Severed is the latest game from DrinkBox Studios, makers of Tales from Space and Guacamelee!, for the 3DS. Released previously on the PS Vita and iOS, Severed is a first person dungeon crawler with hack and slash gameplay.
Players assume the role of Sasha, a young girl, who wakes up in a dark and twisted world. Sasha comes to find that her family has been kidnapped by the residents of this world, and she is missing an arm. She soon encounters a rather scary stranger who gifts her a magical sword and sets her on a quest to save her family.
Gameplay in Severed consists of using the d-pad to move from room to room and scan for items and secrets. Sasha will encounter various monsters with a wide array of powers and attacks. Having one less arm means no blocking, just well timed parries. Timing is key to winning in Severed. Players must use their finger or stylus to “slash” at monsters when an opening is clear and eventually build up a focus meter to allow them to slice off various appendages at the end of the fight. Sasha then collects these appendages and items to gain new abilities via the usual skill trees. See why it’s called Severed?
Sasha grows in strength via the skill tree and I found I generally got better at the game I as went anyway. Quick slashes were the way to go versus many monsters, but longer slashes provided more damage to those pesky blockers. Combat gets rather hectic as Sasha encounters groups of two or more enemies. Players must keep an eye on the attack meters to avoid getting hit and bounce from monster to monster. Be sure to get your focus maxed before finishing each baddie though, you want those arms! Players will also find hidden heart pieces to add to Sasha’s health total, and fruit to eat and restore missing health.
The art design in Severed is fantastic, and frankly, my favorite aspect of the game. Drinkbox is known for its creative style. I loved Guacamelee! for this very reason as well. Severed is almost a Tribal-meets-Tim Burton films design. I can’t say enough good things about it. The voice work consists of an entirely made up language, but subtitles are provided. The music is moody and very fitting.
As the story progresses Sasha goes deeper into the various dungeons and forests, talking with some of the odd creatures she encounters who help and sometimes provide comic relief. She will find items that provide solutions to various obstacles blocking her path. Severed is rather linear but does give players the ability to go back to areas and unlock secrets and paths they couldn’t access before. This aspect gives the game a less confining feel and also adds some bulk to the time players can spend in Severed.
Severed is an excellent game. My only complaint is that Severed felt more suited for iOS, like other slash games such as Infinity Blade. Still, if you are looking for a good 3DS game for a small price ($14.99) Severed is an excellent addition to your digital library.
Severed is available for the Nintendo 3DS at the eShop. This review is based on a copy provided for review purposes.
