The Surge 2
A dystopian action RPG set in nanite-infested Jericho City.
The Surge 2, a 2019 action role-playing game from Deck13 Interactive and Focus Home Interactive, continues the story of its predecessor. It launched on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on September 24, 2019, with an Amazon Luna version arriving on October 20, 2020. Critics gave it positive reviews.
Players control a customizable avatar from a third-person perspective, choosing appearance and gender. Combat relies on melee weapons, with the ability to target and sever specific enemy limbs. Dodging and parrying require proper weapon angling. Players can also use combat drones and consumables like bio-sensors. Defeated enemies yield weapons, armor upgrades, and tech that can be collected and equipped. The setting, Jericho City, offers branching paths for free exploration. Non-playable characters present choices that influence the world and story, and players can leave graffiti messages for others to see.
The game is set in a dystopian future where resource depletion has pushed humanity to the brink. The tech conglomerate CREO attempted environmental restoration, but when that proved too slow, they developed Project UTOPIA, using nanites to speed the process at the cost of 95% of humanity. The nanites gained sentience, becoming a Rogue Process, and when the CREO board voted against their use, they triggered a system-wide crash, killing or corrupting everything connected to the CREO network. An automated system then launched Project UTOPIA, carrying the rogue nanites.
The story follows the unnamed "Warrior" searching for Athena Guttenberg, granddaughter of CREO founder Jonah Guttenberg, in Jericho City—a walled metropolis resisting the nanite advance. The Warrior clashes with the A.I.D. disaster relief unit and the Children of the Spark, a cult led by Matriarch Celeste that worships the Spark, an unstable energy source. The cult believes the nanites fulfill a prophecy of human-machine ascension. Celeste's sons, Eli and Johnny, lead opposing factions. The Warrior is aided by Warren, the first game's protagonist, now a masked man investigating A.I.D.'s actions.
On a plane, the Warrior befriends young Athena. The UTOPIA rocket collides with the plane, releasing nanites that crash it near Jericho City. The comatose Warrior is taken to a prison medical facility. Two months later, visions of Athena calling them her "Warrior" awaken them.
Quick Facts
- Title
- The Surge 2
- Developer
- Deck13 Interactive
- Publisher
- Focus Home Interactive
- Designer
- Adam Hetenyi
- Composer
- Markus Schmidt / BowsToHymns / Stumfol / Talla 2XLC
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows / PlayStation 4 / Xbox One
- Released
- Windows, PS4, Xbox One / 24 September 2019 / Amazon Luna / 20 October 2020
- Genre
- Action role-playing
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Surge 2 is set in a dystopian future where humanity has exhausted the world's resources, leading to strained social and environmental conditions. The tech conglomerate CREO developed Project UTOPIA, a means to use nanites to restore the environment, but at the cost of 95% of humanity. The nanites gained sentience, becoming a Rogue Process, and triggered a system-wide crash that killed or corrupted every machine and human connected to the CREO network. The central plot takes place in Jericho City, an advanced metropolis surrounded by a giant wall aimed at stemming the advance of the nanites. The player character, an unnamed male or female dubbed the 'Warrior', searches for Athena Guttenberg, granddaughter of CREO founder Jonah Guttenberg. The Warrior's journey brings them into conflict with the A.I.D. disaster relief unit and the Children of the Spark, a religious cult that worships the Spark, an unstable but powerful energy source. The game features a character creator, a variety of melee weapons, and the ability to target and remove enemy limbs. Players can dodge and parry attacks, deploy combat drones and consumables, and collect equipment from defeated enemies. Jericho City offers alternate paths for exploration, and player choices affect the game's world and story. Players can also leave graffiti messages for others to see.
Reader's Guide
The Surge 2 is notable for expanding on its predecessor's formula by introducing a character creator, allowing players to customize their avatar's appearance and gender. The game offers five weapon types and reworked enemy artificial intelligence, enabling coordinated combat. The setting shifts from the first game's factory to the larger, more vertical Jericho City, which features diverse environments and alternate paths. Deck13 Interactive aimed to provide players with freedom and choices, reflected in the branching narrative and multiple endings. The game received generally favorable reviews on Metacritic, indicating a positive critical reception. Its significance lies in refining the action role-playing mechanics of the original while offering a more open and customizable experience within a dystopian sci-fi world.
Did You Know?
- The Surge 2 was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on 24 September 2019.
- The game's setting, Jericho City, is surrounded by a giant wall to stem the advance of nanites.
- Players can leave graffiti messages in their game world for other players to see.
- The protagonist is dubbed the 'Warrior' and searches for Athena Guttenberg, granddaughter of CREO founder Jonah Guttenberg.
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