VOLVE
REVIEW
At first, Evolve might seem like the
most confusing game you’ve ever
played. When you’re a human, death
is everywhere. It’s an alien world full
of things that want to eat you – even
the plants want a taste. Understanding
this ecosystem is similar to learning
the mechanics: it just takes a bit of
dedication, and before you know it
you’ll be David Attenborough with a
shotgun and a jetpack.
Evolve is an asymmetric multiplayer game where four
players control a team of humans with complementary
skills and one player controls a monster that grows
in power as a match progresses. Each sizeable map is
filled with AI-controlled animals and carnivorous plants
that each side can use to their advantage – by killing
them for buffs or luring the enemy into a trap – and
learning the language of this ecosystem is just one of
the things essential to be victorious. The language of
engagement is just as complex.
Although there are a few alternate game modes, at
the core is Hunt. Hunt is a game of cat and mouse
where the humans,controlled from the first-person
perspective, begin with the upper hand and on the
tail of the monster. The monster, played from a
third-person perspective, must try keep out of sight
of the humans as it grows in power by feeding off
the various fauna dotted around the map. Monster
players can send out a sonar-like ping to look for
signs of life – handy for both finding prey and seeing
where the humans are located. Once a bar is filled by
feeding on the animals – bigger kills net more power
– the monster can then evolve into a more powerful
form, spending skill points on four different special
attacks to increase their potency.
The monster is level with the humans at this point –
once they’ve replenished their shield by feeding, that
is – and have the choice of attacking or feeding more
to evolve into their final form and tip the scales in their
favour. Monsters can win by either wiping out the
humans before they can reinforce, or by evolving to
the final stage and destroying a power generator.
There are lots of little nuances to being the monster
and successful players will learn how to use stealth
to their advantage. Running leaves footprints for
players to track, whereas sneaking does not – crafty
players will use this knowledge to lead enemies in the
opposite direction.
18
mygeekbox.co.uk @mygeekbox