Severed

Hover mouse over screenshots for commentary.

April 2016

Severed was made by DrinkBox Studios, who also made "Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack!" and "Guacamelee!" The game is in first person but the movement isn't like in traditional first person games - it's more like an old-school dungeon crawler game where you can only go left, right, forward, or backward. As you move around you can search the environment for items, ways to solve puzzles, or fight enemies. You play as a young-ish woman whose family is missing - and who's had an arm lopped off. Despite her injury she sets out to rescue her family.

The combat is done by using the touchscreen. This is a mechanic that I would usually dislike but it worked very well in Severed. The monsters will be in your face and you swipe the screen to attack them. You can quickly deal lots of damage by making little slashes across the enemy, or you can elect to deal more damage per slash by making them longer - but naturally long slashes will occur more slowly. When you defeat an enemy there will be a brief moment when time slows and you can strategically slash off parts of the enemy. You use these monster parts for various upgrades. For example, you can upgrade the long slashes so that they do more damage, or make so that you have more time to sever the enemy body parts (I'd recommend upgrading this first because then you'll be able to upgrade more things over time). There are also some puzzles in the game that are not too complex, but not obvious either.

There are a few different areas throughout the game and each time you defeat a boss you'll gain access to a new area. You can also discover a variety of items along the way that may also give you access to new areas (like in the Zelda games). Even with the unique "first person slasher" gameplay, there are some well implemented RPG elements and you'll feel like you're getting stronger over time.

The game is maybe about six to eight hours, and it's a fun ride. I felt engaged throughout the entire game and frankly wished that there was more. If you feel similarly then you can go back to early areas in the game and discover all of the hidden items and secrets. It's a shame that more people don't have Vitas because this is a great game that deserves a wider audience.

	Could there be two sides to our protagonist?	At the top left you can see the health bar and at the top right you can see the start of a mini-map.
There are lots of places to explore.	At the start there is a mirror, which is the only way to see yourself. A creepy "death"-like figure tells you that you need to rescue your family.
Once you have the sword, it's game time.	You're house?	You learn how to use the sword via a flashback, training with your mom.
Got some armor now . . .		Part of the upgrade system. Your currency is body parts, as seen on the left, and a description of the upgrade is shown at the bottom.
In Zelda he holds the heart piece over his head. In Severed she eats it.		When you are not facing an enemy there are little red circles that give an indication of when they will attack you so you can time how you want to organize your assault and blocks.
Tapping this sun stone will open certain doors and close others.	This weird bird thing shows up from time to time to give cryptic statements.	A monster.
A monster who clubs you. Those arms look so sever-able . . .		I need to get a doorway like that.
On the opposite side of a sun stone is, of course, the moon.		Some limbs on the ground after a battle.
A full heart! Yum!	All right! Four arms!
Brother!	A boss character.
Looking a bit tougher . . .		In certain parts of the game these wisps mean that there are enemies there.
Another splendid doorway.	You've got to attack certain parts of this monster and avoid other parts.	The sword looks cooler. . .
	In the middle of eating a heart.
You will notice that under the health bar I have acquired new skills. . .	Looks friendly.	Part way through the game some enemies get additional properties, like the ability to regenerate health.
Don't you just want to sever those lips right off this creep?	Dad?
		These guys are tough but you can get a good variety of limbs from them.
Ooh! I collected enough brain pieces! Time to eat.	Looking pretty awesome.
	In addition to limbs you can collect giblets which you can transmute into rare limb parts.
You gain the ability to walk on clouds, but if the battles take too long you'll eventually fall through.	The red eyes are like a shield to the purple eye.	Your severed arm!
		Fully upgraded.
	Mom?

	A cornucopia of limbs!	You can only damage this skull when it opens it's mouth.
This is what it looks like when time briefly slows and you try to sever limbs at the end of a fight. You have to quickly slice across the lines or else you won't sever the limb.	About to sever the eye.	Looking pretty tough.
		The game was good enough that it was worth doing this.

	He's smiling! He must be nice.
	This fight has a pretty awesome ending.