Evil West – Review
Even though AAA games have seen a renaissance in the past few years, unique experiences like Evil West are still rare. It is a linear action game with a strong emphasis on a growing combat system that is schlocky, violent, and just plain dumb fun. It also has a strong early 2000s feel to it, with characters that have arms and legs that are exaggerated in a cartoonish fashion and monster designs that look like they were drawn by Spawn’s Todd McFarlane.
When it comes to plot and structure, Evil West is as simple as it gets. Levels feature a good mix of combat encounters, corridors, and the occasional puzzle, and the campaign is broken up into chapters that are separated by cutscenes.
Surprisingly (or not), the gameplay is very similar to God of War (2018). Kratos’ Norse exploits have clearly influenced the game’s design, from the one-button, signposted platforming to the increasingly complex battle mechanics, and even down to the way the protagonist, Jesse, shimmies up large metal chains. The scale and polish of a Sony blockbuster are unattainable, but Evil West achieves the same satisfying heft.
But the game’s setting makes it stand out from the crowd. This is an alternate history America in which vampires are a constant, unseen threat to the general populace, further proving the inextricable link between cowboys and horror. All across the United States, government agencies use steam and electric-powered weapons adorned with Christian symbols to keep these monsters under control.
Jesse Rentier, the playable protagonist, is a fiery field agent who is guided in his quest for justice by the equally foul-mouthed Edgar Gravenor. The story is as pulpy as you’d expect, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it’s mostly just fun and silly. Some of the vampire lore is interesting in its own right, and Jesse’s pathetic one-liners are hard to avoid grinning through.
What we’re getting at is that, if you go into Evil West with realistic expectations, you can have a good time throughout its 12-hour runtime. And as was previously mentioned, the combat is what really makes the experience worthwhile. While Jesse’s progression through the game’s many weapons, abilities, and upgrades is exciting in and of itself, the main draw is the satisfying feeling of defeating bloodsuckers.
There’s a little bit of garbage, but it doesn’t take away from all the slaughter. You begin by punching vampires into submission with a mechanical gauntlet, but firearms are soon introduced. Quick bursts of damage can be delivered from the hip with Jesse’s reliable revolver, and his rifle is great for taking out flying enemies or sniping weak spots. Even though fights that mix melee and ranged weapons don’t always work, the ones in Evil West have a very enjoyable rhythm.
However, there is room for improvement in the enemy variety. About halfway through the campaign, fewer new enemies are introduced and you’ll have to fight increasingly familiar enemies, but in greater numbers. There are some stretches of repetition, particularly with bosses that reappear, but the breadth of Jesse’s abilities is sufficient to keep you interested.
All of this is playable with a friend in a two-player online co-op mode. It’s a weird and slightly disappointing implementation (only the host’s progress counts), but if you and a friend want to speed through the schlocky story together, complete with rebalanced encounters, the option is there.
Also, the game’s success should be highlighted before drawing any final conclusions. Due to the intense combat, this game is best experienced at 60 frames per second, but doing so will result in occasionally murky 1080p. Also, while it’s not a dealbreaker, the game uses a fairly robust motion blur effect that can’t be toned down or turned off. When you add in the resolution, you get scenes where the action is lost in a blur of indistinct hues, as if an oil painting were left to dry while being played on a record player.
I’d give Evil West a 8/10 because it’s a really fun movie to watch. It won’t be remembered fondly or win any awards, but in a few years, someone, somewhere will insist that it’s a classic that got short shrift. A chunky action game that knows how to have fun, both during and after battles.
