I am always looking to enjoy new games and figure out what makes them fun. Evolve caught my eye for the first time at the last PAX EAST, not only because of its giant monster (later known as “Goliath”), but also because of the endless line of attendees ready to give the game a shot.
After overhearing some of the discussions, I was at first skeptical of the concept of “asymmetrical gaming,” in which player-versus-player (PVP) matches feature two sides that have distinct and seemingly unfair advantages over each other. After seeing some of Evolve’s delicately balanced “4v1” gameplay, I began to think this might actually become a brand new way for multiplayer games to develop.
While we can enjoy the simple-yet-timeless entertainment of some games, it is important to talk about other, more complex games that have distinguished themselves above the rest through innovation in gameplay, such as Evolve.
Scheduled to release during the first quarter of 2015 under 2K Games publisher, Evolve is a multiplayer cooperative and competitive action game that pits four “Hunters” with distinct and crucial abilities against a noticeably more powerful “Monster,” all controlled by players. The objective for both Hunters and the Monster is simple: destroy the other(s).
Evolve features a variety of hunters, abilities, monsters, and maps. The 4v1 asymmetric combat dynamic forces players to utilize intricate systems of gameplay and strategies. Hunters will have to utilize their unique abilities to overcome environmental hazards, hostile creatures, difficult terrain, and other factors in order track down and kill the Monster. To prevail, they will need to work together to track down the Monster, and employ their special abilities to take down the giant together.
Meanwhile, the Monster, who starts out weak, in “Stage 1” of its evolution, will need to consume wild animals to evolve and gain new abilities, while avoiding any combat at first, then eventually turn around to hunt its Hunters. The Monster player will need to exploit his/her superior power and cunning to outsmart, outmaneuver, and eventually eliminate the four Hunters.
The asymmetric gameplay is not the only factor that makes this game unique. Evolve comes from Turtle Rock Studios, the developers responsible for the Left 4 Dead series, and as such, it is all about cooperation and strategy.
Hunter players will be required to compensate for each other’s weaknesses to simply survive, and the Monster player will need to figure out the best way to break the Hunter squad based on its situation and surroundings.
Dynamics play a huge role in this game. As time progresses during a match, the players’ best course of action greatly changes as the situation does. Hunters and the Monster alike will be forced to make game-changing decisions on the spot.
The game also features fairly original characters, and even promising storylines, iterating on elements familiar in other games with brand new plot and character ideas.
In addition, Evolve brings a brand-new form of gameplay to the table. Never before has asymmetric gameplay been the main focus of a triple A (AAA) title. Just like MOBAs (multiplayer online battle arena), MMORPGs (massively mutliplayer online role-playing game), and many other game types that were new not too long ago, Evolve will bring new ideas to the occasionally stale creativity in recent video game history.
As far as I am concerned, the only other game with such promising, balanced, and absolutely energetic asymmetrical gameplay is the mini-games in the Mario Party franchise. Simply speaking, Evolve will allow players to either have an online fight against a “raid boss” or play as the “raid boss” with the objective to destroy the other players.
Despite the fact that the game still has a long way to go, and attracted some skepticism and criticisms due to its notable server lag, I still think Evolve looks promising.
Looking for a new game to play and a new way to compete? Perhaps Evolve will be your solution when it comes out Feb. 10, 2015!
Next week: BlizzCon 2014 from my perspective!
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