Parents' Guide to Scars Above

Never underestimate a video game's ability to engage players in new, interesting ways. Scars Above gives the third-person shooter genre a fresh burst of energy by making the main character's occupation a key component of gameplay. Kate, a curious scientist, uses her technological know-how and expertise to give players an edge in combat against the many intimidating creatures that stand between her and the answers she desperately craves. Armed with elemental weapons – with different purposes and effects – every initial fight against a new enemy type is less of a mindless "shoot until the thing stops moving" engagement and more of a tactical exercise of utilizing different weapon types to see how an enemy reacts and using that information to survive. Afterward, players can scan a fallen foe and Kate will break down potential weaknesses, and the genius of this feedback loop is twofold. As the game mixes up whether or not it explicitly defines an enemy's traits, players are often motivated to experiment themselves, making for incredibly satisfying and fun encounters. It also makes Kate feel like a fully realized character who adds a unique spin on the familiar third-person shooter formula.

As the game progresses, more element variants, gadgets, and other resources are added to the player's toolkit. Puzzles occasionally break up the proceedings at opportune moments when players may crave a break from all the shooting-centric chaos. The overall story and characters leave something to be desired as the game teases more than what's ultimately shown, but there are enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. If there's anything that holds the game back, it's the underlining lack of polish during some moments. Characters border on looking like wax figurines creepily interacting with one another, and sometimes, players may encounter the odd glitch or bug where an enemy will trap them against an invisible barrier where they're unable to easily escape. But minor issues aside, Scars Above is a worthy experience to anyone seeking a shooter with bold ambitions that will constantly keep them on their toes.