Severed

Few developers have a track record of excellence like DrinkBox Studios does. Their debut title, Tales from Space: About a Blob, was a highly polished platformer that was impressive on PS3, but didn’t quite make huge waves. That would change with its follow-up, Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack, which was the highlight of the PlayStation Vita’s North American launch. Since then they’ve also released the excellent Metroidvania game Guacamelee! which is as stylish as it is fun to play. So naturally expectations have been very high surrounding the Ontario studio’s latest game Severed.

Severed presents a grim tale of grief and vengeance that offers deceptively deep combat. This is a great example of touch controls done right and the presentation is top-notch. This is a must-own Vita title.

A joy to behold from start to finish, Severed is an almost perfectly executed action-adventure title. With very successfully designed dungeons full of rewarding puzzles and a combat system that is pleasing to carry out, you’ll likely find yourself wishing you could play more of the game when it is over. That’s the only real downside – you’ll be finished with the main story after six hours and be left wanting more – although wishing you could play more isn’t exactly a complaint. If you have the means to do so, we heartily recommend giving this one a go.

DrinkBox has succeeded in not only making a fantastic game, but also making the PlayStation Vita relevant again in a time where most have left it for dead. Severed is the call to all gamers to dig out their dusty Vitas once more, as the neglected handheld has quietly acquired one of the must-have games of 2016.

Despite being heavily stylised the world feels alive and I was often totally immersed into the game. Obviously the sound design contributes greatly in this sense. Enemy design is exceptional, blending the tone and style of the game with its gameplay. Sound here plays an important role again, cueing enemy attacks, powerups and more.

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Worth an Arm and a Leg

Maybe it's just that Severed's story and animation were so deep and enthralling that the much more simplistic combat was bound to feel shallow by comparison. Severed is still a fun game, and because it's relatively short, even when the combat becomes more tiresome than exciting there isn't much left to go before the final boss fight that every gamer should experience and enjoy. For that reason, it's easy to recommend Severed, another success for Drinkbox Studios that ultimately presents some enjoyable, at times innovative gameplay wrapped in one of 2016's finest minimalist narratives and vibra...

The promise of the Vita was console-quality experiences on the go, but Severed isn't that. Rather, it's the sort of expertly executed cocktail of mechanics that would work as well on a comparatively diminutive smartphone screen. So while Severed may be something of a swan song for the Vita, it's also a reminder that great games are bigger and more lasting than the platforms that contain them.

Across Severed’s seven or so hours, you get to experience some of the best touch screen gaming around. DrinkBox Studios have created a great game here with an engaging battle system and art style. It can feel a bit too minimalist in its design, and there’s much repetition in the environments, but DrinkBox Studios have created a great game with an engaging battle system and art style. If you own a Vita, Severed is worth getting.