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I’ve always loved the FPS genre because it’s competitive, addictive, and pretty brutal. However, recently, most of the titles lack innovation and individuality. Consequently, the gameplay feels repetitive and the competitive element plateaus early on. Severed Steel attempts to mix things up with its slick mechanics and unusual ways.
Developed by Greylock Studios and Kittehface and published by Digerati, this is a time-bending FPS title. What’s more, it relies heavily on physics-based mechanics, hectic action, and arena combat. Subsequently, your reactions will be tested as well as your resolve.
Severed Steel lacks momentum.
A great story isn’t always essential. Yet, a story of any sort is nice to have. Without it, the action merely peters out no matter how interesting or enthralling it is. To make matters worse, it usually impacts the momentum, and this is exactly what happens in Severed Steel. Without a plot, you feel no empathy toward the protagonist, nor can you relate to the action. Instead, the developers rely solely on your love of the core concept and the ensuing bedlam.
Luckily enough, I was captivated by the “Superhot-esque” gameplay and the devilishly accurate opposition. Alongside this, I cherished every mind-bending moment of athleticism and the ability to slow down time. In short, you feel like you are inside the matrix as you dodge and weave everything that’s thrown your way.
It’s slower than you think.
With wall running, double jumps, sliding, and front flips at your disposal, you’d think the gameplay would be unbelievably rapid. Well, mostly it is, but to progress, you have to continually slow time. Why? You may ask. Because your foes are vicious and you must dodge their bullets, avoid their attention, and try to look super badass.
This is cool and all, but it slows everything to a snail’s pace. On top of this, it makes the otherwise smooth visuals quite juddery and disjointed. Don’t get me wrong, it is tremendous and extremely rewarding. However, I simply wish it wasn’t the go-to mechanic 95% of the time.
The developers tried to mix things up by making you invincible when you perform stunts. Sadly, though, this only goes so far as your opponents are ridiculously accurate. Accordingly, you must turn to your Neo from the Matrix abilities to succeed.
Severed Steel looks surprisingly good.
I’m a sucker for voxel games, but I didn’t expect Severed Steel to look so good. Thanks to its destructible environment, the combination of cold and neon colours, and the interesting stage layout, I was impressed. Alongside this, the free-flowing action is buttery smooth and glitch-free. As much as I adored the slowdown effect, it felt janky and disjointed compared to the other elements. Moreover, everything has an OTT futuristic edge that wonderfully matches the theme.
The incredible audio enhances the gameplay further still. With a long list of high-energy and aggressive tunes, you won’t tire of it easily. Alongside this, the loud sound effects are excellent. Every weapon is unique and the explosions are bone-shuddering and intense. Subsequently, I loved the spectacle it created.
The fantastic controls add to the drama.
When a game relies on slick mechanics, it better have the controls to match. Fortunately, Severed Steel doesn’t disappoint. Thanks to its excellent UI and responsive inputs, you’ll master the fundamentals in no time. It can indeed be fiddly when the action is hectic, but that’s half the fun. However, this can be frustrating when you fail repeatedly. As such, it makes it a bit harder, and that’s great for veteran gamers.
What I cherish about this breed of FPS titles is its replay value. Though the main body of the game is short, there is a firefight mode, an array of character mods, and New Game+ to select from. This is incredible as it ensures you’ll want to return to play some more. My only disappointment, however, was the lack of cooperative action. If this was added, Severed Steel would be truly spectacular.
Severed Steel is a wonderful “Superhot-like” game.
Fans of Superhot will love Severed Steel. Many of its mechanics feel familiar, but some new ideas are thrown in for good measure. Yes, I was disappointed by the heavy reliance on the slowdown element. But, on the whole, it is an enjoyable and extremely well-polished game. As such, I easily recommend you to buy it here! Become a gun-toting agent as you leap, slide, and shoot your way to victory.
