Finally beat this. I stopped at Ezra Shields for a year, came back, and whooped his ass in one-try, and basically just cleaned house through the rest of the game.
This is my new favorite souls-like, I adore The Surge games cyberpunk presentation, and while the Surge 1 focused more on a sci-fi horror System Shock thing, The Surge 2 goes for what I can only describe as a 90's Anime OVA aesthetic. This includes the mediocre voice acting, which I think is a POSITIVE. Even though I said it was my favorite Souls-like, I do ultimately think that calling it a Souls-like is what has doomed some really underappreciated gems from getting their day in the sun. These games have similar verbs to Dark Souls but ask different things of you, and I know Souls fans struggle with anything that isn't I-frames and dodge rolling, but there are other ways to approach game design!
I want to write a more in-depth review later, but I enjoyed the hell out of this entire game. The boss fight with Delver was so good I messaged Deck13 on Twitter to tell them it was the best boss fight ever. The level design is just as complex and winding as The Surge 1's, and I found the story compelling if unfortunately undercooked. I think what is clearly a tight-budget has to do with that. Honestly, I would prefer static shots with no voice acting if I could get more world building, which Deck13 are really good at.
Deck13 are one of our most important developers, as I would DIE for more AA games like this that are incredibly ambitious while also being really solidly put together. The size and scope of a game that costs probably the fraction of a Dark Souls title is awe-inspiring and I really hope they continue to have success.
I'm puzzled why these games don't have difficulty modes though. I don't see any reason there can't be difficulty options, these games could be so much more well-liked if there was an easy or normal mode to cut your teeth on its mechanics. Ninja Gaiden Black has easy mode fellas we don't need to act like we're above it.
Also the directional parry rules, A+ work guys.
This is my new favorite souls-like, I adore The Surge games cyberpunk presentation, and while the Surge 1 focused more on a sci-fi horror System Shock thing, The Surge 2 goes for what I can only describe as a 90's Anime OVA aesthetic. This includes the mediocre voice acting, which I think is a POSITIVE. Even though I said it was my favorite Souls-like, I do ultimately think that calling it a Souls-like is what has doomed some really underappreciated gems from getting their day in the sun. These games have similar verbs to Dark Souls but ask different things of you, and I know Souls fans struggle with anything that isn't I-frames and dodge rolling, but there are other ways to approach game design!
I want to write a more in-depth review later, but I enjoyed the hell out of this entire game. The boss fight with Delver was so good I messaged Deck13 on Twitter to tell them it was the best boss fight ever. The level design is just as complex and winding as The Surge 1's, and I found the story compelling if unfortunately undercooked. I think what is clearly a tight-budget has to do with that. Honestly, I would prefer static shots with no voice acting if I could get more world building, which Deck13 are really good at.
Deck13 are one of our most important developers, as I would DIE for more AA games like this that are incredibly ambitious while also being really solidly put together. The size and scope of a game that costs probably the fraction of a Dark Souls title is awe-inspiring and I really hope they continue to have success.
I'm puzzled why these games don't have difficulty modes though. I don't see any reason there can't be difficulty options, these games could be so much more well-liked if there was an easy or normal mode to cut your teeth on its mechanics. Ninja Gaiden Black has easy mode fellas we don't need to act like we're above it.
Also the directional parry rules, A+ work guys.