 just can't make good games.
    Even though this is not nearly as bad as lords of the fallen, it has so many flaws that it is still not worth your time.
    The bad decisions in game design make me wonder if the devs ever played a video game before. Better yet, if    I tried to like this game. I really did. I had a somewhat good time in the beginning hours, but soon enough you'll see that deck 13 just can't make good games.
    Even though this is not nearly as bad as lords of the fallen, it has so many flaws that it is still not worth your time.
    The bad decisions in game design make me wonder if the devs ever played a video game before. Better yet, if they ever played a souls game, the series that they so clearly are trying to mimic here.
    Let me run you through of some the frustrations you'll encounter:
    Stats are unclear. You don't know what exactly what is the damage of you weapon or the protection your armor has. They mix a numeric scale with a scale from very low to very high to describe stats. who was the genius behind this? how do I know the damage I do? 30dmg times "high" equals what?
    Maps are very dull and it look all the same.
    The amount of branching paths in the last hours of the game is laughable.
    Your health bar means nothing. half of the bosses attacks will one shot you. The other half will two-shot you, but the first attack staggers you so the second will always hit.
    Don't even get me started on the hit boxes. On every boss fight you'll get hit by invisible hitboxes, so your only option is to memorize them by trial and error.
    Lots of cheap deaths. enemies can easily two shot you, especially if you try to run pas them.

    This game had a lot of potential, but by the end of it all you'll think of is "please just end already".
    Don't play this game. You won't have fun with it. At least no enough to justify all the frustration.    … Expand
  28. EROCKQ
    Oct 16, 2019
    10
    Criminally underrated game. It's really too bad how cancerous the community on this site has become. This game is perfect for fans of the genre. Hardcore action RPG game with lots of spectacular hidden mechanics, lore, real estate and gear to uncover. Not a game for everyone but those who appreciate the genre will love it. Helps if you have experience with dark souls. If not check out aCriminally underrated game. It's really too bad how cancerous the community on this site has become. This game is perfect for fans of the genre. Hardcore action RPG game with lots of spectacular hidden mechanics, lore, real estate and gear to uncover. Not a game for everyone but those who appreciate the genre will love it. Helps if you have experience with dark souls. If not check out a primer on the combat mechanucs.… Expand
  29. Palimash
    Oct 4, 2019
    6
    Многие механики этой игры нагло взяты из Dark Souls (Demon souls), но над ними провели действительно отличную работу. Поэтому играть в неё приятно. Так же здесь отлично сделаны анимации, приятный хоть и совсем небольшой саундтрек, и особенно я хочу отметить лор игры. Из неприятного можно припомнить баги и некоторые несущественные мелочи.Многие механики этой игры нагло взяты из Dark Souls (Demon souls), но над ними провели действительно отличную работу. Поэтому играть в неё приятно. Так же здесь отлично сделаны анимации, приятный хоть и совсем небольшой саундтрек, и особенно я хочу отметить лор игры. Из неприятного можно припомнить баги и некоторые несущественные мелочи.
  30. nik_balani
    Aug 31, 2019
    3
    This game had a lot of potential. The intro scenes were excellent and the player control and graphics are good + gameplay entertaining. However after about 20 mins it becomes far too challenging to continue. Need to spend a significant amount of time leveling up before you can make it further which is annoying so I simply gave up.
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Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Most Discussed PC Game of 2017
59
#59 Most Shared PC Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. IGN Japan
    Dec 14, 2017
    78
    Bringing a Dead Space-style SF horror atmosphere to a Dark Souls-inspired action game makes things interesting, and the speedy battle system, which includes cutting off body parts and crafting elements, is a success. However, the somewhat dull pace of the game results in the player dying a bit too often, leaving plenty of room for improvement when it comes to the game’s overall balance.
    Read full review
  2. Riot Pixels
    Jul 23, 2017
    55
    I wanted to say something about the story, but it is nothingburger… just like everything else in The Surge.
    Read full review
  3. PC PowerPlay
    Jun 30, 2017
    80
    Despite some pacing and story flaws, the thoughtful, tactical combat is always engrossing. [Issue#263, p.58]
    Read full review
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