Dark Souls-like 'The Surge 2' launches on Xbox One and PC

The Surge 2
The Surge 2 (Image credit: Focus Home Interactive)

What you need to know

  • The Surge 2 is an action game from Deck13 Interactive and Focus Home Interactive.
  • The game is available now on Xbox One and other platforms.
  • The biggest change from the prequel had to be the deeper role-playing mechanics.
  • You can purchase The Surge 2 for $60 on Amazon.

The Surge is an incredibly popular Dark Souls-like experience which launched in 2017. A little over two years later, The Surge 2 is ready to hit a variety of platforms. Instead of being a new factory worker named Warren, you step into the shoes of a customizable protagonist whose plane is shot down by a mysterious storm and lands on the outskirts of Jericho City.

The Surge 2 is available now for $60 through Amazon or the Microsoft Store. If you didn't preorder the game, you'll have to spend another $3 on the preorder bonus pack. The pack includes some powerful gear like well-used Cutter from The Surge, the URBN armor set, the Judgement Axe, and the Skimmer Drone. There are some other surprises in there too so it's definitely worth purchasing.

The Surge 2 doesn't look as good as The Surge because it features a lower resolution on Xbox One X and strange lighting. It's unclear why this is the case, but the team probably needs to tweak the HDR settings. Despite this issue, the gameplay shines.

In Windows Central's review, I wrote, "Despite this critique, the addition of deeper role-playing mechanics like choices and unpredictable campaign characters elevates The Surge 2 as a whole, alongside a huge variety of complex enemies that I won't spoil. I was expecting the combat to see the greatest tweaks, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Don't get me wrong, this is a welcome surprise, and I can't wait to see where the developer, Deck13 Interactive, takes the franchise with the inevitable sequel."

Xbox

Main

Asher Madan

Asher Madan handles gaming news for Windows Central. Before joining Windows Central in 2017, Asher worked for a number of different gaming outlets. He has a background in medical science and is passionate about all forms of entertainment, cooking, and antiquing.