It’s been a while since we’ve seen Turtle Rock Studios, and consequently there have been a limited number of quality co-op games. But that’s soon to change with Evolve.
Evolve has an interesting structure that makes it a good choice for multiplayer gamers from both sides of the spectrum: solo and group. Its matches house five players, one who plays as a Monster, and the other four as Hunters. I was able to play as a Hunter, and was responsible for taking down the massive player Monster with my teammates before it either eradicates us, or destroys a base.
There’s something about the 4v1 structure in Evolve that is absolutely amazing, and I’m shocked that it’s taken until 2014 for us to see anything like it. Playing as a Monster is a solo-experience that makes you self-reliant, but fully capable of winning if you have good awareness. If you’ve ever wanted to feel what it’s like to be a spider or shark, here’s your ticket. Meanwhile, Hunters band together and use teamwork to balance the odds. The Monster can be quickly overwhelmed by damage from different angles, it has to strike carefully.
To say that Evolve is an intense game to play would be an understatement. From a Hunter point of view, knowing that a massive, ugly creature is somewhere on the map is enough to bring discomfort. Really, it made me feel like I was a star in Jeepers Creepers, only I had three teammates and we were all equipped with weapons. While the weapons are powerful and have a great feel to them, it takes a lot to puncture the flesh of a Monster.
The Hunter team has four classes: support, medic, trapper, and assault. It’s critical that each of these four positions are filled with players who know how to utilize their strengths, as each role is important in countering the Monster’s strength. Playing as a Medic, I had to make sure that I was on top of healing my teammates when they were hit by attacks. The Trapper is probably the most unique of the bunch as he’s able to track the Monster, and even trap it with a Harpoon Gun.
The Monster is able to choose from several creature types, although as of right now only two are known: The Goliath and The Kraken. The Monster moves around feeding on wildlife, which allows it to grow and, you guessed it, evolve. If the Monster manages to keep eating without hindrance, it’ll get to a point where it’s unstoppable and can take out the Hunters swiftly. In this sense, the game is a race against the clock for both parties; the Monster needs to be quick and agile, avoiding attacks while evolving, while the Hunters have to make sure they don’t lose side of the Monster and attack it whenever possible.
The Kraken was particularly popular at E3 2014 given it was debuted at the show (the reveal trailer is above), and its skill set allows it to fly around and fire skill shots. It not only looks cool and intimidating, but maneuvers in such a way that makes it hard to track as long as it’s played well. Hunters really have to be on their toes and careful with positioning to ensure it doesn’t run around feeding to a point of no return. While only two creatures are currently announced, another will make it into the final game.
Built on the CryEngine, Evolve‘s visuals impressed me. It has a color balance that gives it a dark appearance that amplifies the intensity of matches. Subtle audio queues make things particularly scary for the Hunters, who can hear the Monster feeding from around the corner. It’s quite easy to become immersed in a match once things get rolling.
Evolve was quite the spectacle at E3. There were a few times where crowds gathered to watch matches on a big screen. Even the people who didn’t know much about the game could feel the tension and anxiety. This is not only going to be a fun game to play, but certainly one of this holiday season’s most enjoyable games to watch.
Evolve will release on October 21st for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
