Category: All News

Key Takeaways

1. Engaging Combat Mechanics: The game features fluid stunt mechanics, allowing acrobatic actions like wallruns and flips during combat, with a unique no-reload system.

2. Destructible Environments and Replayability: Environments are fully destructible, creating new paths and tactical advantages, alongside dynamic AI for unique encounters and a fast-paced Firefight mode.

3. Minimalistic Storytelling: The narrative is conveyed visually without dialogue, focusing more on action and atmosphere rather than a deep story.

4. Positive Reception: Severed Steel has received strong reviews, with a 95% positive rating on Steam, though critics note the shallow plot and short gameplay duration of about 6.5 hours.

5. Pricing and Availability: Released in September 2021, the game typically costs $25 but is currently available for $2.50 due to a 90% discount until April 26.

In Severed Steel, you take on the role of Steel, a one-armed sharpshooter seeking revenge against a corrupt megacorp. The game is set in a stylish, futuristic fortress and opts for a minimalistic approach to storytelling, allowing the thrilling gameplay to shine. With smooth movement, bullet time mechanics, and acrobatic combat, the game emphasizes fast and flashy action.

Engaging Combat Mechanics

Severed Steel stands out due to its fluid stunt mechanics, enabling players to link acrobatic actions like wallruns, flips, and slides during combat. The German magazine GameStar describes it as “breathtaking stunts à la Matrix,” which is a fitting comparison. Just like Neo, players can dive through slow-motion bullet storms, leap off walls, and take down enemies with precision. A unique aspect of the game is the lack of a reload button. Instead, players pick up weapons from defeated foes, ensuring the action remains quick, unpredictable, and always moving.

Destructible Environments and Replayability

The game’s environment is completely destructible, allowing Steel to shoot through walls with his arm cannon to create new paths and gain a tactical advantage. Coupled with dynamic, squad-based AI, each encounter feels unique, providing a strong incentive for replayability. Besides the main campaign, the game also includes a fast-paced Firefight mode, which is an arcade-style challenge featuring 42 levels where players aim for high scores and leaderboard positions. For those feeling creative, the integrated level editor with Steam Workshop support enables players to craft their own maps and share them with others.

Reviews and Reception

In a German review from ps4source.de, Severed Steel garnered mostly positive remarks, especially for its exhilarating action and compelling, driving soundtrack. The narrative, however, is not the focal point—it’s conveyed solely through visuals without any dialogue, giving it a more atmospheric feel than a story-driven one. Despite this, the game has received a strong reception on Steam, with a 95% positive rating from about 5,600 reviews. On Metacritic, the scores are more balanced. Critics have assigned it a Metascore of 73, while players have rated it a bit lower with a User Score of 7.2. The main critiques focus on the shallow plot and relatively short duration of gameplay. According to HowLongToBeat, finishing the main story along with all additional content takes roughly 6.5 hours.

Pricing and Availability

Severed Steel, created by Greylock Studio, was released in September 2021. The fast-paced shooter typically retails for approximately $25, but until April 26, it can be snagged for just $2.50 due to a massive 90% discount. As per SteamDB, the game frequently goes on sale, with the latest discount occurring during the Spring Sale in early March. However, it has never been available at a lower price than it is currently.

Source:
Link