Review of Scar-Lead Salvation on PlayStation 5

Scar-Lead Salvation… wow, where do I even start? It’s from Idea Factory International, Compile Heart, and Neilo Inc. Sounds fancy, right? This one’s a roguelite shooter on the PS5. Imagine waking up as Willow Martin, not a clue in the world about where you are or how you got there. Is it just me, or is that a nightmare? Anyway — no memory, no friends, just survival, and maybe some answers along the way? I’m hooked, sort of. Let’s dive in.

First thing you’re going to notice, enemies everywhere. It’s like, as soon as you deal with one, another pops up like whack-a-mole but with a sci-fi twist. Annoying? Maybe. Challenging? Definitely. Oh, and there’s this military AI that’s helping you out. Or is it? Hard to tell, but you gotta roll with it. Weird, right?

Now, controls… they’re a bit like learning the ropes at a new job. Gotta keep up. Left stick is for moving, right for aiming. Sprint with a click, jump with X, interact with Triangle. Simple, but somehow complicated during the chaos. R2 to shoot, L2 to aim. It’s messy, but you get used to it, I promise. Melee with Square — which sounds like a dance move (sort of is), but you gotta parry stuff, too. Dodging’s an art with the Circle button. Seriously, you get a small invincibility frame which is life-saving. Or life-extension, ha!

Items galore, thanks to Micro Armory boxes. You smash one open, and who knows? A shiny new weapon or, if you’re lucky, some healing stuff. Enemies drop loot sometimes — talk about payday! Still, Exo Force is your buddy here. If you manage to fill up its gauge, you get all-powerful with something called Onslaught. Invincible, too, for a bit at least. But take a hit and, bam, it’s like starting over. Ouch.

There’s this shop, right? Spend your Elm — the game’s currency, not tree leaves (though that’d be funny) — and buy Exo Skills or upgrade your weapons. Should be easy, but lose everything when you die, minus the essentials. Don’t even get me started on the strategy of sticking with one skill. It’s like knowing your coffee order, keep it simple.

Let’s chat trophies! If you’re into that grind, there’s a Platinum one waiting. A bunch of Bronze, Silver, and Gold ones too. Maybe like 9 or 8… don’t quote me on that. First trophy’s right after the opening, so yay, instant reward! Boss battles, dodging, melee attacks — it’s a checklist but in game form. Who doesn’t want 600,000 Elm chips? Honestly, sounds like a mega bonus.

Overall? Scar-Lead Salvation is a mind-bending journey on the PS5. Willow wakes up in a room — still boggles my mind. Friends? Enemies? Survival? It’s a must-play if you like your games challenging and a bit mysterious. And hey, it’s out now, so no waiting. Dive in, if you dare.

Okay, wrapping up. Review based on a PS5 copy. Thanks, Idea Factory!