The highlight of the world though are the levels. I was fighting the same things over and over and when the combat remains mostly unchanged, it can start to get monotonous quickly. There are some truly awesome creatures in this game, but their diversity is limited in scope. There are a couple times it spices up the game play, there is a mine cart level for crying out loud, but it mostly consists of combat arenas. My biggest gripe with Evil West is that it rarely deviates outside of its formula. Truly it is a neat environment, but I never found myself wanting to know more. There are also notes and bestiaries that expand the world. It is a weird system that feels like it could have all been rolled into one massive set of upgrades with one currency, but hey at least there is something to find. Players also grab gold throughout levels that can be used to purchase, well, different upgrades. It would be nice to get more things more often. The level system feels slow at times though. There is a skill tree that gives Jesse new abilities and upgrades to existing weapons. It all feels fast and visceral, much like Flying Wild Hog’s other titles. They all feel great, but none of them truly expand the depth of the combat. Eventually you also get a shotgun that works on a cooldown and can explode enemies instantly. The rifle can be aimed with the left trigger and has respawning bullets that can be upgraded over time. It fires one shot or you can fan the hammer by holding it down. The six shooter is mapped to the right trigger by default. Jesse also collects firearms over the course of the game. I found a few solid combos and those got me through most of the game. Once I unlocked a few of them on the skill tree it kind of levels off. It has a plethora of moves including a Scorpion-inspired pull and can explode enemies after certain combos. Jesse is equipped with a Tesla-style gauntlet that can be charged with electricity. It kicks off explaining melee, which plays a big focus. This would work better if the game had a little variety. This is a game about beating down hordes of vampires and werewolves and can be refreshing at times. Platforming is button presses and puzzles are nearly non-existent. Each encounter is clearly earmarked and the rest of the game is simply walking from one battle to the next. There isn’t any exploration and backtracking outside of collecting currency in the world. There are 16 missions that take a little over 10 hours to finish. Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PCĮvil West is a straightforward game. These feel like comic book characters with over-the-top personalities. Things are serious, but not quite so serious. If you are familiar with Flying Wild Hog’s writing style you will quickly get the idea here. I like Jesse and most of the characters in the game, even if they are written as thin as paper. Yes it is a trite and true idea, but it works. He is the son of William Rentier, who runs the Rentier Institute, which specializes in weapons that take down their supernatural foes. Players assume the role of Jesse Rentier and let’s be honest, Jesse is the best western name you can get. Evil West bathes in its setting and aesthetic and is enjoyable from start to finish as long as you are not expecting anything more than it presents on the surface. Still there is something satisfying about a game that just does what it does and has fun with it. This works for the most part, but does hold back the overall experience at other times. This is a straight action game with monster arenas and straightforward combat. It never attempts to shoehorn players with RPG mechanics or extensive exploration. The latest from Flying Wild Hog is about as unapologetic an action game that I have seen in a long time. Evil West is more than willing to oblige in that goal. Sometimes you just want to kill as many monsters as possible.
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