The Surge

The story of The Surge receives mixed reviews from critics, with some positive aspects highlighted. Critics such as GameSpot praise the unnerving and sinister tone of the narrative, blending fear of technology with body horror effectively. Additionally, The Overpowered Noobs appreciate the vagueness of the story, starting with a wheelchair-bound protagonist dragged into a desert, setting the stage for an intriguing journey. Furthermore, Impulsegamer acknowledges the immersive sci-fi horror setting and the emphasis on environmental exploration for lore, adding depth to the game's world. On the negative side, several critics point out significant flaws in the story of The Surge. Hooked Gamers and Trusted Reviews both criticize the lack of development and engagement in the narrative, with Hooked Gamers specifically mentioning the story's failure to captivate the reviewer. Critics like Game Informer and Gameplanet highlight the repetitive nature and lack of depth in the science-fiction setting, leading to a mediocre storytelling experience. Furthermore, critics such as GameCrate and Polygon mention the flat and uninteresting characters, as well as the confusing plot twists that detract from the overall narrative experience. Overall, the consensus among critics leans towards a general disappointment with the story of The Surge. While some aspects like the eerie tone and environmental exploration are appreciated by a few reviewers, the majority find the narrative lacking in depth and originality. The reliance on familiar sci-fi tropes, unengaging characters, and a lack of meaningful development contribute to a narrative that falls short of expectations. Critics like ZTGD and Game Rant point out the game's descent into clichés and predictability, ultimately leading to a forgettable and underwhelming storytelling experience for many players.

The majority of critics praised The Surge for its innovative and engaging gameplay mechanics. Gameplanet appreciated the fresh combat system with the limb targeting feature, which added a unique twist to the gameplay. IGN Italia highlighted the unique character development system with implantable upgrades, adding depth to the player progression. Gamer.no and AusGamers commended the fast-paced and strategic combat system inspired by games like Bloodborne, emphasizing the importance of targeting specific body parts for loot and upgrades. Additionally, Attack of the Fanboy and Video Chums found the combat enjoyable and satisfying, with a focus on deep customization and a risk/reward system. Despite the overall positive reception, some critics pointed out certain drawbacks in The Surge's gameplay. Game Rant and The Digital Fix mentioned issues with the combat system, such as an unreliable lock-on feature, wonky camera angles, and frustrating enemy AI behavior, which hindered the overall experience. CGMagazine noted that while the game introduced unique gear systems and innovative mechanics, the combat lacked precision and felt sloppy compared to similar titles like the Souls series. Destructoid also criticized the lack of precision in combat, mentioning finicky targeting and camera problems as areas needing improvement. Overall, the consensus among critics is that The Surge offers a refreshing and engaging gameplay experience, with a majority of reviewers praising its innovative combat mechanics, strategic depth, and customization options. Critics like XGN and Impulsegamer appreciated the challenging gameplay with a focus on resource management and customization, while GameSpot and GameCritics highlighted the precise and satisfying combat mechanics. The Surge successfully differentiates itself from traditional action RPGs by introducing unique features like limb targeting, dismemberment, and a risk/reward system, making it a standout title in the genre. Despite some minor issues with combat mechanics and enemy AI, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with critics acknowledging the game's strengths in providing a rewarding and immersive gameplay experience.

The Surge received mixed opinions from critics regarding its Graphics and Visual Design. Several critics praised the game for its impressive graphics and visual elements. Areajugones appreciated the visually appealing dark and futuristic atmosphere that added tension and mystery to the overall experience. Impulsegamer commended the excellent graphics, visual options, and solid performance on consoles, even comparing it to PC-level visual effects. Additionally, Gaming Nexus and Hooked Gamers highlighted the gorgeous and striking environments that effectively conveyed a glossy near-future horror setting, with detailed textures and engaging enemy designs. On the other hand, some critics pointed out various shortcomings in the game's Graphics and Visual Design. COGconnected and Game Informer criticized the lack of variety in environments, with COGconnected mentioning that some areas looked too similar, making navigation challenging. Digital Chumps and Trusted Reviews noted that the game could have been visually more impressive, with Digital Chumps even suggesting that it could have been a PS3 game at times due to its visual style. Furthermore, Game Rant mentioned that while the dark, twisted sci-fi environments were appealing, the game lacked the polish seen in other similar games. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding The Surge's Graphics and Visual Design leans towards a mix of positives and negatives. While some critics appreciated the detailed and immersive environments that enhanced the game's atmosphere, others criticized the lack of variety, repetitive designs, and generic visuals. Despite the differing opinions, it is evident that the game managed to create a unique sci-fi setting with some standout visual elements, but fell short in terms of maintaining consistency and avoiding repetitiveness in its design, as noted by critics like Destructoid and Metro GameCentral.

The Sound Design and Music of The Surge have received a mix of opinions from critics. Positive aspects highlighted by reviewers include the eerie and atmospheric sound design that enhances the game's world-building. Critics like Destructoid and RPGamer praise the impressive sound design that brings the world alive, with detailed sound effects and atmospheric music contributing to the immersive experience. The use of ambient sounds, well-acted audiologs, and environmental storytelling, as noted by Gaming Nexus and IGN, also add depth to the game's atmosphere. On the negative side, some critics found aspects of the sound design and music lacking. Impulsegamer and Attack of the Fanboy mention forgettable ambient tracks, irritating looping music in safe rooms, and repetitive music that detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, criticisms were raised about the voice acting, with Impulsegamer and Attack of the Fanboy noting average voice-work and passable voice acting, respectively. Some critics, like GamingTrend and Xbox Achievements, found the voice work to be patchy and the sound effects to be disappointing or annoying. Overall, the consensus among critics is that The Surge's Sound Design and Music have strengths in creating an immersive atmosphere through detailed sound effects, well-acted audiologs, and environmental storytelling. While some critics appreciated the eerie and atmospheric elements of the sound design, others found the music to be repetitive and lacking in impact. The mix of opinions suggests that while the game excels in certain aspects of sound design, there are areas where improvements could be made to create a more cohesive and engaging audio experience for players.

The voice acting in The Surge has received mixed reviews from critics. Positive aspects highlighted by some reviewers include well-acted performances in audiologs and environmental storytelling, as noted by IGN across different platforms. IGN also mentions that the cast of characters breathes life into the game's narrative, according to Telegraph's opinion. These positive elements contribute to creating a immersive and engaging experience for players, enhancing the overall storytelling and atmosphere of the game. On the other hand, several critics expressed negative opinions about the voice acting in The Surge. Impulsegamer criticized the shoddy voice acting with stilted narration in audio logs, while GamingTrend found the voice acting disappointing and lacking impact. Additionally, Gaming Nexus highlighted that the characters are shallowly written, with a protagonist, Warren, who lacks depth and fails to engage the player. These criticisms suggest that while some aspects of the voice acting are well-executed, there are notable shortcomings in terms of character development and emotional delivery that may detract from the overall immersion and enjoyment of the game. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the voice acting in The Surge leans towards a mixed reception. While some reviewers appreciated the well-acted performances and the way they contributed to the narrative experience, others were critical of the lack of depth in character development and emotional impact. The varying opinions from critics such as Impulsegamer, Gaming Nexus, and IGN on different platforms indicate that the voice acting in The Surge is a divisive aspect that may resonate differently with players based on their preferences for storytelling and character engagement.

In terms of technical performance on the PS4, the majority of critics had positive feedback. COGconnected highlighted the significant improvement from the developer's previous project, with only minor bugs encountered. Impulsegamer praised the solid performance on both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, offering different visual modes and support for 4K resolution on PS4 Pro. Push Square also commended the smooth framerates on the PS4 Pro. SomosXbox noted minimal loading times and specific actions required to access locked areas on Xbox One. On the downside, some critics mentioned technical issues on the PS4. PlayStation Country pointed out camera problems, enemy bugs, and occasional game-breaking glitches. TheSixthAxis mentioned that technical issues spoiled the experience for them. However, these negative aspects seem to be less prevalent compared to the positive feedback received. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the technical performance of The Surge across all platforms is mixed. While there were praises for the game's visuals and performance on PC and consoles, such as smooth framerates on PS4 Pro and minimal loading times on Xbox One, there were also mentions of technical issues like occasional glitches, framerate drops, and game-breaking bugs on various platforms. IGN highlighted some late-game jitters on both PS4 and Xbox One. CGMagazine criticized the PC version for being more prone to bugs and imprecise combat mechanics. Despite the mixed opinions, it seems that the technical performance of The Surge is generally acceptable, with some room for improvement in terms of addressing the reported issues.

The Surge has garnered praise for its replay value from several critics. Game Informer notes that while repetition in enemy encounters and level design may hinder replay value, the combat system and upgrade mechanics offer some incentive for replay. Impulsegamer highlights the ample replayability provided by features such as New Game Plus mode, multiple pathways, secret areas, implants for different playstyles, and the completion time required to unlock everything. RPGamer also appreciates the addition of New Game+ mode, which increases difficulty and allows players to keep their stats and gear, catering to seasoned players looking for a challenge. On the downside, some critics express concerns about the game's potential limitations in replay value. Gaming Nexus and DarkStation both point out the lack of variation in gameplay mechanics and settings, which may lead to repetitive combat and exploration experiences over time, potentially reducing the desire to revisit the game. DarkZero acknowledges the skill progression system and respeccing options but highlights the lack of variety in enemies, story, setting, and character options, making the game feel repetitive for some players. App Trigger and CGMagazine also mention limitations in replay value due to factors such as the linear nature of the game, lack of bosses, and imprecise combat mechanics. Overall, while The Surge offers various elements that contribute to its replay value, such as diverse boss battles, upgrade systems, and New Game+ modes, it also faces challenges in maintaining long-term engagement due to repetitive gameplay mechanics and limited variation in content. Critics like Game Informer and Impulsegamer appreciate the game's replayability features, while others like Gaming Nexus and DarkStation express concerns about potential drawbacks that may impact players' desire to revisit the game. Ultimately, the consensus among critics suggests that The Surge provides a mix of engaging replay value elements alongside potential shortcomings that may affect the overall experience for players seeking long-lasting enjoyment.