The surge

The surge
Original title	The surge
Studio	Deck 13
Publisher	Focus Home Interactive
Erstveröffent- lichung	15th May 2017
platform	PlayStation 4 , Microsoft Windows , Xbox One
Game engine	FLEDGE engine
genre	Action RPG , hack and slay
Subject	Cyberpunk , dark science fiction
Game mode	Single player
control	Mouse , keyboard , gamepad
system advantages preconditions	Operating system : Windows 7 or higher ( 64-bit ) Processor : AMD FX -8320 (3.5 GHz ) / Intel Core i5 -4690K (3.5 GHz) RAM : 8 GB RAM Graphics card : 1 GB graphics memory , AMD Radeon R7 360 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti DirectX : Version 11 Network : broadband internet connection Storage : 15 GB of available space
language	multilingual
Age rating	USK PEGI

The Surge is a science fiction - action RPG that of, Deck13 developed and Home Focus Interactive for Microsoft Windows , PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is marketed.

action

The game is set in a dystopian future in which humanity has largely consumed the world's raw materials . This led to tense social conditions, diseases and a polluted environment. The CREO company, which is the most important and powerful group in the world, plays a central role. The founder of CREO, Jonah Guttenberg, has set himself the goal of stopping the decline of planet earth. His research and developments culminated in Project Resolve , in which rockets containing chemicals are fired into the stratosphere in order to stop the impending climate change collapse.

The main character that the player controls in the game is Warren, an older, rather lonely wheelchair user who wants to work for CREO. Warren passed out from a catastrophe on the first day of work and found himself with a heavy exoskeleton , which was screwed on by his employer CREO, in a destroyed part of a building complex and was able to walk again. But there are already crazy robots waiting there, insane and technically modified ex-colleagues and other opponents who want to see the player dead. Now the player goes on a search to find out what happened.

Gameplay

Combat system

The Surge is an action role-playing game with hack-and-slay elements in which the player fights against computer opponents in single player mode ( player versus environment ). He can also use his existing exoskeleton for combat and customize it with upgrades. The player can focus on the different body parts of his opponents and use finishing moves , which end with the dismemberment of the opponent in bullet-time mode. Objects separated from enemies can be used to upgrade his character. The weapons used by the player are mostly improper tools. Since the player loses stamina and health when blocking, he is asked to be more on the move. The energy bar shows the player which attacks can be carried out and whether health can be restored and weapon strength can be improved.

Level architecture and character

The level architecture is largely designed vertically and asks the player to find secret paths and to use resources sparingly. The character learns the skills by collecting software chips that are scattered around the factory. By collecting implants, Warren increases his health, stamina or determines the amount and intensity of healing shots. The player pays for scrap metal with the in-game currency . If he dies, he starts again at the beginning of the level, as there are no save points.

Development and publication

Development and announcements

The game was developed by Deck13 with the FLEDGE engine and is marketed by Focus Home Interactive. The game was inspired by Rise of the Robots and Dark Souls . Deck13 had previously developed the game Lords of the Fallen , which is also based on Souls .

Publication and sale

The game first appeared on May 16, 2017 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A demo version of the game was also released on July 20, 2017 . It was announced on July 13th for the period between July 17th and 23rd. Focus Home Interactive acts as the publisher. As of December 2017, the game had sold almost 500,000 times.

Extensions and Updates

Several expansions and updates have been added to the game.

On October 12, 2017, the free Fire & Ice weapon pack was released, adding ten new high-tech weapons to the game .

On December 5, 2017, the expansion A Walk in the Park was released, which was largely positively received by the players. In the expansion, the player can visit the CREO World theme park and the game is expanded to include 16 new weapons, new equipment, as well as new implants and new opponents.

The free DLC Cutting Edge was released on April 19, 2018, adding three new equipment sets to the game.

reception

Reviews

reviews publication Rating 4players 82/100 Computer picture games 2.2 (school grade) Destructoid 6.5 / 10 Game Informer 7/10 GameSpot 7/10 GameStar 84/100 IGN 7.9 / 10 PC Gamer US 60/100 PC Games 80/100 Polygon 8/10

Due to the similarity with Souls, the game is also referred to by the press as "Science Fiction Dark Souls ". 4Players compares the game mechanics with Transformers and Mortal Kombat and praises the dynamic and animated battles. The control, which aims at sighting the body parts and offers different tactical possibilities, is emphasized. Computer Bild also draws a comparison to Bloodborne due to the dynamics of the game . The newspaper praises the combat mechanics, the challenging gameplay with a pleasant crafting system and the level architecture. However, the low-detail design, a little varied game world and too little atmosphere are criticized. As in Dark Souls , the level of difficulty can be frustrating, but it can also seem challenging. Markus Schwerdtel from Gamestar sees exactly the balance between these. Golem.de described the game as the best German action game for a long time.

The Metascore for the three platforms is between 72 and 74 points out of a possible 100.

Awards

In 2017 the game won the German Developer Award in the “Best German Game” category. Contrary to some expectations, the game was not included in the awarding of the German Computer Game Prize (DCP). The game had already been submitted for the 2017 award ceremony in an unfinished state and could not convince the jury in this state. Submission in the final state for the award ceremony in the following year was no longer possible due to the regulations of the DCP.

successor

The sequel The Surge 2 was released for Windows, PS4 and Xbox One on September 24, 2019 .

Web links

• official website
• The Surge on MobyGames
• The Surge Wiki

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} The Surge: The Sci-Fi Souls in the Test. In: Computerbild . Retrieved April 27, 2018 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b c d} The Surge in the test - Brutal good - GameStar. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
3. ↑ ^{a b} The Surge in the test: frustration and celebration in the future - Golem.de. Retrieved April 26, 2018 . 
4. ↑ ^{a b} The Surge - Test - PC. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
5. ↑ ^{a b} The Surge in the test: Bloody sci-fi action - with test video! In: PC GAMES. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
6. ↑ See Dark Souls reimagined as sci-fi in the latest trailer for The Surge. In: polygon. Retrieved April 26, 2018 . 
7. ↑ The Surge: Demo available for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. In: PC GAMES. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
8. ↑ The Surge: Demo for SciFi-Dark-Souls announced. In: PC GAMES. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
9. ↑ ^{a b} The Surge: Publisher is satisfied with the sales figures. In: PC GAMES. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
10. ↑ The Surge: "Fire & Ice" weapon pack released for free. In: PC GAMES. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
11. ↑ The Surge: Release date & trailer for "A Walk in the Park". In: PC GAMES. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
12. ↑ The Surge: Release period for DLC "A Walk in the Park" known. In: PC GAMES. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
13. ↑ The Surge - Free DLC "Cutting Edge" Now Available - GameStar. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
14. ↑ The Surge: Cutting Edge Pack (free) is ready - 4Players.de. In: 4Players. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
15. ↑ The Surge: Free expansion "Cutting Edge" with new content is here. In: PC GAMES. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
16. ↑ Review: The Surge
17. ↑ "A Mechanical Soul - The Surge - PlayStation 4"
18. ^ "The Surge Review".
19. ↑ "The Surge Review"
20. ↑ "The Surge Review"
21. ↑ "The Surge Review"
22. ↑ The Surge - Test, role-playing game - 4Players.de. In: 4Players. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
23. ↑ Conclusion: The Surge in the test - Brutally good - GameStar. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
24. ^ The Surge. Retrieved April 26, 2018 . 
25. ^ The Surge. Retrieved April 26, 2018 . 
26. ^ The Surge. Retrieved April 26, 2018 . 
27. ↑ Award: "The Surge" is the best German computer game 2017. Accessed on May 1, 2018 . 
28. ^ The Surge | German developer award. Retrieved May 1, 2018 . 
29. ↑ DCP 2018: Organizers declare "The Surge" non-nomination - GamesWirtschaft.de. In: GamesWirtschaft.de. March 12, 2018, accessed May 1, 2018 . 
30. ↑ Andreas Müller: The Surge 2 alluded to: Soulsborne for inventors. In: heise.de . September 26, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.