SCARS ABOVE Review for PlayStation 5

From developers Mad Head Games, whom I’m not very familiar with, has just released their sci-fi epic in “Scars Above,” a third-person shooter game that falls somewhere in between good and unfortunately, a bit of bad. The game’s sci-fi writing is impressive, and the narrative is something I found to be the most engaging thing about this project, but it is not enough to make the game a standout. At first glance, it was easy to make the comparison to 2021’s “Returnal” on PlayStation 5, with its drab, ancient looking planet, with many aliens trying to kill you. Like that game, you also assume the role of strong female, in this one you play as Kate, a scientist for “SCAR”, an elite crew tasked with making contact with an alien ship in Earth’s orbit. However, their ship is blasted across space to a faraway planet as soon as they make contact.

Kate’s character is a standout feature of the game, and her development throughout the story is interesting to follow. The game’s story is divided into four chapters, and players must explore the planet to find Kate’s crewmates while also unlocking the secrets behind the hostile creatures that overrun the planet. Along the way, players will encounter a variety of interesting puzzles that are not overly repeated, which is a refreshing change of pace. Still, exploring is a huge aspect of “Scars Above” and one of the game’s significant drawbacks is the lack of a map to indicate unexplored areas, which can be a hindrance when trying to collect skill points. While the skills players can earn by using these skill points are well thought out, players may reach a “point of no return” area and could encounter frustrating areas that would have been easier if they had unlocked more skills beforehand, I know this because it happened to me.

Players can carry up to four different weapons, which are all elemental themed, such as fire and ice. Some weapons are meant for specific enemies, which adds a strategic element to the gameplay. The action primarily consists of shooting enemies with the most effective weapon and running/dodging their attacks. Unfortunately, aiming your weapon doesn’t feel optimized, and the aim assist feature is not very helpful. In terms of graphics and mechanics, this is where “Scars Above” feels very limiting, because it has so many right ideas, but just struggles to execute them to a satisfying degree. The overall look of the game is adequate, but it doesn’t stand out as exceptional. One significant downside to “Scars Above” is its worth. With a playtime of roughly six hours, the forty-dollar price tag may seem a bit steep.

Overall, “Scars Above” is a capable game with a good storyline, some engaging puzzles, and well-thought-out skill tree (if you acquire enough points to buy them of course). While there is a lot I liked here, the lack of a map and issues with aiming can be frustrating and distracting, Kate as a character did her best to keep me interested, but with a somewhat of a steep price and a lack of polished features, “Scars Above” falls short of being a day-one must-buy game.
6.5/10

Check out the Scars Above launch trailer:

Scars Above is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox X|S, Xbox One, and PC for $39.99.

For more information, visit: https://scarsabove.primematter.gg/

Related: Nick Navarro Reviews

Nick Navarro

Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87

• Destiny 2 - The Final Shape Review for PlayStation 5
• SYSTEM SHOCK Review for PlayStation 5
• Indika Review for PlayStation 5
• Another Crab's Treasure Review for PlayStation 5