Any of you folks play the Surge? I downloaded it on Gamepass because it looks fun. Is it a fine substitute if I'm missing Souls in my life?
I found it to be one of the more competent 3D Souls-likes. (For reference, I haven't been able to stomach much of LotF.)
In short, I'd say it's definitely worth a look if you're missing Souls and are partial to sci-fi.
Pros:
+ Great atmosphere and sense of space/scale (Deck13 nailed the industrial/rocket facility aesthetic)
+ Building trepidation as you progress further from a med bay (bonfire) and subsequent relief when you find one
+ Limb targeting and combat in general are satisfying (despite "skatey" movement and some poor enemy tells)
Cons:
- Really vulgar and unsubtle in its presentation (none of the elegance or sobriety of Souls)
- Lore told through equipment and the world is largely uninteresting (too formulaic; lack of mystery)
- NPC encounters feel uninspired and a lot of the dialogue is either boring or lacks convincing performance (again, this may only be an issue if you prefer the "finesse" of Souls)
- Despite the strong setting, there is a lack of distinct environments (although you do get a bit of variety later on)
- Vast majority of armour/enemy designs are not very good
As you can see, I'm pretty harsh on it, but still enjoyed my time with it. Looking forward to the sequel, hoping it will improve on some of the above...
