Objects breaking based on player actions

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone had any idea how to go about programming an environment or enemies that can be slashed and separated in anyway like in Metal Gear Revengance.

Off the top of my head I would create hundreds of different versions of the same object (slashed at different points). But there has gotta be a more efficient way.

P.S. I'm not sure if this is more of an animation question or not, if it is I apologize and don't mind if it is moved.

Thank you so much for your help!

-Shade-

 

It would be really hard, by simple meshes, like a cube is easy because of unity's procedural mesh generation, but by a normal model...