PLATFORM: PC, PS4/5, XBOX ONE/SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Set in an alternate version of the late 1800s, Evil West puts players in the shoes of Jesse Rentier, one of the last remaining members of the Rentier Institute, a group whose sole aim is to protect humans from the scourge of vampires, demons and other monstrous creatures that have been plaguing the earth for as long as anyone can remember. Combining gothic horror and spaghetti western locales with sci-fi weaponry and supernatural storytelling, this unique mash-up of genres lends itself incredibly well to eye-catching environments, memorable foes and action-packed combat.
Coming across like a throwback to simpler times, Evil West‘s gameplay couldn’t be more straightforward. Making your way through linear levels (16 in total), you’ll be fighting hordes of gruesome undead enemies, checking every available nook and cranny for collectibles (money to spend on upgrades, hidden perks and weapons, and plenty of lore), solving the occasional puzzle (nothing too taxing – just moving boxes around to clear a new path, switching generators on, that sort of thing) and taking down a boss before moving on to the next area. The tried and tested Gears of War formula is in full effect here – smaller corridors are generally safe, allowing you to explore in peace, while moving into an open area almost always means something nasty is about to appear.
There’s an excellent variety of gory and gruesome monsters, many of which require slightly different tactics to deal with, so things can really get hectic when the game decides to be super evil and throw particularly troublesome combinations of enemies your way. Bosses you fight in the early going will soon turn up alongside regular enemies, with things getting more and more chaotic throughout the game as you desperately try to control the crowds, manage your special abilities (which operate on a cooldown so they can’t be abused), and score hits on enemy weak points to take them down faster. It’s never unmanageable though, always landing on the right side of exhilarating, and an excellent array of upgrades allows you to add extra damage, new attacks and a variety of useful perks to the already weighty and impactful combat. Being set in the 1800s, there’s not a huge amount of fancy tech available, but you quickly gain the ability to add an electrical charge your trusty gauntlet. Soon you’ll be able to zip towards enemies and electrify them on contact, pummelling them with your fists before uppercutting them into the air, blasting them in the face with your rifle, then slamming them back to the ground with an electrical lasso. That all comes within the first few levels, and things get much more destructive later on…
An unexpected highlight of the year, Evil West might appear to be slightly unassuming at first glance but it’s a tremendously well-made game with a kooky supernatural story and gameplay that keeps improving and getting more involved as time goes on. It rarely takes any mis-steps at all, never getting bogged down with uninspired side quests or tedious exposition, just being content to allow players to work way through the game and blast monsters to smithereens in a variety of over the top ways. Great fun in all the best ways!
