Evolve
Producer: 2K Games
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Rating: Mature
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Hunter or Hunted
Written by Josh Schilling
Multiplayer is a driving force in a lot of today’s video games, but most of the competitive action relies on testosterone-fueled, soldier-based, gun fests. All of the different titles that let you capture a flag or blast away in a team deathmatch are almost too numerous to count, so when news that developer Turtle Rock Studios, creator of one of the best co-op experiences in Left 4 Dead and its sequel, was creating Evolve, I’ll admit that I was heartily intrigued.
This is an asymmetrical, multiplayer game that allows the player to choose between assuming the role of a huge, fire-breathing, antagonistic monster, or one of four hunters whose objective is to take down the beast. When playing as a hunter, winging it solo-style is definitely not the best choice, as this game is meant to be a team-based experience, and it is extremely beneficial for everyone to know their particular roles. The assault class is the tank, the support class buffs the team, the trapper is built to contain the monster in a specific area, and the medic has to pour on the healing, although the different character designs seem a little stereotypical, with their Aussie hats, eye patches, stubby cigars, and cybernetic limbs. As far as the action goes, if one of the team members goes rogue and doesn’t do their job, then the battle tends to be much more difficult.
If teamwork isn’t your game, then by all means strap on the monster. You might think that all you need to do is sniff out the puny humans and dominate, but this game is much more intricate than that. The hunters have the advantage at the beginning of a match, but the monster has the ability to find some grub and evolve into something much more menacing. While it is better to sneak around at the beginning, if you play your cards right, you will eventually get to strut your stuff, and live up to your title.
There is no real campaign mode, but this game does offer a few tweaks to keep things interesting. The monster and each of the four hunters have multiple variations that can be unlocked, as well as over 15 different maps to play. There is a single-player mode that is extremely valuable for learning the different tactics and abilities of each character, as well as optional match types that break up the monotony of a typical hunt and chase. Then there is Evacuation mode, which combines the different match-types into one big tournament. The results of each match affect the subsequent ones, so the only one that truly matters is the finale, but previous victories really help in making it easier.
It would be easy to push out a title with this type of multiplayer gimmick and ignore the intricacies of what makes a game fun. Evolve nails the balance between the classes, which is crucial for a game that is almost entirely meant to be played online. None of the hunters feel overpowered, and each one is interesting to play in their own way, while playing as the monster is equally satisfying and the strategy involved is a welcome surprise. For a game that initially doesn’t seem to offer a whole lot, Evolve is an unusually deep game that offers a great deal of replay especially if you have a good group of players who like to work together. Mixing hide-and-seek aspects with varying types of weaponry in a dark and living world creates an atmosphere that lends itself to some truly unique experiences.