Currently, the Nintendo Switch sits in that awkward position that most new consoles find themselves in during the first year of their launch. Basically, the console needs games. Outside of a few Nintendo-exclusives, indie titles, and NEO GEO re-releases, there’s not much to do at the moment for all of the proud Switch owners out there. If you count yourself among those ranks, I’ve got a game that you should definitely take notice of.
Severed takes the base concepts of smart-device games like Fruit Ninja, and pairs them up with RPG mechanics and storytelling. The result is a game that serves as a near-perfect addition to the Switch library. The game is a throwback to old school FPS dungeon-crawlers. Movement is one grid-space at a time, and you swipe across the screen to use your blade on random objects in the environment, like tables and vases. Icons floating in space let you know that stepping into a specific space will trigger an encounter- another throwback to classic RPG’s.
When I first played Severed back on the Vita, it’s visuals didn’t grab me. Having played it a second time, however, I must say that they impress as much as the rest of the game does. At first they seem reminiscent of old online flash-animated shorts. Studying them deeper will reveal a more refined artistic approach. In hindsight, the visual presentation reminds me of something along the lines of Samurai Jack. The game’s story- a quest to save your family from an evil, malevolent force- may seem boilerplate, but offers enough depth to hold your interest, and mostly stays out of the way of the true star of the show- the game play.
The best part of this game by far is the combat. At first, it seems as if it’s going to get highly repetitive fairly quickly, but thankfully the difficulty and complexity quickly ramps up. Simple swipes across the screen leads into targeting specific parts on enemies, breaking and blocking their attacks, crowd management, and several other mechanics. The combat is not only rewarding, but surprising in just how much variation and diversity they get out of it. This game is a delight to play, and the action is compelling in a way that I’ve found few action RPG’s to be as of the past few years.
The biggest thing working against Severed is its adherence to grid-based first-person exploration. The genre isn’t anywhere near as popular as it was 20 or even 30 years ago, and it may put newer and/or younger players off. This is unfortunate, giving just how much fun the title is from start to finish. Originally, I worried that people were going to miss out on it if only because they didn’t have a Vita.
My wish came true, in as much as I wanted to see it ported over to other platforms and smart devices. With the release of the Switch edition, the game has a chance to be seen by tons of new players. It deserves every last bit of that newfound attention. This game deserves to be seen. If you’re a fan of innovation in games, action/adventure RPG’s, or are just looking for something to do with your brand-new Switch, you owe it to yourself to play this game.
I don’t mean to be short, but Severed is simply one of the best games on the Switch at the moment. It makes great use of the hardware, and the tale of determination and loss ultimately proves as strong as the mechanics it’s built around. Get this game now- seriously. You’ll instantly fall for its charming style and unique, addictive combat.
