Scars Above

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 673 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Scars Above Game Cover
Scars Above is a well-crafted third-person shooter with plenty of options to take on the punishing alien world you find yourself in.
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Scars Above is a challenging sci-fi third-person action adventure shooter combining the rewarding feel of overcoming difficulty with a compelling and intricate story, set in a mysterious alien world to explore.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 673 reviews
story226 positive mentions
stability30 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with intriguing sci-fi elements that keeps players invested.
  • Fun combat mechanics that encourage the use of elemental weapons and gadgets.
  • Beautiful graphics and well-designed environments that enhance the overall experience.
  • Clunky character animations and poor facial expressions detract from the immersion.
  • Frustrating save system that requires players to replay sections after dying, leading to potential tedium.
  • Some boss fights can feel unbalanced, especially early on, making the game challenging to the point of frustration.
  • story451 mentions

    The game's story is generally described as engaging and interesting, with a mix of sci-fi elements and a straightforward narrative that keeps players invested. While some reviewers noted that the plot can be predictable and lacks depth, many appreciated its intriguing premise and character development, particularly the protagonist's journey on an alien planet. Overall, the story is seen as a solid foundation for the gameplay, though it may not offer groundbreaking twists or extensive character arcs.

    • “The story is engaging.”
    • “The story is interesting and well told.”
    • “Great game, with a captivating story.”
    • “The writing/plot is indie level backfilling to try and explain the mechanics of the game and is so full of plot holes.”
    • “The storytelling is sub-par with too much telling instead of showing, and the telling is boring and emotionless.”
    • “The story is extremely predictable and generic - even as a sucker for most generic science fiction stories, it was pretty rough for me.”
  • gameplay250 mentions

    The gameplay of "Scars Above" is characterized by a mix of straightforward mechanics and challenging combat, often drawing comparisons to souls-like games. Players appreciate the elemental weapon system and the need to adapt strategies based on enemy weaknesses, though some find the gameplay repetitive and the controls clunky. Overall, while the game offers a fun experience with a solid narrative, it suffers from a lack of polish and can feel unbalanced at times.

    • “For me, the difficulty and game mechanics were perfectly balanced.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty fluid, and I like how the combat rewards you for using different weapon combinations and how enemies are weak to different elements.”
    • “The game starts out great, giving you a lot of fun weapons and mechanics to play with.”
    • “The graphics are some five years behind, gameplay can be more of a jump scare and a pain than fun, and the story is from a C-class sci-fi. I think the only redeeming factor is that it is cheap, but again, you can spend your time and money in many better ways than this.”
    • “Awful, clunky controls and unintuitive mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is a bit clunky and the pathing is quite linear.”
  • graphics137 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the beautiful environments and atmospheric visuals, while others criticize the character models and animations as outdated or lacking detail. Many note that while the game runs smoothly and has appealing scenery, certain aspects, particularly facial animations and human character designs, fall short of current standards. Overall, the visuals are seen as decent for an indie or AA title, but not without noticeable flaws.

    • “The eerie atmosphere, coupled with the stunning visuals, creates a sense of foreboding and sets the tone for the unforgiving journey ahead.”
    • “This game looks great graphically, and the alien world goes from rainy and fog, to bright open areas, snowy landscapes, futuristic bunkers, and straight to the depths of hell.”
    • “The graphics and immersion were much better than I thought.”
    • “The graphics look like they're from the PS3 when I could see them.”
    • “Animations are stiff and lack variation, facial expressions of the characters are almost non-existent, which is painfully apparent when combined with the good voice acting; graphics are mediocre, creature design doesn't have much variation.”
    • “The scenery, effects, and game world are visually stunning, while the enemies look straight out of a 20-year-old PS2 game and the human faces look like they're made of play-doh, even with all graphic settings maxed out.”
  • music43 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its atmospheric quality, often compared to the iconic soundtracks of the Mass Effect series. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's mood, with many describing it as catchy, immersive, and fitting for the setting, despite some noting that it could be more prominent. Overall, the sound design, including music and voice acting, is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to the overall experience.

    • “First of all, this game has an amazing soundtrack!”
    • “But what's really good is the soundtrack, with highs and lows hitting the right moments, which complements the narrative and the scene's intensity.”
    • “The best thing I can say about the game is the music definitely, reminded me of that Mass Effect feel.”
    • “The playtime, the soundtrack, the world... everything is just alright.”
    • “Only complaints are that you can easily 100% beat this in under 8 hours and the soundtrack is barely there.”
    • “The music is okay, kinda catchy but nothing special.”
  • stability34 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users noted that the game runs well without major issues, the consensus leans towards it being overly buggy and not polished enough for a full release, making it frustrating to play at times. Overall, players recommend waiting for fixes or discounts before purchasing due to these stability concerns.

    • “Played on medium mode and was quite tough but enjoyed the story, a bit of puzzle but not hard to figure out and played well, no glitches which is always nice.”
    • “No bugs, no glitches.”
    • “This game runs fantastic, it's easy to get over 200 fps and it does not stutter; also, the game seems to be mostly bug-free.”
    • “The game went on discount -80% in October, only to be destroyed by reviews because it was buggy and crashing.”
    • “I enjoyed the story so far and was only frustrated by the many crashes and freezes I experienced.”
    • “Constant graphical glitches, stuttering, and freezing ruin the flow and quite literally make the game unplayable at points.”
  • atmosphere28 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, enhanced by good music and sound design that set a foreboding tone. While some reviewers noted issues with graphics and character animations, many found the overall ambiance compelling enough to engage them in the story. The combination of creepy yet tranquil environments, alongside a unique blend of gameplay elements, contributes to a captivating experience that resonates with players, even those who typically dislike the genre.

    • “The eerie atmosphere, coupled with the stunning visuals, creates a sense of foreboding and sets the tone for the unforgiving journey ahead.”
    • “The atmosphere is a mix of creepy yet tranquil and there is a talent system that works very well with the gameplay!”
    • “Atmospheric experience with synth music like Mass Effect and great visuals.”
    • “Animations are stiff and lack variation; facial expressions of the characters are almost non-existent, which is painfully apparent when combined with the good voice acting. The graphics are mediocre, and creature design doesn't have much variation, leading to a lackluster atmosphere.”
    • “The effects would have needed a bit more polish and seem a bit outdated, and sadly the atmosphere suffers because of that.”
    • “The facial expression variety of the characters is akin to that of a frozen rock, and the graphics are not what you'd expect from a recent Unreal Engine release, but the storyline and atmosphere make that up easily.”
  • optimization27 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance and high frame rates on various hardware, including the Steam Deck and mid-range GPUs like the 1060 and 3070. However, some users noted occasional performance dips, graphical glitches, and issues during snowstorms and cutscenes, suggesting that while the optimization is solid, there is still room for improvement through future updates.

    • “Great optimization, 60fps on Steam Deck at high settings.”
    • “Everything works as intended and is very well optimized.”
    • “Its a good game solid from a story and performance standpoint; I have had zero issues with fps or stutters, which is shocking given 2023's game releases.”
    • “But it could still do with some optimization and performance updates to iron out these issues and the clunky textures during main story scenes.”
    • “Constant graphical glitches, stuttering, and freezing ruin the flow and quite literally make the game unplayable at points.”
    • “Performance dips from 200fps to 80fps with a very noticeable lag spike to reflect this.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with most players noting that the short playtime of around 5-7 hours offers little incentive to revisit. Many reviewers suggest that while it can be enjoyable at a discounted price, the absence of additional content or varied gameplay makes it not worth the full price. Some express hope for future updates that could enhance replay value.

    • “Definitely not worth it at full price because the game is quite short and doesn't have much replayability, but it is worth it when on sale.”
    • “I can recommend this game based on the steep sale of my purchase price, which was $8 -- I don't think I'd pull the trigger on this one at $40, largely because it's short and I'm uncertain if it'd have any replay value, but it's definitely been a solid and entertaining bargain at $8.”
    • “Worth getting if on sale, but it isn't all that long and has little in the way of replay value.”
    • “Replayability is non-existent and the entire playthrough took me 7 hours.”
    • “Definitely not worth it at full price because the game is quite short and doesn't have much replayability but it is worth it when on sale.”
    • “Very short and no replayability.”
  • grinding13 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often requiring significant time investment without meaningful rewards. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of combat and the lack of effective save points, leading to a negative experience during boss fights and exploration. While some note that the game improves over time, the initial grind is seen as a major drawback.

    • “Not grindy but not very long either.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Not being able to save right before the fight, but having to walk and fight random monsters each time up to the point where you trigger the boss fight is tedious when the boss smashes you in two hits.”
    • “Tried it for about 10 times and asked for a refund because tediousness and frustration is not the way I want to spend my time.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its intriguing and engaging narrative, featuring well-written characters that evoke a range of feelings from creepiness to hopefulness. While some players found themselves deeply invested and moved by specific scenes, others felt the overall emotional experience was somewhat familiar and lacking in uniqueness. The story's philosophical undertones contribute to its emotional pull, making it a compelling journey despite some technical shortcomings.

    • “I usually don't play single-player games often, and I usually don't finish them either... but this was intriguing, interesting, engaging, emotional - all in all a good experience.”
    • “There was one special scene that made me emotional.”
    • “Very well written and acted characters (most of them at least, especially Kate), a main character that actually acts like a scientist, a simple but well-written story that can sometimes be creepy and terrifying, and sometimes heartwarming and hopeful.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Reviews indicate that character development in the game is minimal and lacks depth, often relying on external events to drive change rather than meaningful growth. Many players express disappointment, comparing it unfavorably to previous titles and suggesting that character designs could have been improved to enhance immersion. Overall, the consensus is that the game falls short in delivering compelling character arcs.

    • “I just wish there was a bit more character development in this one.”
    • “It felt a lot like the first Tomb Raider reboot where all of Lara's so-called 'character development' was just bad stuff happening to her and changing her into someone new.”
    • “I've seen more character development at the bottom of a bottle.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its exaggerated character facial expressions and movements, which some players find amusing despite their stiffness. The comedic effect is enhanced by the contrast between in-game graphics and FMVs, leading to moments that players describe as hilariously entertaining. Overall, while the humor may not resonate with everyone, it adds a unique charm to the experience.

    • “Character facial expressions and movements are chonky but funny.”
    • “It's funny to see all of the comments about the stiff animations, because as soon as you start playing, it makes total sense.”
    • “It does get to a point where it is hilarious, and the facial animations are very Mass Effect: Andromeda.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization model includes featured in-game microtransactions that offer optional cosmetic variations, allowing players to enhance their experience without impacting gameplay.

    • “Access to featured in-game microtransactions with optional cosmetic variations!”
    • “The monetization model is fair and offers a variety of cosmetic items without impacting gameplay.”
    • “I appreciate that the game allows players to support developers through optional purchases while keeping the core experience free.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

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Play time

11hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
7-13hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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