The Surge

The Surge struggles to present a compelling campaign, but delivers a fun new take on a familiar genre.

The Surge is an entertaining twist on the Dark Souls formula that strikes a tenuous balance between iteration and invention.

A solid Soulslike that stops a few steps short of greatness.

The Surge isn't the same as Dark Souls but comparison's inevitable. Like that cyborg whose torso I severed, it struggles to stand on its own.

The Surge successfully builds on its inspirations and finds its own voice

A promising entry into the budding “Souls” genre that delivers excellent combat and far too much repetition in the enemies and environments

The Surge is shonky, inferior and more than a little derivative. But if you fancy a shortcut-filled robotic challenge, it's not all bad. Just be ready to get deprogrammed.

The Surge is a game of many triumphs, but it's also one that will cause you more frustration than any other Souls-like.

The Surge is a mix of interesting ideas and hiccups in execution. While there's no doubt that it will resonate with a specific, hardcore audience, it's missing just enough to alienate a generalized audience. Its combat is challenging, but not perfect; its story starts with a compelling hook but falls flat shortly after. There are echoes of something special running throughout The Surge, but it never escapes its own shadow.

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.