THE SURGE 2
Deck13’s punishing sci-fi RPG levels up
Amid the tsunami of Soulslikes, Deck13’s The Surge stands out as the one game to take the genre in a new direction. It added a sci-fi twist and the option to target specific enemy parts, thereby saving gear to add to your exoskeleton, so every skirmish became a loot-focussed tactical duel. And the sequel promises to up the ante on this idea.
It’s set in a large, semi-open world – a city where verticality will play a key role – and your upgrades will be torn from this new setting. As we chat to creative director Jan Klose he suggests we’ll be able to make use of new military hardware as well as weaponise everyday gadgets.
“Dead Rising goes further in this way, but it’s not a bad vector to be on,” says Klose before adding a cautionary note. “Games that take themselves too seriously can be a bit exhausting. It wants to be surprising but not unbefitting.”
The exo-rig upgrade system isn’t just for effect. The additional parts for your exosuit will offer more than back-office buffs. Klose explains: “It’s not just an interesting visual look. We want it to expand the mechanics provided. So it shouldn’t be just defence goes up when you upgrade a part but effects unlock. It could be these boots add something to your back-stab kick.”
The same approach is being taken to improving the drone that accompanied you in the original game. Now you can fuse in new parts just like you would your exoskeleton – for example, turning a gas canister into a flamethrower once attached to the drone.
With these additions, we predict a surge in interest for this sequel.
DEAD RISING GOES FURTHER, BUT IT’S NOT A BAD VECTOR TO BE ON.
Are you ready for The Surge 2? Write in to us at OPM@futurenet.com.