Evolve A Unique Multiplayer Shooter with a Fresh Twist on Hunting Monsters
Score: 7/10
Evolve on Xbox One is a multiplayer-focused shooter that offers a unique twist on the traditional hunting genre. Developed by Turtle Rock Studios (the creators of Left 4 Dead), Evolve pits four players, acting as hunters, against a single player controlling a monstrous creature. The hunters must work together to track, trap, and ultimately kill the monster, while the monster grows stronger and more dangerous with each passing moment. The concept is exciting, and the game delivers an engaging experience, though it struggles with balance issues and a lack of content that holds it back from reaching its full potential.
Gameplay: The core gameplay of Evolve revolves around asymmetrical combat, where the five players (four hunters and one monster) take on very different roles. The four hunters are specialized in different classes: Assault, Support, Trapper, and Medic. Each has unique abilities that cater to specific tactical roles in taking down the monster. The Assault focuses on dealing damage, the Medic heals teammates, the Trapper specializes in tracking and trapping the monster, and the Support provides buffs and defensive abilities. Coordination and teamwork are essential, as the hunters must work together to track and kill the monster before it becomes too powerful.
On the other side, the monster is a terrifying force of nature, with a variety of abilities that allow it to attack, escape, and destroy the hunters. The monster starts out small but can evolve (hence the title) by feeding on wildlife and leveling up, unlocking new, devastating abilities. The monster's player must avoid being killed while strategically hunting down the hunters or outsmarting them to grow stronger.
This asymmetry is one of Evolves most compelling features, providing a dynamic and tense experience thats different from other multiplayer shooters. The games maps are well-designed, with dense environments and verticality, offering opportunities for both stealthy monster play and strategic hunter coordination.
Graphics and Sound: On the Xbox One, Evolve looks visually impressive with highly detailed environments, dynamic weather effects, and a range of well-designed monsters and characters. The monster designs are particularly striking, with each creature having unique, terrifying features that make them feel like truly formidable opponents. The environments are rich and immersive, offering various settings like dense forests, alien landscapes, and desolate wastelands. While not as cutting-edge as some of the most recent AAA titles, the visuals are certainly appealing and add to the atmosphere of the game.
The sound design is also solid, with the hunters communication and monster growls adding to the tension. The game's soundtrack helps build the suspense, and the in-game dialogue between hunters enhances the teamwork aspect. The sound of the monster getting closer or the hunters closing in creates a palpable sense of fear and excitement.
Content: While Evolve's premise is innovative and exciting, the content falls short of what many players expect from a full-priced game. The game offers multiple monsters to play as (each with distinct abilities), as well as different hunters to choose from. However, the number of maps and game modes is limited, which can quickly lead to repetition, especially since the gameplay loop revolves around hunting the monster across similar environments. There is some variety with different strategies to try with the various classes of hunters and monsters, but the experience can feel monotonous after several hours.
Unfortunately, Evolve also suffered from a lack of content updates post-launch. Des
