Xbox Review Code Provided by Saber Interactive
Hail to the king! Ash Williams is finally back in the gaming space and better than ever. Saber Interactive and Boss Team Games’ Evil Dead: The Game has been one of my most anticipated games for the last couple of years, ever since it was announced at The Game Awards 2020. The final product is a fresh take on asymmetrical gameplay with a multiverse take on one of the most iconic horror franchises of all time. Though, it isn’t all a bed of roses.
Gameplay
There are a few different layers to this title’s gameplay which gives it the feeling that there is longevity built right in. As with most games in this sub-genre, you’re given the chance to play as either Survivors or the game’s villains, the Kandarian Demon. Luckily, both factions feel very different from what you may find in other titles similar to this one.
The game allows you to play its main mode “Survivor vs. Demon”, either online with other players, versus AI, solo, or in a private match with friends. All of these ways to play are handled in the exact same manner; four Survivors set out to locate the three missing pieces of the map to the Necronomicon and the Kandarian Dagger. Along the way, players will have to scavenge for melee and ranged weapons of various power and rarity as well as health pickups, armor pickups, and so on.
Once players have their needed weapons and the three pieces of the map, they can then either grab the Necronomicon or the Dagger, resulting in a hold-the-line scenario where your demonic opponent will try their best to kill you all before you can finish your task. After properly completing one of those, you’ll have to then move on to the other one remaining and do it yet again.
The last piece of the mission is to battle the “Dark Ones” and then hold the line yet one more time to seal them away. It’s a pretty fulfilling game mode as there are a lot of factors to take into account. The maps are quite large and dark, ammo and pickups are scarce, enemies lurk throughout, and the Demon’s job is to actively work against you, acting as this looming presence that is always setting up ways to either scare or kill you.
There’s also a time limit of 30 minutes which makes getting everything together pretty tough at times. Though it is worth pointing out that once you get the Dagger and the Necronomicon, the time limit goes away entirely. There’s a fair amount of weight when it comes to crunch time that often allows for a bit of scavenging, given how well your team is working together.
The best part of the gameplay for me was the survivors you get to play as. There are three different versions of Ash Williams, each having its own specific class type. There are thirteen characters to play as in total and fall into one of four classes; Leader, Warrior, Hunter, and Support. Not only does each class have its own traits, but each character within it also has its own distinct active and passive abilities. These can be things such as team healing, carrying extra ammo, and so on.
A bunch of these abilities are extremely important to gameplay and can severely change how well your team does in the long run. For instance, managing your team’s fear level is important as the Demon can possess you if it gets too high, so having a character who can ease your troubles makes it that much smoother to push on forward so that you don’t have to stop at campfires every five seconds.
Playing as the Demon is a game in its own right. You’re basically a game master, setting traps and often coming into the fray yourself as an enemy to fight as. You’ll get to choose one of the three Demon categories which will fill the map. There’s the Warlord, Puppeteer, or Necromancer, each having their own unique ways of taking Survivors down a peg and an army of minions.
It’s truly unique to play as the Demon because of the fact that you move around the map just like the Demon moves around in those camera shots from the films as it zooms through the forest. And you’ll really fly through the forest, as you have to pickup Infernal Energy which allows you to use the attacks and traps in your arsenal.
It’s also worth noting that whether playing as Survivors or Demons, you’ll be able to upgrade your character during each game in order to make them stronger, in that match specifically. For long-term upgrades, in-between games you’ll be able to level up and upgrade permanent aspects of each character you play as.
Lastly, there’s the Missions mode that allows you to play some brief levels inspired by some iconic moments from the films and TV series. These are pretty entertaining and rather difficult experiences that give you the chance to unlock new characters and outfits for ones you already have. These are strictly single-player, and while they are definitely short, their inclusion is pretty cool.
Overall, I found Evil Dead: The Game’s gameplay to be exactly what I wanted. It’s got a lot going for it with a straightforward goal for both its Survivors and Demon that keeps the gameplay loop entertaining. Though I do have some complaints about how the game controls, this feels like the best representation of the source material coming to life for gaming.
Audio and Visual
As for what you see and hear in-game, it is perfection. Most characters are voiced by their original actors, bringing an authentic yet new vibe to the audio dialogue. The score that surrounds our heroes in both chaotic or roaming moments is fantastic as it carries that retro sound that the original movies are known for.
Playing on the Xbox Series S, I thought that the game looked fantastic. Character models are spot-on and environments look gritty, wet, and full of evil. Lighting is a real standout because it brings so much dimension to this dark title. Each new level the game tossed me into brings its own unique terrain and overall look to make each feel different from one to the other.
Replayability
This game was built to last. There is a lot that this game does right which makes wanting to play it more, especially with friends, an easy choice. I also feel that this title is set up to grow organically. Similar to games like Dead by Daylight and the ill-fated Friday the 13th, I can see this implementing new characters and maps in the coming future.
What It Could Have Done Better
If I had to point out the weakest part of this title, it would be an easy decision. The controls of this game are pretty disappointing. While they are mapped well, the characters themselves just don’t feel too reactive to them. The combat feels particularly shallow. Though all you need is the light and heavy attacks the game gives you, using them feels archaic. You’ll often either auto-target on enemies in your vicinity or miss them completely. It never actually feels like it’s you in control.
Picking up items is horrid, as your character has to be positioned a certain way for items to be picked up, and even if you’re in the right spot, the button press isn’t responsive. It’s as if the prompt has to be on your screen for a moment or so before you can even pick the thing up. The same can be said for getting into cars too.
Even just traversing the levels can be a pain sometimes. Though your character can vault over some things, you’ll very often find yourself stuck in a hole. In times like this, you’ll have to walk your way around whatever is in your path. I even would get trapped by small logs at times. I wish there was just a jump button mapped somewhere to make things easier.
Things like that are bad enough without glitchiness here and there tossed into the mix. At times, it was hard to distinguish whether a bug or glitch was happening or just a part of its poor controls and responsiveness. I can see these issues easily being patched out soon and while I hate saying things like that, these issues really aren’t game-breaking though they did affect my enjoyment of this title, overall.
My last complaint is about how the game handles its social aspect. Inviting friends to your game is laughable as there is no way to create a party. This causes you to have to invite everyone back to your game following every match. There’s also no game chat that can be had until you get into the pre-game menu either which is also odd.
Verdict
Evil Dead: The Game is a truly fun and engaging game that can easily keep you hooked for hours of gameplay because of its environments, characters, and dangers lurking through the night. Playing with friends can especially make this title enticing because of the high amount of fun-factor that it offers. This is a title that was obviously made, by fans, for fans, and it wears it proudly on its sleeve. Who doesn’t want to have a team filled with different aged Ash Williams’, sporting their own abilties?!
While it definitely has its high highs, this isn’t a perfect game at launch, with controls that work against you in favor of your enemy. Though it doesn’t make the game unplayable, it can definitely hamper the experience down, with gameplay that feels ripped right out of 1981. Given a bit of time and work, this title easily has the ability to rise to the top of its sub-genre. But even in its current state, it offers players a frightfully evil time worth experiencing.
