Severed Steel

Quite simply Severed Steel is one of the most downright entertaining shooters to come out this year. Sure it doesn't boast the most comprehensive offering from a content perspective and genre fiends looking for a token narrative to go with their serving of face-gunning may well be disappointed, but Severed Steel bends and in some cases breaks the traditionally rigid rules of the FPS genre to often giddy effect. The end result is the sort of gloriously freewheeling, acrobatic first-person shooting extravaganza which aims to demonstrate that innovation in the genre doesn't have to just begin and end at the the gun clasped tightly in your hands.

Despite a disappointingly short length and lack of story, Severed Steel excels in how it actually feels to play. When it clicks, it becomes a zen-like dance, a series of playgrounds full of deeply rewarding kills and Matrix-inspired acrobatics. The levels themselves are varied enough to keep things interesting, and the game moves at an impressively fast pace. The lack of bosses could be seen as a missed opportunity, but the game still has much to offer. Severed Steel is a cathartic experience that thoroughly delivers in what it sets out to accomplish – making you feel badass.

Severed Steel‘s campaign may be short, but it’s very sweet. And the high-octane nature of its action is intoxicating, meaning you’re likely to engage with firefight mode and perhaps even play through the campaign again with Mutators active. A single-player only experience, those who like waging war while feeling like a badass will be in their element here. It’s an absolute blast from beginning to end.

A thrilling parkour shooter that’s short but oh so sweet, it’s FPS action distilled into an instinctive, simple, yet compelling experience. We can’t wait for the sequel. [Issue#18, p.80]

If you are looking for pure entertainment when playing a video game, then Severed Steel does a very good job at giving you that. But if you are looking for something more than just entertainment, you may not be fully satisfied.