A few days ago, I received a link to an article from gamingbolt (which you can find as always in our sources) that was about the upcoming shooter “Evolve“. The author raises some very exciting points that I would also like to address – because for me, Evolve is already the game of the upcoming spring.
Left 4 Dead 3?
Recently, there were great concerns that Evolve might actually just be a secret successor to “Left 4 Dead 2,” where you replaced the zombies with a big monster. Fortunately, the “Big Alpha” has dispelled this concern. Unlike in Valve’s zombie apocalypse, the goal in this game is not to survive or escape – it is about destroying the enemy.
Variety – for both Hunters and Monsters
Although there are currently “only” three different monster types, they are completely different from each other and offer a completely new gaming experience. Whether you play as the Goliath, the Kraken, or the Wraith, all three offer different approaches. The Goliath relies on pure brutality: throwing rocks, fire breath, and charging are in its repertoire. The Kraken, on the other hand, can fly (leaving no trace), lay mines, and rain lightning down on enemies from above. I haven’t played as the Wraith myself yet, but it seems to specialize in deception and quick attacks on individual Hunters, whom it then abducts.
The Hunters can be categorized into four classes, each represented by 3 characters – so a total of 12 playable humans. Their abilities differ and complement each other excellently – for example, a Support can distribute shields while the Trapper can trap the monster for a certain duration to prevent it from fleeing.
In addition to all the characters and monsters, there are also unlockable perks, as you might be used to from many games. The variety is huge, but you have to unlock them first. Some examples include slightly increased jump height for the monster or faster reload times for the Hunters.
4 Modes with Minor Differences
During the “big Alpha,” you could only test one game mode, but now you have also gained insight into the other modes. The basic enmity between the Hunters and the Monsters remains the same, though the tasks vary slightly.
- “Hunt” is probably the typical Evolve mode. The monster has a few seconds lead and must hide, gather food, and evolve in order to ultimately overwhelm the Hunters. The 4 opponents try to prevent this as early as possible, surrounding the monster and ideally blowing out its life lights during its first evolution stage.
- In “Nest,” there are additional eggs on the map that either hatch after a certain time or when the monster comes into contact with them. Depending on which side collects and eliminates more eggs, the other team will have a relatively hard time.
- In the “Rescue” mode, the Hunters must find civilians scattered throughout the map and escort them to a safe place. The monster, in turn, tries to eliminate the more or less helpless NPCs before they can be rescued – this seems amusing at first glance and incredibly fast-paced.
- The “Defend” mode has intrigued me the least so far; in this mode, the Hunters must defend a specific position and ensure that the tanks of their escape ship are filled – the monster, of course, tries to prevent this, as one would expect.
Evacuation – All Modes Combined
My favorite mode will likely be “Evacuation.” Here you play each of the other modes in turn, like in a small campaign. Depending on which side won the current match, you then receive a powerful bonus for the next map.
If the monster wins, it gets an NPC companion that additionally attacks the Hunters, or can find significantly more wild creatures to feed on faster. If the Hunters win, they benefit from deployable turrets or electric fences to secure certain areas.
The Problem of Slowness
At least during the alpha, many players were frustrated that as Hunters, they often wandered around for minutes without seeing the monster even once – it often reached evolution stage 3 by the time the first combat occurred.
In my personal experience, though, this is not a big problem. The “hide and seek” aspect is a core part of the game, and more experienced players will quickly figure out which direction the monster might have gone. At least I often laughed to myself when the group of 4 Hunters simply walked past me while I remained motionless in a bush. In those moments, the tension is, of course, extremely high, and that also contributes greatly to the appeal of this game.
I hope that nothing changes about this “slowness” at the beginning of a match – because good Hunters can quickly turn the tide without needing any additional aids.
To be honest, I can hardly wait for the game’s release in February. It offers a nice break from the MMO routine, provides a dark atmosphere, and has short, incredibly thrilling matches. Definitely just the right thing to remind four friends who’s the biggest monster here (spoiler: me!).
