Scars Above Early Hands On Impressions

Initial Release Date: 2023

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Developer: Mad Head Games

Publishers: Prime Matter, Plaion

Engine: Unreal Engine 4

Genres: Action Adventure Third-Person Shooter

Scars Above is a science fiction third person shooter predicated on atmosphere, the feeling of loneliness and mystery. I must suffice that I am at the point in the game where you are collecting artifacts and trying to find the whereabouts of your crew.

Scars Above’s story early on isn’t bad at all. It starts off with a mysterious Metahedron object floating above earth. You play as Kate Ward, a “SCAR” astronaut and scientist. To make a long story short Kate’s spaceship gets sucked into the Metahedron transporting her into a mysterious planet alone alone with nothing.

This isn’t Returnal which is a great game in it’s own right. Scars Above rivals Returnal as far as atmosphere and mystery goes. Story continues as Kate needs to find her lost crew mates. She follows an apparition to a mysterious Monolith where she discovers special pillars.

Gameplay-wise Scars Above has a shitload of jank when it comes to moving and shooting. Most else gameplay-wise was fine with that said. At the time of writing this article I’ve gotten VERA’s (special gun made by Kate) ice and fire abilities. The Alphas are the main bosses in-game. They are clunky, janky fights but doable.

There are arachnid aliens of all types to fight as well. Combat is okay for the most part but the jank kills it. Kate Ward is a scientist and can investigate and scan the alien world for tid-bits of information. Kate also has a skill tree with unlockable abilities.

Early on the best thing about Scars Above is it’s atmosphere and presentation. Strictly talking science fiction and atmosphere here Scars Above is up there with legends like Mass Effect and the newer Returnal. I love the atmosphere in Scars Above.

I do hate the janky clumsy slow gameplay associated with it’s gameplay though. Visuals are good for a last generation console game not so much current gen. I am playing Scars Above on my Playstation 5 in performance mode for reference.

The music and sound design really lends atmosphere creating a visceral sci-fi effect if that makes sense. Immersion is the word. Cutscenes with crewmates flesh out the npcs and Kate Ward in a positive way but they do have sort of a dead look to them. Thanks for reading – Jason