Info about Severed Steel: Official game description: Severed Steel is a single-player FPS featuring a fluid stunt system, destructible voxel environments, loads of bullet time, and a unique one-armed protagonist. It's you, your trigger finger, and a steel-toed boot against a superstructure full of bad guys. Chain together wall runs, dives, flips, and slides to take every last enemy down. **Key Features** A Unique Fighter ---------------- Play as Steel, a nimble, one-armed sharpshooter on a mission. There is no reloading – pick your shots well and be ready to pry a loaded weapon from your enemies' cold dead hands. Stylish Combat -------------- Dodge bullets, leap off walls, slide kick, throw weapons – do whatever it takes to come out on top in intense and frenzied firefights. Fully Destructible Environment ------------------------------ Punch through thick concrete with .50 cal slugs, or make big holes in things with your arm cannon. Carve your own path through completely destructible levels. Dynamic AI ---------- No two battles are the same thanks to dynamic, unscripted, squad-based AI. Firefight Mode -------------- Chase high scores and fast times for leaderboard acclaim in this arcade-styled mode. Features 42 levels, each with their own sub-challenges, and over 20 unlockable, game modifying 'Mutators'. Campaign Mode ------------- Blast through six compact story chapters as you battle against the forces of nefarious mega-corporation, EdenSys. Finish the campaign and want more? Try New Game + mode which mixes up the campaign for a fresh playthrough. Rogue Mode ---------- Severed Steel with Rogue-lite elements. Click the Rogue Steel button on the main menu to start a short, randomly generated, 10 level campaign. Features unlockable perks, skins, and more. Accessibility ------------- A range of adjustable settings for features such as difficulty, visuals, audio, controls, navigation, and more. Level Editor (with Steam Workshop support) ------------------------------------------ Build levels and share them with the community. Note: This feature is in beta and will continue to be updated post-launch. Release date: Sep 17, 2021 Categories: First-Person Shooter, Parkour Gameplay, Bullet Hell, Destruction Mechanics, Action, Movement Mechanics, High Mobility, Roguelite Feature scans: - Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game has received mixed feedback regarding its performance on the Steam Deck. While some users praise its visuals, optimization, and overall fun gameplay, others have reported issues with input controls, initial setup, and performance lag. These issues indicate that while the game is playable and enjoyable, it may require some tinkering and adjustments to run smoothly on the Steam Deck. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $1.00 - $2.00 - Reasoning: The evidence shows that while the full price of $25 is often considered too high for the content provided, the game is frequently praised when purchased at a significant discount, typically around $1 to $2. Many users suggest waiting for a sale to buy the game, indicating that the community finds the lower price range more appropriate for the value offered. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 10.0h - Story completion: 2.0h - Session length: 0.5h - Endgame: 5.0h - Reasoning: The evidence consistently points to the campaign being relatively short, with multiple reviews indicating it can be completed within a few hours. This suggests that the typical time to finish the main story/campaign is around 2 hours. The evidence also mentions additional modes and bonus levels, but these are not considered part of the main story completion time. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game has an initial learning curve and repetitive early levels, but becomes significantly more enjoyable once players master the movement and combat mechanics. - Stance: Fun then drops - Anchor: Mastery of movement and combat mechanics - Time to anchor: 1h 0m - Friction: Steep learning curve; Repetitive objectives; Clunky movement controls - Unlock drivers: Mastery of movement; Mastery of combat flow; Engaging with different game modes - Conditions: Persevering through the initial learning phase; Engaging with Firefight mode; Engaging with RogueSteel mode - Player Archetypes: - Movement Shooter Enthusiast (sale) - Motivation: Gameplay mechanics and movement - Playstyle: Fast-paced, skill-based, and focused on movement and shooting mechanics. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: FPS lover; movement shooter fan - Reference games: Trepang2; Ultrakill; Max Payne; FEAR - Value-Conscious Gamer (deep sale) - Motivation: Value for money - Playstyle: Casual, price-conscious, and focused on getting the best deal. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: deep sale - Labels: Bargain hunter; sale shopper - Reference games: Trepang2; Ultrakill - Gameplay-First Player (sale) - Motivation: Engaging gameplay - Playstyle: Focused on gameplay mechanics, less concerned with narrative. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: Gameplay enthusiast; story-agnostic gamer - Reference games: DOOM; Superhot Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Engaging and fun gameplay (weight 0.42): The gameplay is widely praised for being enjoyable, engaging, and fast-paced. Players find it satisfying, challenging, and well-balanced, with a solid gameplay loop that keeps them coming back for more. - Bullet time mechanics (weight 0.28): The bullet time mechanics are highlighted as a standout feature. Players appreciate the slow-motion shots and the overall effectiveness of this mechanic, which adds a layer of strategy and excitement to the gameplay. - Exceptional soundtrack (weight 0.23): The game's soundtrack is highly praised for its quality and how well it complements the action. Players describe it as great, impressive, and one of the best soundtracks they've heard in a game. - Top-notch shooter gameplay (weight 0.22): The game is recognized as one of the best shooters, with fast-paced and stylish shooting mechanics. Players enjoy the variety of guns and the overall gameplay experience. - Dynamic and satisfying combat (weight 0.21): The combat is described as dynamic, satisfying, and phenomenal. Players appreciate the high combat dynamics and the overall enjoyment derived from the gameplay. - Great value for money (weight 0.19): Players feel that the game offers great value for its price, especially when on sale. It is seen as a worthwhile purchase that provides a lot of enjoyment relative to its cost. - Stunning visuals (weight 0.16): The visuals are praised for being awesome, stunning, and vibrant. Players appreciate the neon lights, reflections, and overall visual style of the game. - Destructible environments (weight 0.16): The game features destructible environments, which players find to be a unique and enjoyable aspect. The ability to destroy walls and other elements adds to the gameplay dynamics. - Parkour and FPS blend (weight 0.15): The game successfully blends parkour and FPS action, creating a unique and enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the smooth parkour mechanics and the fast-paced shooting gameplay. - High replay value (weight 0.15): The game offers high replay value with multiple game modes and levels. Players appreciate the variety and the additional content that keeps the game fresh and engaging. - Variety of weapons (weight 0.12): The game offers a good variety of weapons and combat options, which players find sufficient and enjoyable. This variety adds to the overall gameplay experience. - Stylish actions and stunts (weight 0.12): Players enjoy the stylish actions and stunts that can be performed in the game. These elements add a layer of excitement and visual appeal to the gameplay. - Unique gameplay mechanics (weight 0.1): The game features unique shooting and gameplay mechanics that players find enjoyable and distinctive. These mechanics set the game apart from others in the genre. - Efficient level design (weight 0.1): The level design is praised for being efficient and well-crafted. Players appreciate the short levels and quick loads that maintain the game's rhythm and pace. - Positive international feedback (weight 0.1): The game receives positive feedback from international players, highlighting its enjoyable shooting experience and the blend of parkour and FPS action. Common complaints: - Lack of story depth (weight 0.25): Many players noted that the game has almost no story or plot, with some describing it as minimal, underdeveloped, or nonexistent. - Short campaign duration (weight 0.2): The main campaign is frequently criticized for being too short, with some players completing it in under two hours. - Motion sickness concerns (weight 0.18): Several players reported experiencing motion sickness due to 3D movements and strong parkour actions. - Limited enemy variety (weight 0.13): The game has been criticized for not having enough different types of enemies, leading to a lack of variety. - Movement mechanics issues (weight 0.12): The movement mechanics, including parkour and diving, have been criticized for being glitchy, inconsistent, and confusing. - Camera and animation issues (weight 0.12): Players have reported issues with camera controls and animations, including awkward camera flipping and glitchy movements. - Difficulty balancing issues (weight 0.1): Players have reported issues with game balance, including difficulty spikes and uneven difficulty curves. - Poor enemy AI (weight 0.07): The enemy AI has been described as dumb, with enemies not reacting to gunfire or being hit. - Unpolished map editor (weight 0.07): The map editor has been described as unpolished, inconvenient, and bad by several players. - Eye strain from visuals (weight 0.07): Some players have reported experiencing eye strain due to the game's visuals, which can be cluttered. Gameplay feedback: - Parkour and FPS blend (weight 0.36): The game combines first-person shooter elements with parkour mechanics, creating a fast-paced and acrobatic experience. Players can perform various parkour actions like wall running, sliding, and diving. - Advanced shooting mechanics (weight 0.36): The game features a variety of shooting mechanics including free-aim, bullet time, and slow-motion shooting. Players can engage in rhythm-based shooting and experience a flow-state shooter gameplay. - Freedom and variety in gameplay (weight 0.23): Players enjoy a high degree of freedom in gameplay, with various mission types and game modes. The gameplay is described as action-packed, enjoyable, and customizable. - Dynamic and varied gameplay (weight 0.2): The game features dynamic gameplay with different weapons and enemies. The variety in missions and objectives keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging. - Destructible environments (weight 0.19): The game includes fully destructible voxel environments, adding depth to the gameplay. Players can interact with and destroy the environment, enhancing the overall experience. - Adjustable difficulty levels (weight 0.19): The game offers multiple difficulty levels, allowing players to adjust the challenge to their preference. The difficulty progression is designed to be moderate to easy, catering to a wide range of players. - Multiple game modes (weight 0.17): The game offers various game modes including New Game+, Rogue-like mode, and replayable missions. This enhances the replayability and provides different experiences for players. - Weapon variety and switching (weight 0.13): Players have access to a variety of weapons, allowing for different combat options. The game includes a weapon switching mechanic, enhancing the combat experience. - Adrenaline-pumping action (weight 0.11): The game is described as pure fast-paced action, providing an adrenaline-pumping experience. The gameplay is frenetic and action-packed, keeping players engaged. - Minimalist yet effective level design (weight 0.09): The game has a minimalist approach to level design, focusing on fun and effective map designs. This minimalism extends to the story, keeping the gameplay at the forefront. - Unique arm cannon mechanic (weight 0.09): The game introduces a unique arm cannon mechanic, similar to Samus Aran's arm cannon. This adds a distinctive element to the combat and gameplay. - Level editor and custom content (weight 0.08): The game features a level editor and supports Steam Workshop, allowing players to create and share custom levels. This adds to the game's replayability and community engagement. - Inspired by various popular games (weight 0.08): The game combines elements from various popular games like F.E.A.R., Max Payne, Ultrakill, Titanfall 2, and Mirror's Edge. This blend of mechanics creates a unique and familiar experience for fans of these games. - Replaying levels with random modifiers (weight 0.07): The game allows players to replay levels with random modifiers, adding a new layer of challenge and variety to each playthrough. Performance notes: - Optimized for low-end systems (weight 0.14): The game runs smoothly on low settings and performs well on low-end systems, including laptops with minimal specifications. - General optimization praised (weight 0.14): Many players noted that the game is well-optimized overall, with good performance across various hardware configurations. - FPS drops on various hardware (weight 0.1): Some players experienced FPS drops, even on powerful hardware like the RTX 4060, particularly in later levels or with certain graphic settings. - Glitches and movement issues (weight 0.07): Minor glitches, lag, and issues with character movement have been reported by some players, affecting the overall gameplay experience. - Specific hardware performance (weight 0.06): The game performs well on specific hardware configurations, such as the OLED Deck and GT 1030, with some reports of 45 fps on a GTX 1060. - Technical issues and errors (weight 0.06): Some players have encountered fatal errors on high graphic settings, high CPU usage, and issues with particle effects. - Steam Deck performance issues (weight 0.05): Players using the Steam Deck have reported initial setup hassles and significant battery drain during gameplay. - Sound and input issues (weight 0.05): There have been reports of sound issues and problems with mouse input, affecting the overall user experience. - Fan noise and performance tanks (weight 0.04): Some players have reported increased PC fan noise during gameplay and occasional significant drops in performance. - High performance with many active elements (weight 0.03): Despite having numerous enemies, destructible surfaces, and active weapons, the game maintains good performance. - Graphical settings limitations (weight 0.02): Players have noted that certain graphical settings, such as TAA, cannot be disabled, which may affect the visual experience. Recommendations: - Worth the price, especially on sale (weight 0.24): Many players find the game worth its price, particularly when purchased at a discount. The consensus is that it offers good value for money. - Highly recommended purchase (weight 0.21): The game is frequently recommended by players, both at full price and on sale. Players highlight enjoyable gameplay and great price as key factors. - Recommended for fans of specific games (weight 0.15): Fans of games like SUPERHOT, Ultrakill, Mirror's Edge, and Titanfall are likely to enjoy this game. It is also recommended for those who enjoy fast-paced FPS and parkour games. - Suggested improvements and features (weight 0.07): Players have suggested various improvements such as better story emphasis, character model upgrades, and the addition of a COOP mode. These suggestions indicate areas where the game could be enhanced. - Unique and impressive gameplay (weight 0.07): The game is praised for its unique gameplay experience and impressive mechanics, making it stand out among other games. - Wait for a discount (weight 0.07): Some players suggest waiting for a significant discount before purchasing the game, indicating that it might be better valued at a lower price point. - Replay and upgrade features (weight 0.04): The game includes features like replayability and an upgrade system, which are noted by players as positive aspects. - Try the demo first (weight 0.03): Players recommend trying out the demo before making a purchase decision, suggesting that it's a good way to gauge interest in the full game. - Recommended with soundtrack (weight 0.03): Some players recommend getting the game bundled with its soundtrack, indicating that the music enhances the overall experience. - Casual shooter experience (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for those looking for a casual shooter experience, especially at a discounted price. Other player notes: - Motion sickness warning (weight 0.03): Players who experience 3D motion sickness are warned about potential discomfort while playing the game. - Comparison to another game (weight 0.03): The game is compared to 'Echo Point Nova', suggesting similarities or differences that players might find notable. - Playstyle preferences mentioned (weight 0.02): Reviews mention specific playstyles and preferences, indicating that the game caters to or highlights particular ways of playing. Emotions: - Excitement (weight 0.25): Players are thrilled by the game's fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping gameplay, which includes unique mechanics like parkour, slow-motion effects, and fluid combat. The engaging combat, dynamic movements, and comparisons to popular games like The Matrix and Superhot contribute to this excitement, along with the enjoyable soundtrack and visually appealing graphics. - Enjoyment (weight 0.16): Players enjoy the engaging and fun gameplay mechanics, including fluid movement, bullet-time features, and dynamic combat. The variety of weapons, pleasant soundtrack, and the mix of stress and enjoyment contribute to a satisfying and enjoyable experience. - Excited (weight 0.15): Players are excited about the fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping gameplay and the variety of mechanics, including parkour and fluid movement. The positive aspects of the game, such as the enjoyable gameplay experience, fun mechanics, and comparison to popular games, contribute to this excitement. - Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players feel satisfied with the game's value for money, enjoyable gameplay, and the sense of achievement after completing difficult levels. The smooth movement, intense gunfights, and variety of actions and customization options contribute to this satisfaction. - Frustration (weight 0.07): Players are frustrated with certain map designs, enemy spawning mechanics, and technical issues like optimization problems and clunky controls. The difficulty spike, lack of checkpoints, and confusing gameplay mechanics also contribute to this frustration. - Happy (weight 0.04): Players are happy with the overall fun and enjoyable gameplay experience. The good value for money, enjoyable music, and well-made game contribute to this happiness. - Disappointment (weight 0.04): Players are disappointed with the short campaign, lack of story, and poor enemy AI. The lack of multiplayer, comparison to other games, and little content also contribute to this disappointment. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players are enthusiastic about the fast-paced, intense, and powerful gameplay. The unique and engaging gameplay mechanics, along with the enjoyable music and polished mechanics, contribute to this enthusiasm. - Satisfied (weight 0.02): Players are satisfied with the great gameplay, visual style, and music. The enjoyable and endlessly replayable gameplay, along with the meditative gameplay experience, contribute to this satisfaction. - Joy (weight 0.02): Players experience joy from the overall enjoyment of the game's gameplay and emotions. The fun, chill, and hardcore gameplay, along with the game's speed and difficulty, contribute to this joy. - Frustrated (weight 0.02): Players are frustrated with performance issues, clunky mechanics, and boring gameplay after completion. The disliked gameplay mechanics and weapon system also contribute to this frustration. - Positive (weight 0.02): Players are positive about the game's uniqueness, features, and value. The enjoyable gameplay, good soundtrack, and overall positive experience contribute to this positivity. - Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the innovative game design, well-implemented mechanics, and good story. The music and gameplay integration, along with the good AI and tolerable tracks, contribute to this appreciation. - Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed with the lack of story and checkpoints, short playtime, and repetitive tasks. The negative aspects of the game and the feeling that it is unfinished contribute to this disappointment. - Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgic as the game reminds them of Ultrakill and fulfills childhood dreams. The comparison to beloved classic games contributes to this nostalgia. - Nostalgic (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgic while replaying the game and remembering past gameplay experiences. The music and gameplay elements that remind them of the 'trance' era contribute to this nostalgia. - Relief (weight 0.01): Players feel relieved that the game runs well on their hardware and appreciate the developer's responsiveness to issues. - Happiness (weight 0.01): Players are happy with the good discount and graphics performance, as well as the fun gameplay and good value for money. - Impressed (weight 0.01): Players are impressed with the astonishing work and love put into the game, as well as the high level of destruction and unique gameplay mechanics.}