Sundered

The opinions of the critics regarding the Story of Sundered are quite varied. Some reviewers, such as GameCrate and New Game Network, appreciate the mysterious and intriguing nature of the story, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, with a focus on survival and exploration rather than exposition. IGN and IGN Italia also commend the austere storytelling that hints at encounters with sinister powers and the risk to the protagonist's sanity and humanity. The narrative's abstract and captivating quality, as mentioned by Digitally Downloaded, adds to the overall allure of the story, making it engaging despite not being the most original or complex tale. On the flip side, several critics express concerns about the lack of depth and clarity in the storytelling of Sundered. Destructoid notes that the narrative fails to create a strong connection with the protagonist or the world, while GameGrin finds the story intentionally vague, leaving players confused about the events unfolding. GameSpot highlights the reliance on scattered bits of lore and unreliable narration, which can be unnerving and may not provide a clear understanding of the world and its threats. TheXboxHub also mentions a sense of confusion due to a lack of context in the conclusion, leaving some aspects of the story feeling incomplete. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards appreciating the atmospheric and mysterious nature of the story in Sundered, with nods to its Lovecraftian influences and focus on survival and exploration. However, there is a recurring theme of criticism regarding the lack of depth, clarity, and connection with the narrative, as highlighted by Destructoid, GameGrin, and GameSpot. Despite these drawbacks, the overall sentiment suggests that the story of Sundered manages to intrigue and captivate players through its enigmatic and haunting world, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy delving into dark and cryptic narratives.

The gameplay of Sundered has received mixed reviews from critics, with some positive aspects highlighted. PC PowerPlay commends the game for its engaging gameplay involving navigation, combat, and unlocking new abilities. GameSpot praises the smooth and responsive combat system, likening it to games like Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden, with the ability to chain together devastating combos. Additionally, DualShockers appreciates the chaotic yet addictive gameplay, responsive controls, and upgrades that enhance the player's experience. These aspects contribute positively to the gameplay experience, providing players with challenging yet rewarding mechanics to master. On the other hand, several critics point out various negatives regarding the gameplay of Sundered. GameCritics and Destructoid express frustration with the combat encounters, citing lack of strategy, repetitive nature, and overwhelming enemy swarms. GameGrin and Push Square highlight the repetitive and frustrating gameplay, with battles devolving into button mashing and constant enemy encounters leading to annoyance. Furthermore, IGN mentions that combat can become chaotic and devolve into blind button mashing, which can detract from the overall experience. These criticisms indicate issues with combat mechanics, enemy variety, and overall gameplay loop that hinder the enjoyment for some players. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the gameplay of Sundered leans towards a mixed reception. While the game offers engaging combat mechanics, exploration, and progression systems akin to classic Metroidvania titles, the repetitive nature of combat encounters, lack of strategic depth, and frustration stemming from overwhelming enemy swarms are commonly mentioned drawbacks. Critics like Game Informer and PlayStation Universe appreciate the fast-paced combat and exploration aspects, while others like GameCrate and GameStar acknowledge the game's unique blend of Metroidvania and roguelike elements. However, the general sentiment suggests that while Sundered has its strengths in terms of gameplay variety and progression, the issues with combat repetition and frustrating enemy encounters may deter some players from fully enjoying the experience.

The majority of critics unanimously praised the Graphics and Visual Design of Sundered, highlighting its stunning hand-drawn artwork and unique art direction. Game Informer, GameCrate, and God is a Geek all commended the game for its gorgeous hand-drawn aesthetic, with distinct styles in different regions. IGN and IGN Italia specifically mentioned the stunning set pieces, monumental boss designs, and impressive animations that brought the game world to life. PlayStation Universe and Push Square also emphasized the visually opulent and arresting nature of the game, with detailed art, alien settings, and epic boss designs contributing to a captivating experience. On the flip side, some critics pointed out certain drawbacks in the Graphics and Visual Design of Sundered. Metro GameCentral criticized the backgrounds for being static and dull, while Nintendo Insider and Nintendo Life mentioned repetitive level design as a downside. GameSpot highlighted the inconsistency in environments, with captivating ancient cities contrasting with dull catacombs. PC Games and PC PowerPlay noted uninspired level designs and lack of hidden secrets or surprises, despite the overall visual appeal of the game. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Sundered. The hand-drawn artwork, detailed character designs, and stunning animations were widely praised for creating a visually immersive and atmospheric experience. Critics like Game Critic, Critical Hit, and Everyeye.it lauded the game for its beautiful and otherworldly art, with diverse themes, Lovecraftian influences, and intricate boss designs adding depth to the visual storytelling. Despite some minor criticisms about repetitive elements and lack of variety in certain aspects, the majority of reviewers found Sundered's Graphics and Visual Design to be a standout feature that enhanced the overall gameplay experience.

The Sound Design and Music of Sundered have received a mix of positive and negative feedback from critics. Several reviewers praised the game's soundtrack for its ability to enhance the overall experience. GameCritics and IGN Italia both highlighted the orchestral music as a strong point, with IGN Italia specifically mentioning how it complements the mysterious and intriguing storyline. Push Square and AusGamers appreciated the score for adding to the atmosphere and theme of survival and challenging gameplay, with AusGamers noting the music's dynamic nature during intense moments like boss battles. On the other hand, some critics had reservations about the sound design and music of Sundered. Nintendo Life and NintendoWorldReport mentioned inconsistencies in the soundtrack, describing it as forgettable or subdued. Nintendo Insider focused more on horror sounds and atmospheric effects, neglecting to mention the music altogether. PlayStation LifeStyle noted technical issues such as occasional hitches and lengthy load times, which impacted the overall sound experience despite praising the design itself. Overall, the general consensus among critics leans towards the positive side regarding the Sound Design and Music of Sundered. While there were criticisms about inconsistencies in the soundtrack and technical issues affecting the sound experience, the majority of reviewers appreciated how the music and sound design contributed to the game's atmosphere, mood, and immersive qualities. IGN's mention of the minimalist, Limbo-like music and smart sound cues contributing to the Cthulhu-like presence, along with USgamer's praise for the ambient soundtrack enhancing the oppressive and tense atmosphere, further solidify the overall positive reception towards the audio aspects of Sundered. Despite some drawbacks, the majority of critics found the Sound Design and Music to be effective in elevating the overall gameplay experience.

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In terms of technical performance on the PS4, some critics noted positive aspects. For example, Push Square mentioned that framerate drops due to hordes of enemies were patched, improving the overall experience. Additionally, PlayStation LifeStyle pointed out that while there were occasional hitches and lengthy load times, they did not significantly impact the gameplay. On the Nintendo Switch, reviewers like Nintendo Life and Cubed3 praised the smooth performance with no noticeable frame drops, indicating good technical stability. The Indie Game Website also highlighted that the game runs well on the Switch, despite occasional frame rate stutters and crashes. However, on the PS4, several critics highlighted various technical issues that hindered the gameplay experience. Game Informer, GameCritics, God is a Geek, and IGN Italia all mentioned problems such as gameplay stutters, long loading times, crashes, and lag pauses. These issues were consistent across multiple reviews, with GameCrate noting that while improvements were made post-launch, rare hiccups and long loading screens still persisted. PlayStation Universe also mentioned frustration with the camera zooming out too far during intense battles, impacting player tracking. Similarly, on the Nintendo Switch, NintendoWorldReport criticized the abysmal load times after death or between major areas, potentially due to the nature of smaller rooms. Overall, the consensus among critics for Sundered's technical performance is mixed. While some reviewers on different platforms experienced improvements post-launch or noted stable performance, the prevalent issues such as long loading times, crashes, framerate stutters, and gameplay hindrances were commonly mentioned. The varying experiences across platforms suggest that the technical performance of Sundered may differ depending on the gaming platform. Critics like Destructoid highlighted the responsiveness of developers to address bugs, indicating ongoing efforts to enhance the overall technical stability of the game. Despite the positive aspects on certain platforms, the technical issues reported by multiple critics indicate a need for further optimization and refinement to deliver a more consistent and enjoyable gameplay experience across all platforms.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Replay Value of Sundered are generally positive. Many critics highlight the game's multiple endings, skill tree upgrades, and randomized elements as factors that contribute to its replayability. For example, Digitally Downloaded mentions the ability-gated treasure caches and multiple endings based on moral choices as reasons to revisit the game, while GameSpace appreciates the rogue-like elements, procedurally generated rooms, and choices that impact the gameplay direction. Additionally, Video Chums praises the addictive upgrade system, shortcuts, and robust skill tree that make every run worthwhile. These features provide players with incentives to explore different paths, playstyles, and endings, ensuring that each playthrough offers a fresh and engaging experience. On the other hand, some critics express concerns about certain aspects of Sundered that may hinder its replay value for some players. GameGrin describes the game as repetitive and uninspiring, suggesting a lack of variety or novelty that could potentially deter players from replaying it. IGN Italia mentions that the semi-procedural nature of levels and frequent deaths may lead to frustration, indicating that the game's difficulty and design choices could impact the enjoyment of repeated playthroughs. Additionally, ZTGD notes that the procedurally generated rooms and nonstop enemy encounters can make progression feel slow and frustrating, potentially affecting the desire to engage in multiple replays. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Sundered offers significant replay value through its multiple endings, skill progression systems, and randomized elements. Critics like GameSpot commend the game for its constant progression, challenging gameplay, and the ability to enhance abilities by embracing dark energy, which adds depth to the replay experience. While some critics point out potential drawbacks such as repetitive gameplay or frustrating design choices, the majority recognize Sundered as a compelling and rewarding experience that encourages players to revisit the game to explore different paths, make alternate choices, and uncover various endings. The combination of these factors contributes to Sundered's overall appeal and replayability, making it a title worth revisiting for fans of the genre.