Codemasters grabs hack ‘n’ slash gore-fest Severance: Blade of Darkness for killer PC release.

Codemasters’ quality-demanding acquisitions programme has secured the publishing rights to an epic fantasy adventure game, featuring some of the bloodiest combat scenes seen on PC, from Spanish developers RebelAct. Codemasters will launch the title globally in November as Severance: Blade of Darkness. 

Set in a world of heroes and quests, Severance: Blade of Darkness will draw mass attention due to its graphic combat scenes – the sword-wielding player can hack an opponent’s limb off, pick up the dismembered bloody limb and use it as a club to batter the victim into submission. 

While the title will achieve notoriety for its combat sequences, Codemasters promises much more than a one-shock game. The 3D technology behind the game delivers a cutting-edge graphics engine, superb animation with a full physics system for objects (meaning the player can use practically anything as a weapon).

Visually, the game astounds with what Codemasters is describing as the best environment lighting system seen in any game. Flame-induced real time shadows shimmer and flicker as the player moves through the environments. 

Multiple playable characters and a progressive RPG storyline takes gameplay beyond a simple slash-‘em-up. Four playable characters star in Severance, each with their own abilities and even dedicated levels. As players develop their chosen character, bigger weapons and better tool skills are acquired. 

Already the game has received incredible praise in the PC games press with comments such as “Simply amazing, we hadn’t experienced this expectation since Quake, we’ve never seen anything like it, we are absolutely amazed” from PC Zone. Sentiments echoed in PC Gaming World with “Combat as you have never seen it before… breathtaking graphics.”

Says Mike Hayes, Codemasters’ Marketing Director, “While the cleverly done gory combat sequences will attract everyone’s attention to Severance, it is the immersive role playing adventure and intricately detailed graphics that will win the game its followers. We’re confident that Severance is a massive hit in the making”

Luis Alcarcón de la Lastra of RebelAct, says, “Codemasters has an exceptional record for taking great games and turning them into incredible publishing successes. We’re very pleased to have their international offices dedicated to making Severance a important title in the PC marketplace.”

Severance: Blade of Darkness is scheduled to launch on PC CD-ROM globally this November.

ENDS

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•	www.codemasters.com

| Notes to Editors:
Established in 1986, Codemasters is a leading developer and publisher of best-selling interactive entertainment products for a global audience on current and future gaming platforms and channels. This has been quite a year for Codemasters. The company is the winner of Queen’s Award For Enterprise in the Innovation category and was featured in the Sunday Times’ Fast Track taking the number two position for the highest annual profit growth at 118.97%. Furthermore, the Central Region’s Entrepreneur of The Year 2000 awards saw David Darling, Founder and Chief Executive of Codemasters, scoop both the “Overall Entrepreneur of the Year” and “Young Entrepreneur Of The Year” awards. Codemasters’ genre-leading brands include Colin McRae Rally, Touring Cars, Micro Machines/Maniacs, and LMA Manager. With an annual turnover in excess of $100 million, the company is headquartered in Southam, Warwickshire, UK where it employs over 400 staff, and maintains European operations in Germany, France, Spain, Benelux and plans to set up operations in Scandinavia. The company entered the US publishing market in 1999 and has an online gaming US-based development facility in Oakhurst, CA. More information about the company and its products is available online at www.codemasters.com.