GameTech: Tear up an ancient tomb in Sundered

SPLITTING up is hard to do — just ask Eshe. It’s bad enough that she finds herself trapped in an underground tomb for ancient gods, but then she finds herself being chased by an endless horde of admirers (and by admirers, we mean bloodthirsty Eldritch horrors.)

Sundered gets its name because of the choice Eshe must make as she fights her way through this ancient tomb. She must choose between keeping her humanity and facing increasingly tough battles, or splitting parts of herself off for extra powers that will make the battles easier. It’s a fun concept that adds a minor moral element to Eshe’s journey through the tomb.

You’ll spend the majority of your time in Sundered doing one of two things — jumping and slashing. Sundered is a Metroidvania, meaning it’s a side-scrolling adventure where exploration, incremental upgrades and back-tracking form the basis of the game. Every so often, a gong or a klaxon will sound as you explore, signalling that a horde of enemies is about to descend and attack. Because both the attacks and much of the maps are randomised upon death, Sundered keeps you on your toes throughout. The feeling of pressure is expertly executed.