Hey everyone. My name is Med, and I’m Thunder Lotus’s QA tester and resident speedrunner. As you can imagine, I’ve played Sundered quite a bit. In total, I think I’ve logged more than 1,000 hours in the game! Today, I’d like to go over some advanced techniques that you should definitely learn if you want to master Sundered.
In case this is the first time you’re hearing about the game, Sundered is a horrifying fight for survival and sanity. You play Eshe, a wanderer in a ruined world, trapped in ever-changing caverns filled with hordes of terrifying enemies. We’re the same studio that made Jotun, a hand-drawn epic set in Norse mythology.
Sundered launches today on PS4, so let’s get started!
Elite Techniques
I’ve always loved the idea of “elite techniques” in games. Hidden moves that occasionally slip through as bugs, but end up as core features of the game. Great examples include “wavedashing” in Smash Bros. or “skiing” in Tribes. One of my greatest pleasures in Sundered’s development has been discovering these strange interactions and convincing the team to leave them in the game. A bug is not a bug if it’s a feature.
For reference, dodging and using the Cannon effectively are critical to your enjoyment of the game, but the following techniques are meant for advanced players!
1.) The Cannon
The Cannon’s knockback might seem like a downside, but it is actually one of its best assets when used properly. You can use the knockback’s momentum to your advantage by firing, immediately dodging, then jumping to keep your speed going. The momentum will be kept regardless of the dodgeroll’s direction.
Using this technique, you can zoom through the levels with record pace as well as entering Ability-gated areas you aren’t suppose to be in.
2.) Air Attacks
The mid-air up-attack has more than an offensive purpose. You get an extra sliver of vertical lift every use, so it comes in quite handy for platforming.
It resets every jump, and your double jump is reset when an enemy is hit. Use it wisely. You can scale high walls by wall-jumping/up-attacking/side-attacking back towards the wall.
The mid-air up-attack can also be reset with good enough timing, enabling Eshe to essentially fly away by spamming the up-attack, but it is really hard to maintain a good streak.
3.) Momentum
Never stop moving. Movement is important as it is what makes you progress through the levels and keeps you alive. A way to create speed is through using the Strength Amplifier, an Ability that grants you chargeable heavy attacks. Charge them towards flat or upward terrain, immediately roll mid-smash, then jump.
This creates a massive swing that launches Eshe forward if used with proper timing. Using this technique, you can skip entire sections, fly into areas you should not be able to reach, and utterly break the intended progression of the game with record time.
The gun can also be used for this purpose, but requires ammunition and an extra Energy charge.
That’s it for now. We can’t wait to watch people play and completely break the game! I’m sure there are many more undiscovered interactions hidden deep within Sundered’s code. We’ll find out soon enough, since Sundered launches today on PS4!
Make sure to tell us what your favorite “bugs that became features” are in the comments!
Resist or embrace.
Med and the Thunder Lotus Team
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I used to own a Sega Master System, but I never owned Psycho Fox. As such, I have absolute no nostalgic ties to the game. I remember reading an article in Electronic Gaming Monthly, many years ago, that said it was very popular in Europe. I guess I will just have to take that publication's word for it.
I find this comic relatable.
I see what you did there.
