This game sets the bar for me at a perfect video game experience. It's not any singular game mechanic or revolutionary idea that's implemented that makes Clair Obscur what it is, but rather a masterfully crafted sum of its parts. In my 30 years of video gaming, this game has hit like no other. There are frustrations with timing windows (most likely user error though), and Gestral Beach Volleyball is atrocious, but I will do it again for the sake of the GOG achievement. You'll read that it's overhyped; to the contrary I believe overhyped is appropriately hyped in this case. I bought and played "over there", and I immediately bought and can't wait to play here on GOG. Do yourself a favor with this one, stop reading reviews, take the dive and go in blind.
As a big fan of the From titles, I really did enjoy The Surge. A captivating setting coupled with a unique mechanic and polished gameplay makes this one a bargain for anyone looking to scratch that soulslike itch. Even better on the steep discount it's usually found on. The limb targeting/loot system mechanic will be my biggest takeaway from this game. It was truly a breath of fresh air to choose the drop I would get from an enemy to upgrade a piece of armor, or gain a new schematic for crafting. Other reviews have stated that it can get repetitive, but I found myself enjoying the different limb cutting animations while using a new weapon. This mechanic lends itself nicely to a simplified inventory system unlike Souls games. You have crafting schematics (gained from cutting the limb on an enemy wearing a different set of armor), upgrade materials (gained from targeting the specific limb you wish to upgrade), consumables (souls), and implants (passive upgrades/injectables to your armor/rig). I did have a few minor frustrations: *There are only a few types of enemies. Thematically, this fits the game so I cannot be overly judgemental here. *The camera/limb targeting control can be frustrating at times. There is one particular boss where the lock on camera is frustratingly bad. Other times in tight corridors or staircases you'll find yourself unable to see the limb or enemy you're targeting. *Objectives are unclear and sidequests are very easily missed. Well, this is a Soulslike after all so this one is to be expected. You really do have to explore to find the sidequests. There were a few times I had just killed a boss, and spent a good while retracing my steps and searching every side path to find the progression route forward which did annoy me at times. It's not a perfect game, but what game is? That being said, if you're looking for a good Soulslike experience and know what you're getting into, I would really recommend you give The Surge a try.
This is one of the few games that I've been coming back to play over and over for about 10 years now. I originally bought it on Steam and have played it for hundreds of hours. It IS challenging, even on easy. I still haven't beaten the game on the moderate or hard settings, but that's because I'm mostly a coward... There are 10 different ships each with 3 different layouts and starting system sets that nudge each ship build in a different direction. This makes for varied runs and offers lots of replayability. Combat consists of real time action with a freqeunt pausing to coordinate weapons systems, order crew around the ship to repair ship systems and hull breaches, extinguish fires, fend off boarding parties or even board enemy ships. There is a lot of detailed game design and polish here for such a seemingly simple presentation. The sound design and music are also top notch. This is one of my personal favorite games and will continue to be one I repeatedly come back to. Well worth the price.
This game is a pleasant surprise. It doesn't have the build depth of games like Slay the Spire, Griftlands, or Monster Train, but what it lacks in individual builds, it makes up for with nine different class selections that offer lots of replayability and unlockables. You will be grinding persistent currencies to upgrade your village, unlocking villagers and their individual quests lines with each run. There is no variation in quest structure with each quest being a version of encounter this NPC/monster in one of your run after initiating a given villager's quest. The setting is interesting with good supporting voice acting, enjoyable music, and writing. If you're a fan of deck builders, you'll find enjoyment here, especially on a deep discount.
