Severed Reviews
DrinkBox Studios pushes the boundaries on the Vita’s unique hardware once again. Although from a technical perspective it occasionally lets them down, Severed’s unique combat system and beautiful art style carry the day on what is a fun, if not short-lived, dungeon crawler.
For Switch owners looking for a interesting adventure they can play on the move, Severed is absolutely essential.
Severed takes one of the oldest and inaccessible genres in video games and reinvigorates it, giving it much wider appeal than its contemporaries
Severed on Nintendo Switch is not the best way to play the game.
Out now for an ailing console, Severed will be remembered as one of those “console-defining” games. Actually, it’s more than just a game. It is a memorable experience unique to the PSVita that is to be savoured in its entirety.
Between the puzzles that need to be solved throughout this world (enough to fill up a few hours’ worth of gameplay), enthralling battles and a superb presentation, Severed gives you another good reason to cherish your Vita.
Severed is one of the best games on the PlayStation Vita. It makes good use of the portable’s touch screen for its battles, and the art, as always, is top-notch. Sure, it might be a short adventure, but you’re going to love every minute of it. I had a lot of fun playing the game for my Severed review, and I can’t wait to see what the studio does next.
For a game so focused on the monstrous and the grotesque, Severed's power lies in how it shines a critical and emotional light on an intrinsic part of what it means to be human.
Severed is a game that benefits from hindsight, when all of the longueurs are forgotten and only the highlights remain. Those willing to put up with a bit of tedium and a high price point will find Severed to be a unique and memorable experience. Whether or not it's worth putting up with its shortcomings for the sake of the experience will differ from person to person, but with its vibrant presentation and interesting mechanics, this comes with a hearty recommendation for those looking for something a bit different.
Severed is a raucous good time on Wii U, taking perfect advantage of the hardware to deliver an improved version of what was already excellently done on Vita. The graphics are lush and engrossing, and the music tethers everything together wonderfully.
Severed sounds like it should be some cheap gimmick. So many other games have tried to base their identity around touch screen functionality and failed miserably, and yet for Severed it works. Not only is the touch screen-based combat incredibly enjoyable and addictive, it makes the game significantly better. It doesn't feel like it was shoehorned in, and this is perhaps the best example of touch screen controls to date. There are some other issues, but these are so minor that they're barely worth mentioning, and this is simply a fantastic experience from beginning to end. The combat, combined with the haunting, memorable aesthetic, makes the game stand out as one of the better indie titles available on the Wii U. So grab your stylus and be prepared, because Severed is a cut above the competition.
While I still feel the late-game battles are drawn out with palette swaps and needless complexity, Severed is such a fantastic game otherwise that even with a few warts, Severed is absolutely worth checking out, especially if you missed any of its other releases on Wii U, 3DS, and more.
Severed is a story about love. A girl’s love of her family and Drinkbox’s love for Vita. Repetitive combat and a tough difficulty spike limit the enjoyment, but there’s no reason every Vita owner shouldn’t at least give it a go.
There really isn’t anything wrong at all with Severed. It is one of the best Vita games on the system and I can’t recommend it enough. Drinkbox took a big risk releasing this game on on the Vita but it takes full advantage and is probably the best use of the touchscreen to date. The combat is so satisfying, the world so beautiful and fun to explore, and the music and sound effects so great to listen to. I loved every second I spent severing all of those monsters limbs off and making Sasha stronger with them. I hope to see more of Severed in the future and if you own a PlayStation Vita this is a must buy.
This is a perfect off-TV experience. While the gameplay premise wears thin over the short adventure, when the slashing combat works and the exploration feels organic, it’s incredible. Just be prepared for a bit of repetition as the story reaches its conclusion.
Severed is a great experience that comes perilously close to overstaying its welcome. The combat is fast and intense, the dungeon exploration is enjoyable, and the visuals are enticing. The combat can become repetitive and is completely dependent on your touch-screen, but by and large, it's a fun and well-made game. As you slash your way through the bizarre monstrosities that populate the land, Severed manages to be engaging without feeling like a roadblock. It won't change the mind of anyone who hates touch-screen gaming, but it's a great example of how it can work, and it's one of the best indie games on the Vita.
While most people have given up on this lovely handheld, I’m glad there are still some studios who are willing to take a chance on the Vita. Severed is a great game with a lot of depth that will have you thinking about it for a long time to come. On a console that is absolutely loaded with the dungeon crawler genre, it's no mean feat that this one manages to stand out.
It’s a fun, simple, good looking game with a surprisingly deep combat system. That said, there isn’t much more to the game besides the occasional dungeon puzzles so if you’re hungry for more, this game might not be for you. If you have the patience for repeated battles while dungeon crawling, then it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to find yourself burning hours just swiping at your screen.
Severed is a worthwhile dungeon exploration experience.
It seems somewhat amazing that Severed exists at all, given the lack of support for the Vita in the west outside of cross platform indie games. It stumbles in a few places, like lack of variety in its enemies, yet the combat system itself is a refreshing take on first person dungeon crawler combat and one of the few fantastic uses of the Vita’s touch screen. It’s a pretty great game and definitely worth dusting off your Vita for.