Scars Above, a brand new third-person action-adventure from Mad Head Video games, has so much going for it on paper. It is a linear sport that does not require crafting assets or occurring aspect missions. Whereas there are thematic hyperlinks to roguelike video games (particularly Returnal), the gameplay loop extra precisely recollects the kind of theme park-esque expertise that we do not see in video games all too usually anymore. Add on a handful of attention-grabbing elemental weapons and artistic monster designs, and I must be over the moon, even with the reigned-in expectations that include Scars Above‘s finances aspirations. As a substitute, my pleasure failed to interrupt the ambiance, and I used to be stranded on an alien world stuffed with tedium and mediocrity.
Scars Above follows Kate Ward, an astronaut scientist stranded on a hostile alien planet stuffed with thriller and hazard. After studying that she will’t die, she units out throughout the panorama to search out her lacking crewmates and uncover the origins of the mutated monsters that lurk round each nook. Kate has entry to weapons and devices helpful for preventing enemies and executives with completely different weaknesses. That recommended complexity falls aside not too quickly after you start enjoying, bringing the worst of soulslike inspirations onto an in any other case bland trek via the celebrities.
Loading into the sport on regular problem, the fight in Scars Above actually feels applicable for a sport that has been marketed as “troublesome.” Surviving as Kate requires deft dodge rolling and exact aiming to crush the bevy of acid-spewing beasts attacking her at each flip. Nonetheless, I discovered this problem much less of a enjoyable problem and extra of a burden to beat.
Enemies are bullet sponges for a lot too lengthy into the marketing campaign, and managing ammo comes alongside a small stamina meter, a battery in your devices, and a number of other environmental hazards that may take you out with out a lot warning. Mad Head Video games attempt to emulate the issue and exploration of Darkish Souls with a splash of sci-fi taking pictures, however Scars Above has a tough time capturing that magic.
Not like the originators of the Souls identify, Scars Above has a number of difficulties, and I discovered that the time I spent on the simpler choice made for a way more satisfying expertise. As a substitute of going through a gauntlet of trial and error, Kate may scrape by most encounters and maintain the ahead momentum going. It felt like a PlayStation 2 journey slightly than a nasty imitation of newer fare, even when taking the simpler street would possibly result in a less-than-thrilling expertise for some.
Between the 2 difficulties, I discovered some enjoyable in zapping worms to loss of life and blasting away at glowing weak spots for enormous harm. I did must bump issues again up completely by the tip, thanks to some overpowered offensive choices, however I used to be greater than geared up to deal with every part Scars Above threw at me by that time. I even felt barely unhappy that no New Sport + choice awaited me after the credit rolled.
Whereas I ultimately discovered a superb medium with the working and gunning, storytelling in Scars Above by no means actually comes collectively. Kate’s journey as a genetically chosen hero taking down a malicious AI’s machinations is painfully generic. The voice performing is sparse and tepid, the audio diaries deal with apparent conclusions as huge reveals, and there are quite a lot of moments of technobabble pasted instead of sensical plot developments. It was troublesome to maintain my concentrate on what was occurring.
I did get pleasure from recognizing the visible cues drawn to classics like Halo: Fight Advanced, particularly as you dive into the amenities of the forerunner race who created the universe-destroying drive you are contending with. Nonetheless, if I weren’t devoted to enjoying to the tip for work, these identical similarities might have drawn me down a nostalgic rabbit gap, and I am undecided that Scars Above has something in its arsenal to regain my consideration.
Past inspiration points, Scars Above presents ample proof that it was as soon as a lot grander than the expertise now hitting retailer cabinets. Kate’s improve tree feeds off expertise factors you get from researching features of the world, together with an enormous enhance for every new kind of fallen foe. You additionally get factors from collectible cubes that originally exist off the crushed path.
Just a few hours in, these collectibles littered the panorama and all of the sudden paid out way more generously than they have been earlier than. The tempo goes from slowly gaining new skills to selecting every part off the tree since you’re flooding in improve factors. This, plus an unwelcome reminder of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker in direction of the tip, made me really feel like I wasn’t getting the entire story.
I got here into Scars Above with only a few expectations and was nonetheless disillusioned. Whereas the gameplay and its variable problem strike a pleasant stability that might please each masochistic and extra informal gamers, few will discover the sport’s narrative and world one thing they want to maintain exploring past their preliminary exploratory journey. There’s not so much right here that is distinctive, and there is not so much right here that noteworthy in its failure. Scars Above is about as center of the street because it will get, a direct-to-video journey in an age of cinematic, expansive blockbusters.
TechRaptor reviewed Scars Above on Xbox Collection X with a replica supplied by the writer. The sport can be obtainable on Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC.
