Sundered Reviews
Sundered is a grandly accomplished Metroidvania effort that is complimented by some of the most beautiful 2D visuals to date.
Sundered is a Metroidvania that's left us with mixed feelings. The gorgeous environments and enemy design help to make the title a visual treat. Unfortunately, the game doesn't really offer enough downtime to actually enjoy that element. It instead serves up near-constant enemy encounters and frustrating hordes of enemies that end up irritating rather than exhilarating. While the game controls very well, and the upgrade tree is incredibly impressive, its light procedural elements still end up being the most unique feature.
Sundered's immense sense of style carries it over any bumps in the road, and the result is one of the best Metroidvania games released in years.
Solid mix of Metroidvania and Roguelike with epic boss battles, but often very conventional and sometimes tough.
Review in German | Read full review
It's not a question of if the player will die in Sundered. They will lose the struggle against the Eldritch horrors that call its world home, and it ultimately comes down to the core theme of resist or embrace. Will the player embrace the challenge, or resist it by giving up? That'll ultimately come down to how much perseverance a person has, but those that do see the adventure out will be rewarded with more glimpses into a gorgeous world and some incredibly tense combat exchanges.
The story of Eshe is confusing and mysterious. Throughout the game there are many questions to be asked about what her goal is or how she feels about her unfortunate predicament. However, these questions fade as the drive to fulfill Eshe's unspeakable goal consumed me. I didn't care why she was doing it, I just knew that it must be important enough to put up with all of this to obtain it and that was enough for me. Parts of me wish Sundered never ended, but I was satisfied with the conclusion which made me look back at the choices I made and wonder: if I did it again again, would I embrace or resist this power?
You're going to die a lot in Sundered, but it's all part of the plan. It's a tormented way to let players experience the terrors of eldritch monsters, but it's just so dang pretty you won't mind much anyway.
The roguelike elements didn't quite work out for me, but I'm sure Sundered will find its audience. Though I learned not to hate them, I would have preferred if the game stuck closer to tradition. It becomes a good game, but until you really become acquainted with how it works, it can be a frustrating and monotonous slog.
Sundered looks and sounds beautiful, but you will quickly find it exceptionally repetitive and frustrating.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Sundered, from Thunder Lotus Games, a Rogue Legacy meets Super Metroid experience that is well worth checking out.
Sundered is an interesting take on the Metroidvania genre. Eshe's journey to collect the elder shards is adrenaline fueled and challenging. While the game is not free from flaws, it more than worthy of a spot in most collections.
Sundered is an overall excellent entry into the Metroidvania genre and should be a strong consideration for fans of this style. The cycle of exploration devolving into button mashing (then death) could be frustrating for some, and stands as the largest blemish in the title. However, outstanding presentation and a compelling world highlight Thunder Lotus' vision. Memorable bosses and a narrative embedded in the deepest corners of the game create a very satisfying experience.
An unforgettable world, an indefatigable enemy, a somewhat meaningless protagonist, a really good time.
Sundered has the basic foundation for a metroidvania/roguelike hybrid down pat, but its poor handling of enemy distribution and the otherwise fine combat that comes with it sadly drags it down.
Sundered is a good metroidvania with an astonishing art design. The procedural generation of the enemies is a bit problematic and the difficulty is not well balanced. Nonetheless, it represents a significant step forward for Thunder Lotus Games.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Which leaves me in a bit of a conundrum, and Sundered with a name that couldn't be apter. The core of Sundered is fundamentally flawed from the outset, and randomly generated levels are often a bugbear of mine. But layered on top of this is a fantastic, gorgeous action game with heaps to do. All told you're looking at a good 15-hour run through, and those whose thirst is still not quenched as the credits will no doubt be pleased that each playthrough is different. If the thought of eating a beautiful crunchy red apple appeals to you, and you don't mind the worms wriggling inside, Sundered might be worth a shot.
Sundered is pretty to look at but as the saying goes, never judge a book by its cover. It is an unforgiving game that fails to fully satisfy the gamer. Nevertheless, if savored bite by bite to prevent the frustration and repetition from exceeding your satiety threshold, it'll prove to be a pretty entertaining title.
Sundered is a must-play action game (now available on Steam and for the PS4), combining astounding animation and rewarding combat. But you're going to die. A lot.
A game with interesting ideas that is let down by frustrating, repetitive gameplay.