Review of Scars Above: First Contact Goes Awry Once More

Played on PC

Ironically, Scars Above, dubbed as a cheap copy of Returnal for PC at launch, came out the same month as the PC version of Returnal itself. However, even from the demo it was clear that although there are definitely similarities between the projects, the difference between them is huge. And it’s not that the Serbian Mad Head Games, which was previously noted by Pagan Online, has much fewer resources. Scars Above focuses on the leisurely exploration of an alien world. Another thing is that not all ideas were implemented at the proper level.

⇡#Synergy of elements

In the not-too-distant future, humanity has finally satisfied its curiosity about being alone in the universe – a giant artificial pyramid hovering above the Earth is the mute answer. In the shortest possible time, the United States sent a team of scientists to an unidentified object – no, not a salvo of nuclear missiles. Namely, a special SCAR squad. Although four people seem to still too modest a group for such a mission.

Of course, the attempt to get inside was not flawless. In the first moment, Kate Ward, the main character of the story, is sitting at the dashboard, and in the next —already comes to his senses in the wilderness. And the trees growing here are not earthly at all. Not to mention visions with images of aliens, outlandish artifacts and a colossus on the horizon.

Scars Above diligently creates an atmosphere of the unknown. Impressions from the first hour can be summed up in a short one: “Nothing is clear, but very interesting.” The intrigue is growing. Having issued one answer, the game immediately asks a new question. In the end, it all adds up to a coherent story. Given some assumptions and superficial explanations, there are not even blank spots left. Without hanging in the air “who?”, “Why?” and why?”. Even the revival after the death of the plot explained.

Kate is first and foremost a scientist, a gifted engineer, but not a warrior at all, and the developers tried to build a process around this idea. She collects weapons from improvised devices. For example, in the prologue, you will create the VERA electric cannon to increase the power of the ship’s reactor. The fact that she shoots bolts is a nice bonus that will still come in handy for survival.

The appearance of the alien race gives off notes of Mass Effect. Like the soundtrack

But if you’ve already imagined a deep crafting system, then temper your expectations. The assembly of the first device is furnished as an elementary, but still a mini-game. But all other tools are printed by a pocket 3D printer at the touch of a single button.

In addition to the arc cannon, Kate’s arsenal will be replenished with a flamethrower, an ice launcher and an acid shotgun. To the credit of Mad Head Games, different elements are used not just as beautiful multi-colored effects – most of the mechanics are built around their interaction with each other and the world. For example, the first thing you learn is that electricity hits wet enemies harder. And if they stand in the water, then the damage is not only higher, but also covers a fair area.

Hostile fauna have their weaknesses. For example, one of the variations on the theme of either a gorilla or a bear has a weak point that is vulnerable to heat. But if it rains, the effectiveness of the fire cannon is greatly reduced. On the other hand, an ice gun in such a situation can quickly freeze an aggressive creature. Not only the elements will help in the fight, but also the environment: you can knock down a stalactite exactly on the enemy’s head or break through a thickness of ice under it so that it falls into the abyss.

The scanner will highlight the vulnerable points of enemies

Unfortunately, in the end, the authors either ran out of imagination or resources, and the space for improvisation is drastically reduced. But still, most of the time, the battles in Scars Above are almost puzzles, where you need to correctly assess the situation and choose the right tool. And, best of all, the right decision is not necessarily one. Boss battles were especially successful, where you need to apply several tricks at once.

⇡#Not a soldier but a boy scout

In addition to elemental weapons, Keith collects auxiliary devices as he explores the alien world: an energy shield, a decoy hologram, and several other useful gadgets. The heroine, although not a space infantryman, has enough arsenal to repulse any extraterrestrial danger without any problems (at least at the second level of difficulty out of three).

But she gets pumping points like a real scientist – studying the features of an alien world. Mysterious “cubes of knowledge” are scattered around the surroundings. Found – increased the scale of knowledge. If you fill the bar by 100%, you get a skill point that you can spend on unlocking a passive upgrade: increase the maximum ammo, heal more efficiently, and so on. It makes no sense to puzzle over the choice, because by the end an inquisitive player will easily open all the upgrades.

One well-aimed shot will save you from a big problem.

Plus, when faced with an enemy for the first time, after the victory, you can scan the carcass. And this is the only way to gain experience in battle. In the future, if there is an opportunity to run past the same monster, it makes no sense to linger for a shootout. Unless they won’t let you go further without a victory, or you need to calmly solve the puzzle, and the monster interferes.

The puzzles are not particularly intricate. In most cases, you need to either find a key item in order to open the sesame, or send the desired element to a certain point, focusing more on color than on logic. Although there are a few pleasant exceptions, where you even have to turn on your head.

But what you don’t need to think about is the route. For a game about exploring an alien world, Scars Above turned out to be too linear. All caches are scattered around the little rooms – branches from the main corridor, and the reward in them is modest. Usually it’s just another experience die, or if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to find a weapon upgrade like an extended magazine or an extra projectile per shot.

If you see the cocoons in advance, then the enemies can be burned even before they go out into the world

* * *

Scars Above is constrained by limited resources. The very concept of the game suggests scope, and the developers, it seems to me, made the most efficient use of the available funds. Realizing that it would not be possible to make an interesting open world with small forces, they focused on a short but rich linear narrative with interesting battles. Perhaps next time Mad Head Games will conquer a new height – the final in every possible way encourages the continuation of the banquet.

Advantages:

• interesting battles built on the interaction of the elements with each other and with the environment;
• a whole story will answer all the questions asked;
• the atmosphere of an alien mysterious world.

Flaws:

• elementary puzzles;
• I want more emphasis on the study of the alien world.

Assessment: 7,0/10

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