 |
| Evolve Is Simple: Hunt or be Hunted. |
Every company review about the game was good, usually ranging from 7 to 8 out of 10, but all the user-reviews gave it on average a 4-5 out of 10 calling it "half a game." Nonetheless, I bought the game and I must say, the user-reviews couldn't be more wrong. Out of the box, Evolve gives you a game that offers a simple layout but also becomes a much more sophisticated struggle as you learn the ins and outs of the game. Essentially, you can pick to be grouped up with three other hunters and take down a beast or be the beast yourself and hunt down the hunters as a solo act. Personally, I prefer to team up and take down the monster, but to each his own. 2K and Turtle Rock Studios have done a fantastic job of balancing out the sides (minus the Wraith monster which is at the moment extremely overpowered for most modes, but hopefully a patch will fix that) and the win/loss percentage almost balances out at a perfect 50% for each side. It can't be easy to balance out a 4v1 PvP system with so many dynamics as this game has, once you play the game you'll appreciate the producers job of balancing the sides.
 |
| The Trapper, Support, Assault and Medic, Pick Your Poison. |
Let's begin with the hunters, as there are four distinct classes each player is assigned to take down the monster. There's the Assault class, which is essentially there to do the majority of damage to the monster in combat. Next, the Support class, that has unique abilities to assist their fellow hunters in taking down the monster. Third, the Trapper, whose job is to locate, track and trap the monster to force combat. Lastly, the Medic, to obviously heal the team and make sure nobody dies. Each class currently has three different characters in each class, all with special and unique abilities that players can test to see if they like it more than another character, but each class has one trait that stays with each character. For example, in the Medic class, Val is equipped with a gun that uses a beam to heal teammates along with a tranquilizer gun to stun the monster, while Caira is another Medic that can be unlocked as you progress through the class that is equipped with short bursts of super speed along with a grenade launcher that can either heal targets or deal damage to the monster. Despite their differences, all the medics have a healing burst, that can heal nearby targets including themselves. It's fun to mix and match your characters with different classes and find out what works for you and your team. Personally, I love to use Abe the Tracker, and my buddy uses Hank as the Support class, and we work together as I trap the monster in a designated area before my friend wreaks havoc on the distressed animal from above with a precision bombing from above. It's quirks like this that make the game so fun and unique in it's own sense. You cannot defeat the monster on your own, not a chance, you MUST use teamwork in order to win. At times you can stray from your group, but trying to win the game single-handedly will end up in one giant mess. If you're trying to do it all on your own, the Monster is more suited for you.
 |
| Goliath, The First Monster You'll Unlock. |
Although I must admit I haven't played with the monster as much as I would have liked to, I can still say that it's an enjoyable time smashing four puny hunters with your giant beast. The controls are a little odd at times and it takes a while to get used to, but once you get the hang of your abilities and figure out the fundamentals of being the monster, it's a great time. Like the hunters, there are three characters to choose from and each of them are powerful in their own ways. The Goliath is the monster you'll start out with and is a melee machine who excels in hand-to-hand combat and brute force. Not a fan? Not to worry. The Kraken comes next, who reigns down electric fury from above. Still not impressed? Unlock the Wraith, the master of stealth and deception. Use all three monsters and figure out which one suits you the best, but don't use the Wraith against me, I can't stand it.
 |
| Like the Hunters, As a Monster, There's A Variety Of Styles to Choose From. |
When it comes down to it, the only criticism is that it could be repetitive, or that there's not enough modes to play, hence users calling it "half a game." The game features Evacuation Mode, which is a 5-mission campaign where you're shuffled through the 4 game modes on 10 maps, and depending on the outcome of each mission, there are circumstances added to the next mission. For example, if you fail to hunt down the monster on the first mission, the monster will infiltrate the aviary and unleash a swarm of deadly birds to feast on the hunters in the second round and so on. There are plenty of possibilities and different combinations for Evacuation, so if you're getting bored with just hunting down the monster over and over, try out this mode, it features a few different objectives rather than just finding and killing the beast. If you don't have online, not to worry. Evolve features offline play where your companions and opponents are filled by bots. Sorry folks, no split-screen or local co-op. The bot feature is nice, because your progression offline counts towards online and vice versa, so you can practice and train as a certain character offline before unleashing him on your friends online. If you don't have online, I'd be a little more hesitant to pick up this game, simply because theres no local co-op.
 |
| Different Combinations of Characters Allow For Some Interesting Advantages. |
But really, why is everyone so harsh about this game? I've logged about 9 hours or so into the game since purchasing it and I'm still hooked whenever I hop on and play. I think most of the "haters" simply need to find some friends to play the game with, as it's much more enjoyable with your buddies as you try and communicate to take down your foe. If you like going solo, then hop on as the monster and ruin the hunters' day. Playing solo and teaming up with randoms can be a pain at times, as some people simply don't know how to play their role. I've had a few encounters with medics that try and take down a Goliath single-handedly in fist-to-fist combat and you know how that ended. People say it's an "All-DLC" game, that will ravage your wallets any chance they get, and that can't be any further from the truth. Personally, I'm satisfied with what I got out of the box, and if the DLC they offer isn't good, don't buy it, they're not forcing you to do it, it's just for players that want to expand their limitations of the game. There are rumors of new hunters and monsters on the way, which could be interesting and add a whole new dynamic to the game. Until then, I'll stick to teaming up with my friends and hunting down monsters with my boy Abe. If you're looking for a quality game that's a hoot with your buddies, look no further than Evolve.
