Alienware Launch 2014 - Evolve Impression

Evolve's exciting combat kept me hooked and coming back for more

 by Grayshadow on  Oct 28, 2014

What’s the point of upgrading your computer or buying a new console without having a great game to play? TheAlienware Area-51 is an impressive CPU, and using Evolve to highlight this juggernaut’s power was an excellent decision. The game itself blew me away, tailoring to both cooperative gamers and the lone wolf. While only one map and mode was made available the exciting combat kept me hooked and coming back for more.

Despite its size the monster starts off weak and vulnerable. I had to remain silent and consume as much food quickly or face death. The demo allowed access to two monster classes, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The Goliath, a massive creature that can breathe fire, throw rocks, charge Hunters with unbelievable force, and devastating jump attack but lacks mobility. The Kraken can fly, shoot lightening, place mines, use a chain energetic attack, and launch a vortex that knocks Hunters back but relies on aerial attacks. 

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The monster must feed and evolve to stand a chance against the Hunters. At the start of the mission you’re 3 points to upgrade your creature in one of four categories and one perk to choose from that includes bonus health, damage, armor or increase feeding speed. To grow stronger the player must use the creature’s smell ability to find prey to feed and evolve, all while avoiding the Hunters. Depending on the size and power of the creature determines how much of your evolution bar fills. Once filled your creature can evolve but the process takes time, forcing the player to seek shelter while upgrading their creature. 

Hunters had were more varied than the monsters made available. Each station had players choosing one of two character models for the assault, trapper, medic and support class. Each one had their own specific talents to aid in the hunt. Especially when locating the creature.

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From the start of the mission the Hunters have to locate the monster before it can feed and evolve. The creatures that inhabit this land are just as hostile as the monster, requiring your entire to team remain constantly aware of your surroundings. The Hunters are equipped with advance technology to aid them in the fight, this includes shielding, healing, and a giant dome device that traps the creature within. 

Your team is frail and can easily be killed. It’s essential to find the creature as quickly as possible before it can transform. To do this not only are the Hunters granted tools to track the footprints of the creature but can use the environment to their advantage. This includes laying traps over corpses and locating the creature when it disturbs the birds throughout the environment. 

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The monster and the Hunters both have a common enemy to content with while attempting to kill one another, the environment. In the map that was demoed a litany of small and large creatures inhabited the surroundings, each varying from size and destructive power. While the Hunters are a constant target the inhabitants behave differently towards the monster. During its early stages hostile creatures charge the monster without hesitating but once evolved they run in fear.

When enough time has pass a new objective was revealed. A generator, if destroyed, would mean an automatic lost for the Hunters. This dynamic change forces all the players to converse on one location. If one of the Hunters die they can respawn but only if at least one Hunters is still alive, if everyone dies its game over.

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In the handful of matches I played the victories were split between the Hunters and the monster. I’m curious to see how the game changes, especially how the console adaptions will compare when the Xbox One Alpha goes live on October 30. Evolve is set to release on Xbox One, PS4 and PC on February 10, 2015.

Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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Adam Siddiqui

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