Of the industry's oldest publishers to risk incurring the wrath of the Daily Mail and its tireless anti-violence crusade. Interestingly, the media-friendly Codemasters is also keen to shake its image as the softly, softly publisher and, with annual profits soaring to more than $70 million, it seems that the time is ripe for one After all, violence creates publicity in the knife-edge world of computer entertainment, and where there's publicity (good or bad), there are sales.

Codemasters has accepted the fact this gore-fest will carry an 18 certificate and, although the Warwickshire based publisher is more renowned for its family values (Micro Machines, TOCA, Colin McRae), it is more than content to go along with the BBFC's adult entertainment ruling. Severance: Blade Of Darkness looks set to rekindle the gaming violence debate in glorious 'rivers of blood' style.

Doesn't happen does it? Well, all that's about to change. Name a game in which you can chop off someone's arm and senselessly beat them into submission with it.

Download sticks shards of darkness