The Surge

 Xbox One
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
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  1. Game Rant
    May 23, 2017
    70
    The Surge delivers an intriguing sci-fi world with dark themes and should satisfy any genre fans looking for something to play now that the Dark Souls series has ended. Just don’t pick up The Surge expecting a game that is as polished as From Software’s flagship franchise.
  2. ZTGD
    May 23, 2017
    70
    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.
  3. AusGamers
    May 18, 2017
    70
    It’s safe to say that The Surge completely focuses on providing a souls-like experience from beginning to end, offering up deep combat mechanics with interesting and large-scale boss battles. The story, although engaging to a point, takes a back seat to this singular goal. It’s not without its flaws, and its appeal will primarily be limited to those looking so this one type of experience. But The Surge feels like a success, and one that we’ll probably end up dying several hundred more times in.
  5. ICXM
    May 15, 2017
    70
    The Surge is a fantastic starting point for those who may be intimidated by the likes of Dark Souls or Nioh. It may not be as polished or well designed as the games it’s trying to emulate, but it is more accessible for the mainstream audience. With satisfying combat and a unique dystopian setting for this genre, The Surge is still a good game regardless of its shortcomings.

Awards & Rankings

92
#92 Best Xbox One Game of 2017
47
#47 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2017
27
#27 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2017

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 89 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 89
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 89
  3. Negative: 18 out of 89
  1. bwh31
    May 16, 2017
    7
    This is a pretty fun game if you're a fan of hardcore action RPG's. The key is to look past the whole "but its not dark souls" mentality. No,This is a pretty fun game if you're a fan of hardcore action RPG's. The key is to look past the whole "but its not dark souls" mentality. No, it isn't as good as the souls series, but it is still a very well made game. Addictive combat (the new limb targeting system is pretty neat), pretty good loot system, and an interesting sci-fi setting make it an above average game in my opinion. The game is lacking in a deep narrative story, and level/enemy variety, but the good things about this game far outweigh the bad. If you are a fan of this genre, approach it with an open mind and you will find yourself with an overall very enjoyable play through.… Full Review »
  2. I69GrzzlyBears
    May 27, 2017
    8
    I can't recommend Surge enough for anyone who is a fan of Souls-Borne games. I have been spreading praise of this game like wildfire to any ofI can't recommend Surge enough for anyone who is a fan of Souls-Borne games. I have been spreading praise of this game like wildfire to any of my friends who enjoy From Software's titles. Deck13 Interactive's previous title, Lords of the Fallen, was a decent DS clone, but felt as though it was trying too hard to mimic Souls, instead of trying to be one in it's own. This is where The Surge shines. Giving us a tech wasteland filled with augmented humans who have been zombified, as well as monstrous machines that want to turn the player into scrap. Combat is fast and fluid with different weapons and armor styles to compliment the style the player choses to take. These are fairly limited as the game only offers two styles: Slow, high damage tank. Or a nimble, medium-frenzy damage dealing lynx. The combat is where the game shines, and dare I say trumps the likes of Dark Souls. Individual body parts are able to be targeted with the lock on feature that is present. This allows the player to assess the enemy. and manually target unarmored body parts for extra damage. There is incentive to target armored body parts as well, which leads to the most interesting part of The Surge's mechanics, the loot system. You see, instead of enemies randomly dropping armor or weapons, and instead of purchasing them, you have to earn your loot off the enemy by using the "cut" mechanic. If an enemy is holding a new weapon that you want to use, you take it. Target the body part that is holding the prize and hack away, if enough damage is dealt to the body part, and when the finisher prompt appears, the execution will remove the body part entirely, leaving the player to it's spoils. When this was introduced, I couldn't help but be impressed by it, as it added a new layer to the combat that makes it even more exciting, and has the necessary tools to make your life a little easier, which you definitely will need.

    This game is hard. Each area seems to have more and more enemies at the helm waiting to ambush, or gank the player to death. Like Souls, it's important to time your attacks and not just mash away at the attack buttons and hope for success. Boss battles shine as well, and offer us the classic pattern memorization, trial and error gameplay that make these games so popular. Every boss you take down leaves you with the sense of triumph that few games can emulate. There is no difficulty option, so if you keep getting mashed to death by the first boss, it's time to git gud. It's not all bad though, as the community for this game is growing rapidly and there are plenty of tips and tricks to help those who need it. Is it the hardest Souls-Borne game? No. I still think that belongs to Bloodborne, but don't expect a cake walk. Expect a barbwire and broken glass walk akin to the original Dark Souls. If you've played From's games in the past, and get over the minor tweaks to combat, I doubt you'll have much trouble.

    Ultimately The Surge offers us something special, and a very pleasant surprise to say the least. If you're aching for From's next title and looking something to fill the void, this is that filler that's able to stand on it's own merits and will definitely attract a cult following, if not several sequels. Either way it's a fantastic game that will keep you dying and happy for weeks to come.    … Full Review »
  3. TheTG
    May 17, 2017
    0
    Terrible game, does nothing new, full of bugs and glitches, only 5 boring and easy bosses, the environment is always the same, no creativity,Terrible game, does nothing new, full of bugs and glitches, only 5 boring and easy bosses, the environment is always the same, no creativity, 90% of the game mechanics are copied from Souls, shameless thieves. Don't waste your time on this garbage game.… Full Review »
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