Severed (video game)
{{short description|2016 action-adventure video game}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Severed
| image = Severed_video_game_logo.png
| developer = DrinkBox Studios
| publisher = DrinkBox Studios
| platforms = PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Nintendo Switch
| released = {{unbulleted list|PlayStation Vita{{vgrelease|WW|April 26, 2016}}Wii U, iOS{{vgrelease|WW|September 22, 2016}}Nintendo 3DS{{vgrelease|EU|September 22, 2016|NA|October 13, 2016}}Nintendo Switch{{vgrelease|WW|August 8, 2017}}
}}
| genre = Action-adventure
| modes = Single-player
}}
Severed is an action-adventure video game developed and published by DrinkBox Studios for the PlayStation Vita, iOS, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch. It was released on April 26, 2016, in North America and Europe for the PlayStation Vita and it was released on Wii U and iOS on September 22, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/severed-is-a-great-reminder-of-how-good-playstation-vit-1773669443|title=Severed Is A Great Reminder Of How Good PlayStation Vita Games Can Feel|first=Evan|last=Narcisse|date=April 28, 2016|publisher=|access-date=April 29, 2016|archive-date=July 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730073831/https://kotaku.com/severed-is-a-great-reminder-of-how-good-playstation-vit-1773669443|url-status=live}} It was released on Nintendo 3DS in Europe on September 22, 2016, North America on October 13, 2016.{{cite web|last1=Theriault|first1=Donald|title=Severed 3DS Launching In North America On Thursday.|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/43540/severed-3ds-launching-in-north-america-thursday|website=Nintendo World Report|accessdate=October 11, 2016|archive-date=October 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012151107/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/43540/severed-3ds-launching-in-north-america-thursday|url-status=live}} It was released in Japan on December 28, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/titles/50010000042120|title=SEVERED-セヴァード-|website=Nintendo Japan|accessdate=October 12, 2019|archive-date=October 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012232151/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/titles/50010000042120|url-status=live}}
Development
On April 14, 2014, DrinkBox Studios announced Severed in association with video game blog Destructoid. Because of its heavy focus on touchscreen controls, Severed was anticipated as a game for mobile devices, though DrinkBox Studios was considering versions for other devices like the PlayStation Vita, the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U, too. Motion-sensing technologies like PlayStation Move and Kinect were considered. However, the developers did not confirm the game for any of these platforms at that time. DrinkBox Studios was aiming for a release of Severed in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/chop-up-and-equip-your-enemy-s-body-parts-in-severed-273049.phtml|title=Chop up and equip your enemy's body parts in Severed|website=Destructoid|date=April 13, 2014|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-date=July 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702065642/https://www.destructoid.com/chop-up-and-equip-your-enemy-s-body-parts-in-severed-273049.phtml|url-status=live}} At the PlayStation Experience 2014 in December, DrinkBox Studios announced that Severed would be released on PlayStation Vita, continuing the trend of DrinkBox' previous games of releasing on PlayStation platforms first.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/07/psx-2014-guacamelee-devs-return-with-unique-rpg-severed|title=PSX 2014: Guacamelee! Devs Return With Unique RPG Severed|website=IGN|date=December 7, 2014|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-date=January 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107081216/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/07/psx-2014-guacamelee-devs-return-with-unique-rpg-severed|url-status=live}} After being delayed,{{cite web|url=http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/07/29/drinkbox-studios-delays-title-severed-ps-vita-until-after-summer-2015/|title=DrinkBox Studios Delays PS Vita Title Severed Until After Summer 2015|website=PlayStation Lifestyle|date=July 29, 2015|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-date=August 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811124542/http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/07/29/drinkbox-studios-delays-title-severed-ps-vita-until-after-summer-2015/|url-status=live}} DrinkBox Studios announced on April 11, 2016, that Severed would be released for PlayStation Vita on April 26.{{cite web|url=https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2016/04/11/severed-from-the-team-behind-guacamelee-hits-ps-vita-this-month/|title=Severed, from the team behind Guacamelee, hits PS Vita this month|website=PlayStation Blog Europe|date=April 11, 2016|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-date=June 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607060200/https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2016/04/11/severed-from-the-team-behind-guacamelee-hits-ps-vita-this-month/|url-status=live}}
On June 13, 2016, during the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2016, Severed was announced for both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/DrinkBoxStudios/status/742483793949384704|title=DrinkBox Studios on Twitter|website=Twitter|access-date=2016-06-13|archive-date=September 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927190610/https://twitter.com/DrinkBoxStudios/status/742483793949384704|url-status=live}} The game supports cross-buy, so if a user buys it on the Wii U, they also get the game free on the 3DS.{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/06/feature_we_chat_to_drinkbox_studios_about_severed_for_wii_u_and_3ds|title=Feature: We Chat to DrinkBox Studios About SEVERED for Wii U and 3DS|website=Nintendo Life|access-date=2015-06-18|archive-date=June 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615112738/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/06/feature_we_chat_to_drinkbox_studios_about_severed_for_wii_u_and_3ds|url-status=live}} The Nintendo Switch version released on August 8, 2017.{{Cite web |last1=Faller |first1=Patrick |title=Nintendo Eshop Adds A Critically-Acclaimed Game For Switch Today |work=GameSpot |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-eshop-adds-a-critically-acclaimed-game-fo/1100-6452365/ |df=mdy-all |access-date=September 30, 2023 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809000010/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-eshop-adds-a-critically-acclaimed-game-fo/1100-6452365/ |url-status=live }}
Music
The soundtrack{{cite web|url=http://ytstlabs.com/album/severed-ost/|title=Severed Soundtrack|website=Bandcamp|access-date=2016-04-11|archive-date=April 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421023208/http://ytstlabs.com/album/severed-ost|url-status=dead}} for Severed was created as a collaboration between the Juno and Polaris-nominated band Yamantaka // Sonic Titan and Pantayo, and was created with the support of FACTOR and the Canadian Government. Severed's soundtrack took home an award for Best Musical Score from the Canadian Videogame Awards{{cite web|url=http://www.cvawards.ca/cva-2016/canadian-video-game-awards-announce-2016-winners/|title=Severed Soundtrack Wins Best Musical Score at Canadian Videogame Awards|website=CVAwards|access-date=2016-11-18|archive-date=November 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119162400/http://www.cvawards.ca/cva-2016/canadian-video-game-awards-announce-2016-winners/|url-status=dead}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = VITA: 82/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/severed/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-vita |title=Severed for PlayStation Vita Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=April 26, 2016 |archive-date=April 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430192038/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-vita/severed |url-status=live }}
iOS: 88/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/severed/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=Severed for iPhone/iPad Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=July 19, 2018 |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629061230/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/severed |url-status=live }}
WIIU: 83/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/severed/critic-reviews/?platform=wii-u |title=Severed for Wii U Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=July 19, 2018 |archive-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703043710/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii-u/severed |url-status=live }}
NS: 87/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/severed/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Severed for Switch Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=July 19, 2018 |archive-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625173920/http://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/severed |url-status=live }}
| TA = {{rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2016/07/28/severed-drinkbox-review/ |title='Severed' Review – I'd Give my Left Arm to Play This on Mobile |last=Dotson |first=Carter |date=July 28, 2016 |website=TouchArcade |accessdate=July 19, 2018 |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022608/https://toucharcade.com/2016/07/28/severed-drinkbox-review/ |url-status=live }}
}}
The game received "generally favorable" reviews, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. It was named Apple's 2016 iPad Game of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://toucharcade.com/2016/12/06/apple-game-of-the-year-2016/|title='Clash Royale', 'Severed', and 'Riptide GP: Renegade' Take Home Game of the Year Nods from Apple|date=December 6, 2016|publisher=|access-date=February 8, 2017|archive-date=September 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930003122/https://toucharcade.com/2016/12/06/apple-game-of-the-year-2016/|url-status=live}} During the 20th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Severed for "Handheld Game of the Year".{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2017&idGameAwardType=67 |title=2017 Awards Category Details Handheld Game of the Year |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=30 November 2023}}
{{Clear}}
References
{{Reflist|25em}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline||Severed}}
- {{official website}}
{{DrinkBox Studios}}
{{Portal bar|Video games}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Action-adventure games
Category:Apple Design Awards recipients
Category:DrinkBox Studios games
Category:Nintendo 3DS eShop games
Category:Nintendo Switch games
Category:PlayStation Vita games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games developed in Canada