In Scars Above, players will step into the shoes of Dr. Kate Ward, who finds herself trapped and isolated on a hostile alien planet brimming with unknown, terrifying threats, from ancient mysteries to nightmarish alien monstrosities. Combining elements of the likes of Returnal, Soulslike games, and more, Scars Above promises a blistering action experience.

In our review of the game, we awarded it a score of 8/10, saying, “There is a lot to like in Scars Above. If you can get past the issues with the character models and animations, there is a really fun, unique sci-fi shooter with an interesting story to experience.” Read the full review through here.

Scars Above is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Other games that use Soulslike mechanics as the basis of their gameplay tend to lack some kind of spark or personality. They are functionally fine, but often feel uninspired, lacking any kind of identity outside of their mechanics and setting. Scars Above manages to avoid these pitfalls and separate itself from similar games in a number of ways. Specifically, it doesn’t rely on its Soulslike mechanics to keep players engaged, and it expands on those expected gameplay elements with some unexpected mechanics that give it a unique personality.

These surprises can likely be attributed to the game’s developer, Mad Head Games. The Serbian studio was founded in 2011, and its legacy prior to its acquisition by Saber Interactive in 2020 consisted of primarily hidden object/point-and-click narrative games. Scars Above is Mad Head’s first big third-person action game, but their legacy shines through in a few interesting ways. Most notably is the sense of tactility present in almost every interaction.

"Scars Above is Mad Head’s first big third-person action game, but their legacy shines through in a few interesting ways. Most notably is the sense of tactility present in almost every interaction."

In the game’s intro, you are tasked with retrieving a laser welder from a case in order to craft an important tool. Instead of walking up to the case and pressing a button to add the welder to your inventory, you need to click on each latch to unlock it, then the lid to open the case, and finally the welder itself to pick it up. Then, you use a 3D printer to print another part, take everything to another desk, and complete a series of mini-games to put the pieces together and calibrate them into a tool that becomes essential to your survival a few minutes later. This process of putting things together, opening containers, and being engaged with processes that most other games would gloss over was a standout feature for me.

I wasn’t expecting this level of interactivity from a third-person shooter right off the bat, but it makes sense coming from a game studio that created point-and-click games for a decade. The many sequences like this one serve to establish the sense of tactile science that carries the entire game. It also thankfully makes Scars Above feel unique, which is an important thing to demonstrate when everything leading up to its launch has looked so familiar.

A female scientist protagonist, roguelike elements, third-person shooting mechanics, and a sci-fi setting with a healthy dose of cosmic horror. There’s no getting around it, Scars Above looked like it was going to be a Returnal knockoff from the jump. Thankfully, it feels less like a knockoff and more like it was heavily inspired by Housemarque’s sci-fi shooter in action. There are still a few things that made me squint my eyes in suspicion a little bit, including some eerily similar environmental design and the intro sequence right before the title card. That short part plays exactly like a Returnal restart cutscene, complete with a zoom-in to the protagonist’s eyes intercut with distressing visions.

"There’s no getting around it, Scars Above looked like it was going to be a Returnal knockoff from the jump. Thankfully, it feels less like a knockoff and more like it was heavily inspired by Housemarque’s sci-fi shooter in action."

What Scars Above unfortunately didn’t inherit from Returnal is its stellar production value. The environments and enemies are impressively detailed, but the human character models are pretty lifeless and uncanny looking, with terrible facial animations and lip-syncing. In fact, just about every animation in the game used by both the human characters and the alien creatures you encounter feel off, with a level of jank that feels like a game from the early 2010s. It’s a little unfortunate, but this is Mad Head’s first game in this style. It’s a big jump for an indie studio to go from hidden object games to a game of this scale, and the jank eventually becomes part of its charm. The rest of the game also makes up for its presentation shortcomings quite a bit.

Once players gain control of protagonist Dr. Kate Ward following the crash of her team’s spaceship, the action picks up pretty quickly. You regain the “tool” you built in the intro, now a powerful gun that can fire rounds imbued with different elements to take advantage of enemy weaknesses and to solve puzzles, and your bag of tricks is expanded in short order. Instead of scrounging for supply items scattered around the surface of the planet, you pick up recipes for useful items that can then be crafted on the fly with a resource called fiber, and you gain abilities from fallen boss characters like a temporary shield that runs off of your suit’s battery.

Within the first hour, Kate feels exponentially more powerful and equipped to handle the dangers of this alien planet, but not solely because of the new gadgets and craftables that get picked up. A big focus of Scars Above is taking the time to scan and learn about the various processes of the strange planet, and harnessing them for yourself. In this game, knowledge is power.

Some of these scanning sequences are similar to Returnal where you just hold a button and the scanning is done for you, but there are many instances where you are presented with something in a more traditional point-and-click manner, and need to manually poke and prod around to scan important parts and see how they work. Kate will sometimes use the information gained from these scans to craft a new upgrade or element for her weapon. These slower sequences are implemented very well, they make it clear that Kate is first and foremost a scientist, and they stop Scars Above from feeling too one-note or generic. But you won’t spend the entire game scanning and crafting.

"What Scars Above unfortunately didn’t inherit from Returnal is its stellar production value. The environments and enemies are impressively detailed, but the human character models are pretty lifeless and uncanny looking, with terrible facial animations and lip-syncing."

The game outlines early on that Dr. Kate Ward has some shooting experience in her past, but she is not a soldier. Because of this, combat in Scars Above is just as much about smart use of gadgets and supplies as it is about careful aiming and strategic dodging, which creates a pretty engaging experience. The various alien enemies and monstrosities you face hit hard, and more often than not I only barely survived combat encounters. For me, Scars Above really nails the feeling of desperation as a regular person forced to fight for their life, but it isn’t gruelingly difficult. Even extra difficult combat sections were much easier on the second try after learning the enemy layout and planning your approach better.

In terms of performance, I only had a single issue with Scars Above. This review covers the PS5 version of the game, and the frame rate seems to hold pretty steady even when things get hectic. I didn’t notice any serious frame drops or stutters. I did, however, have the game completely crash in the intro sequence. It gave me a bad feeling so I was braced for more lost progress due to semi-frequent crashes, but I only ever saw that one.

There is a lot to like in Scars Above. If you can get past the issues with the character models and animations, there is a really fun, unique sci-fi shooter with an interesting story to experience.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Pragmata

Currently in development at Capcom, Pragmata looks to be an intriguing experience with its distinct visual imagery and fresh looking concept. The announcement trailer showcased a little girl and an astronaut in a spacesuit and it seems like a fair guess that these two entities will be the major driving forces for this story. As for the gameplay, we don’t have a lot of information available at the moment but more details are sure to surface soon. Pragmata will be released for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S sometime in the near future.

Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise enjoyed a great critical and commercial reception on the Nintendo Switch, and naturally – fans on other systems wanted a chance to experience this latest entry in the long running saga. The developer has delivered just that with the subsequent release of Monster Hunter Rise on PS4 and Xbox One, and the Sunbreak expansion for the same is set to follow soon. The base game released on January 20 this year, so interested fans can already try it out.

Deliver Us Mars

KeokeN delivered an excellent adventure in the form of Deliver Us the Moon, and fans are naturally curious about the next project from the developer. Deliver Us Mars will be expanding upon the strengths of its predecessor, and fans can expect a more engaging gameplay loop this time around with better exploration options and clever puzzles among other improvements. Deliver Us Mars released on 2 February 2023 for PC and all last gen and current gen consoles.

Little Devil Inside

Little Devil Inside caught the attention of many players with its intriguing premise and fresh art style, and we are really excited for this game as well. Players will be embarking on a grand adventure spanning multiple areas, and you will be tasked with hunting down hideous beasts of different shapes and sizes. It’s been in development for some time now, and we are still waiting on its release date at the time of writing this feature.

Wanted: Dead

Wanted: Dead looks like a thunderous throwback to middle market action adventure games of the PS2 era, and we are here for it. Currently in development at Soleil, Wanted: Dead thrusts players into a conspiracy tale and asks them to use their wits and swords to crawl out of the many dangers that punctuate this adventure. The action is brutal, with fast and frenetic gunfights and melee finishers making for a dynamic gameplay loop that should be a joy to engage with. It is set to release on 14th February, 2023 for PC and current-gen and last-gen consoles.

Atomic Heart

Set against the backdrop of an alternate history Soviet Union, Atomic Heart tells the story of Agent P-3 fighting back against the machines that are posing a threat to the existence of humankind. Players will have plenty of options when it comes to dealing with enemies. You could use your guns, a handcrafted melee weapon, or supernatural powers like telekinesis to clear your way through the varied hordes of machines in this one hell of an adventure. Atomic Heart releases for PC and consoles on 21 February, 2023.

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is one of the most underrated games in the Yakuza franchise, and that largely comes down to the game being available only in Japan. Now though, R.G.G. Studio is working on bringing this cult classic to a global audience with a full fledged remake of Like a Dragon: Ishin! The project is being built using Unreal Engine 4, and players can expect a ton of gameplay overhauls in addition to the visual facelift which should make this remake a worthwhile experience. It will be released on 17 February 2023 for PC and last gen and current gen consoles.

Scars Above

Scars Above is set in a mysterious alien structure, and you assume the role of a scientist who finds herself trapped in this hostile environment. You must use everything at your disposal to find a way out of this environment while engaging in a deeper mystery revolving around this structure. The developers have stated that the gameplay will be a challenging affair, so you will have to make judicial use of your firepower and abilities to get through tough enemy encounters. It releases for PC, last gen, and current gen consoles on February 28.

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened is a modern remake of the 2008 classic by the same name. This adventure pits the famous detective against grotesque monsters and otherworldly threats inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulu’s mythos. Much like Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One, you will have to collect clues to build up to a conclusion in order to get to the epicenter of this mystery which should be a fun time for fans of the franchise. It releases for all major consoles and PC sometime during Q1 2023.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Team Ninja has done a wonderful job with Nioh and its sequel, so it stands to reason that the hype for its spiritual successor Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is off the charts. You assume the role of a warrior as he rises from a nobody to a legend, and that journey is filled to the brim with plenty of tough boss fights set against varied locales. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty will feature a dynamic combat loop where players can mix and match different weapons, Elemental beasts, and other tactics to defeat enemies. Suffice to say, it looks amazing. It releases for PC and all current gen and last gen console platforms on 3 March 2023.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

Koei Tecmo has been doing a great job with the Fatal Frame remasters, which have proven to be the best way to experience these classics on modern platforms. The developer is hard at work on remastering the 2008 Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, which will modernize the gameplay along with new additions like a photo mode, new costumes and of course updated visuals. It will be released on March 8 2023 for all major console platforms and PC.

WWE 2K23

After a rough last couple of years, the WWE games made a grand return with WWE 2k22 which proved to be a solid experience with plenty of highs along with few apparent flaws. This year’s entry will feature improved graphics, better gameplay, and the showcase mode will be putting the spotlight on popular wrestler John Cena. It releases for all major last gen and current gen console platforms and PC on March 17 2023 though fans opting for the Deluxe Edition will get early access on March 14 2023.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Resident Evil 4 is considered by many to be one of the best games in this long running survival horror franchise, and for good reason. Resident Evil 4 features a solid and enjoyable gameplay loop with plenty of variety amongst its levels, and the game has surprisingly stood the test of time so many years after its release. The developer is hard at work on a full fledged remake of this classic which would open this gem up to a broader audience, and fans can expect many new additions including but not limited to new side quests and new weapons. It releases for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on March 24 2023.

System Shock Remake

System Shock is easily one of the most influential games when it comes to immersive sims, and countless fans would have fond memories of carefully inching their way through the game’s corridors while the rogue AI SHODAN plots its next move. Those fans and many newcomers will get a chance to experience this classic in a new light with Nightdive’s remake of System Shock, which will add modern gameplay conveniences alongside better visuals. It releases for all major consoles and PC sometime in March 2023.

Street Fighter 6

The beloved fighting series is making a grand return with Street Fighter 6, which is bringing a ton of new things to the table. But the star of the show is undoubtedly the move to an open world in the form of World Tour mode, which should hopefully open up new avenues for gameplay. This entry will also be adding a commentary system alongside the usual PvE and PvP content that one would expect from a game of this ilk. It will be released for all major consoles and PC on June 2 2023.

MLB: The Show 23

MLB: The Show 22 was a great game, and this year’s entry is set to bring better visuals and marginal gameplay improvements to this well established formula. While not a lot has changed with MLB: The Show 23, fans of annualized sports releases know this and they are there for it. It releases for all major consoles on March 28, and preorders for the same are live now.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure released to great critical and commercial acclaim in 2011, but the game was exclusive to the Japanese region with no English support available. While fan made patches have been around for some time now, the developer is working on an official global release for the game with English language support – and it is scheduled to release for all major last gen and current gen consoles and PC on March 14 2023.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

Much like Trails to Azure that we discussed previously, The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie is also being introduced to a global audience with a re-release. Players will be taking control of a group of warriors as they embark on a grand adventure in this fantastical realm, and you will be able to freely change between characters with the Crossroads system. The combat is largely rooted in turn based traditions, but the developers have stated that it will have a lot of dynamic elements to it which should make it more engaging than before. Trails into Reverie releases for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch on July 7 2023

Lies of P

NEOWIZ’s upcoming Lies of P is based on the popular story of Pinocchio, but it takes place in a dark fantasy world filled to the brim with all kinds of hostile threats. And you must best these threats in the game’s Soulslike combat to complete your quest to become human once again. Players will be able to attach equipments like flamethrowers on their bodies to help in battle, and you can also unlock different skills to expand your moveset before facing the toughest foes in the game. Lies of P will release for all major consoles and PC sometime this year.

Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon

FromSoftware is returning to this long forgotten franchise with Armored Core 6 Fires of Rubicon, which is set to usher in a new era for this mecha brawler series. Players will once again be customizing their mechs with different weapons and abilities to get through enemies and bosses, which will obviously be challenging like the Souls games. Of course, fans are really excited to see FromSoft’s new take on this franchise and hopefully we won’t have to wait long. Armored Core 6 is probably set to release sometime this year for all major console platforms and PC.

Crash Team Rumble

In development at Toys for Bob, Crash Team Rumble is a multiplayer game with a simple goal that is to capture more Wumpa fruit than the opponent. Matches will take place between 2 teams of 4 players, and the maps are going to be elaborate platforming jungle gyms complete with level specific obstacles and opportunities to grab more fruit. The game modes seem rooted in genre traditions like CTF and free for all, but it looks like a fun time regardless. Crash Team Rumble will release for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series consoles sometime this year.

Minecraft Legends

Minecraft Legends is a strategy game set against the backdrop of this popular universe. You will have to command your army against entire fortresses, and it looks like a really fun time. It will be released for all major console platforms and PC on April 18 2023.

Lord of The Rings: Gollum

Set against the backdrop of a fantasy universe, Lord of the Rings: Gollum will put players in the shoes of Gollum as he navigates through this world while dealing with its split personality disorder. The gameplay will have stealth as a major focus, and Gollum will also be able to use its agility to climb and get around environments with relative ease. It looks like a promising project, and it is set to release for all major consoles and PC sometime this year.

Beyond Good and Evil 2

Beyond Good and Evil 2 is one of the more interesting games on the list, mostly because it has had a turbulent development cycle lasting almost 15 years and counting. It’s obviously a pretty ambitious project with a lot of moving parts, but with departures and delays left right and center it looks highly unlikely that the game will see the light of day anytime soon. While it’s officially slated to release for PS4 and Xbox One, only time will tell whether the developer will release this game for these decade old machines or not – if it manages to reach the finish line.

Dead Island 2

Much like Beyond Good and Evil 2, Dead Island 2 is also famous for its infamous development cycle. But thankfully, the game has managed to crawl out from the depths of its development hell and is finally approaching its imminent release of 28th April 2023. Dead Island 2 will feature the same brutal melee combat that fans love along with RPG esque progression mechanics and support for co-op gameplay – and we will be diving into this game when it launches.

The Wolf Among Us 2

The Wolf Among Us is considered by many fans to be one of Telltale’s finest works to date, which is why fans are extremely hyped at the prospect of a sequel. The Wolf Among Us 2 is being developed with the assistance of AdHoc studio, and expectations are naturally high from this project. While we don’t know much about the story side of things at the moment, we know that this game will be released in full unlike the last entry which was released in an episodic fashion. The Wolf Among Us 2 is set to release for all major last gen and current gen console platforms sometime this year.

Scars Above will see players playing as Dr Kate Ward, a member of a response team created by the powers that be on Earth after a colossal alien structure known as the Metahedron in Earth’s orbit. An investigation of the structure sees Kate and her team being transported to a mysterious and hospitable alien planet- and as you might imagine, your goal now is to reunite with members of your squad and return home. To do that, Kate will need to unravel the mysteries of the planet itself.

Scars Above will task players with scanning plants, objects, and animals in the environments, and the data you gather from those scans can be used to craft a variety of alien weapons with unique powers and abilities. As you might expect, you’ll also be running into a variety of deadly monsters and alien creatures as well, each of whom will also come with their own unique weaknesses and attacks, prompting players to make smart use of their toolset and abilities to overcome challenges.

Check out the overview trailer below for more details.

Scars Above launches on February 28 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Scars Above will see players stepping into the shoes of Kate Ward, who finds herself on an alien planet full of mysteries, horrifying enemies, and more. There’s very clear Returnal vibes to the game, and that’s on full display in this new trailer, as it has been in the past. While it’s not looking the sharpest where visual fidelity is concerned, it does look promising. Check out the trailer below.

A release date has also been confirmed for Scars Above. Previously set to launch sometime in 2022, the game has been slightly pushed back and will now release on February 28, 2023. It will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

The new trailer for Scars Above gives us a glimpse at a little bit of gameplay, but its primary focus is still the story.

Scars Above‘s story revolves around an alien structure that appears in Earth’s orbit, setting everything else into motion. When a team tries to investigate the structure, dubbed The Metahedron, the investigation team is carried away to a new world where they must now fight for survival while trying to find a way back home.

Originally announced in June 2021, Scars Above is a sci-fi action-adventure game. Players take on the role of Kate Ward, a scientist astronaut who finds herself trapped on a hostile alien planet.

Alongside the original announcement, Scars Above has also had its gameplay showcased. However, since then, the game seems to have gone through quite a few changes, especially in its visuals.

The trailer showcases a bunch of environments that players will get to explore in their quest to unearth the myriad mysteries buried deep within the alien planet. There’s also some light puzzle-solving, as well as combat encounters that players will need to overcome, and it looks to be shaping up well. A lot of inspiration has clearly been drawn from Housemarque’s Returnal, but Scars Above could definitely use a fair bit of polish in its primitive gameplay systems. That said, this is pre-alpha footage, so it’s still in the early stages of development.

Koch Media revealed its latest publication label, Prime Matter, during its showcase at the Summer Game Fest. A bunch of games including the likes of Payday 3 are currently in development at the numerous studios working with the publisher.

Scars Above is releasing in 2022 for PC and consoles. 

An extensive gameplay demonstration of the game has also been revealed. From alien environments to combat, from exploration to brief snippets of story, from weapons to crafting, plenty of the game is shown off. “Generic but interesting” seems like a good way to describe Scars Above, based on what’s been shown of it so far. Check out the gameplay reveal below, courtesy of GameSpot.

Scars Above will be launching some time in 2022 for PC and consoles. A specific release date hasn’t yet been confirmed. Stay tuned to GamingBolt for more details on the game in the coming months.