Flying Wild Hog developer of the bonkers Shadow Warrior series turns its attention to the Wild West, but with vampires and monsters, in the third-person shooter, Evil West.

In an alternative steampunk version of the Old West, humans are pitted in a war against vampires who have stepped out of the shadows fearing humanity’s technological advancements. As monster-hunter Jesse Rentier, players are charged with dispatching vampires and their army of supernatural creatures, the Sanguisauge.

Jesse is a member of his father’s vampire-slaying organisation, the Rentier Institute. The Institute has equipped him with a powerful gauntlet and the ability to breach the glamours that the Sanguisauge use to hide. After a devastating attack, it’s up to Jesse to step up and destroy the evil that lurks in the west for good.

The plot and the game’s heavy-set, almost painterly art style makes it feel like it’s been plucked from the pages of the British comic book magazine, 2000AD. Indeed, the over-the-top and violent gameplay would make it the perfect stablemate for the likes of Judge Dread.

The game is a fairly linear affair. Jessie progresses through a well-telegraphed environment with glowing parts indicating that they are interactive. Here Jessie can crouch, jump, climb and swing to new areas.

To progress Jessie must make his way through legions of supernatural creatures blocking his path. Combat is very graphic. With bone-crunching punches making Evil West a strangely cathartic experience.

Players are armed with increasingly powerful pistols and rifles, along with a gauntlet and axe. Pistols shoot from the hip whereas the rifle can be aimed. The gauntlet and axe make things up close and personal.

Unlockable combos make for some breathtaking action as Jessie sweeps opponents into the air finishing them with a rifle blast. Glowing staggered enemies trigger gratuitous animated finishing moves.

But players needn’t go it alone. The entire game can also be played co-operatively with another online player.

There’s a certain purity with the game that harks back to simpler times. Whilst you do get to upgrade Jessie’s abilities and equipment you are not going get a migraine every time “levelled up” is displayed on the screen.

Some may confuse the game’s raw simplicity with being unrefined, which is nonsense and could just as easily apply to any number of “retro” games that ape 1980s coin-ops. What we have in Evil West is a homage to the sort of action-adventure games that were prolific as video game technology matured around the time of the PlayStation 2. More powerful machines allowed for the sort of fast-paced combat that spawned God of War, Devil May Cry, and Darksiders, all of which you’ll find hints of in Evil West.

The game looks great with some huge environments that give it an epic scale. Locations are packed with detail. The overall graphical style, as previously mentioned, gives it a prestige comic book-like look. The characters are all very well animated and the enemies are as grotesque as they are intriguing. Flying Wild Hog has pulled out the stops to create an uncompromising visual feast.

Evil West is a bit of a blast from the past but dressed for a modern audience. Its arcade gameplay may not suit players that like to spend hours dressing their characters or fussing with crafting materials. But if to want to let out some steam by kicking vampire butt, Jesse Rentier’s monster-hunting adventures in this reimagined wild west will certainly oblige.

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You are one of the last agents of an elite, rough and ready vampire hunting organisation sanctioned by the Government in an old timey western frontier.

From developers, Flying Wild Hog comes Evil West. A story based game that sees you take on the role of Jesse Rentier. A sarcastically humoured, no nonsense cowboy sided by his long time friend Edgar Gravenor, tracking and killing evil beasts that dwell in the dark, come up from the depths and break through ‘invisible’ glamoured zones throughout the wild west America.

But something is going on. The evil seems to be wider spread and growing in strength with all manner of monstrosities appearing and needing to be taken down.

Gameplay is third person and very linear.

While there are hidden spots to briefly explore (exploring will net you extra cash and story or lore related items) your paths are well set out.

Most of the more open areas end up becoming a battle arena as hordes of bigger and badder foes besiege you.

Jesse is not without artillery and gadgets though.

You will have a trusty revolver and get more weaponry as you progress and level up.

While bullets are unlimited, your primary guns can only hold so much ammo until you are able to upgrade them.

You also have permanently fixed to your arm a cyber-punk Gauntlet that literally packs a punch, this too will upgrade with more ferocity as well as the ability to electro-shock and more.

Evil West has two systems of upping your game.

The level up system sees you rewarded with a token once you gain an additional level, you can spend this via the Skills menu on abilities within the skill tree.

Secondly is your cash that you either get rewarded or find.

Buy upgrades, new melee combos and features to your primary weapons via the menu, at any time during play.

Evil West was actually a game I had been looking forward to. While it wasn’t as open world as I would’ve liked it to be, for me personally, it didn’t disappoint either.

Proportionally Evil West felt and plays a bit like a classic action adventure from the days of PlayStation 3 or Xbox  360 but with current gen graphics and fluidity. An old skool feel with present day play.

It is also a game that leaves it to you as to how you play. If you take the time and look around you’ll get more of the narrative and find out more lore. Gaining these hidden nuggets of info is advisable, the story may make more sense.

That said, if you just want to run and gun, you can.

Evil West can be played single or in co-op.

Co-op I found, made the game’s combat moments a little too quick and easy.

While Evil West may not be a full on in-depth open-world action extravaganza it is a satisfying and worthy play of some decent length.

If you were a fan of ‘Darkwatch’ back in the day (PlayStation 2), Evil West is the current gen surrogate sequel (or prequal?).

And there’s nothing better than having the old west fused with gore, horror and vampire hunting.

The post Evil West (PlayStation 5) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Evil West, the dark fantasy, Weird Wild West, third-person action game from Focus Entertainment and Flying Wild Hog, just got its long-awaited release date.

Coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC, the game will release on September 20th, 2022.

Jump right into frantic, gory carnage in a vampire-infested Wild West as the trailer introduces gunslinger Jesse Rentier on his mission to eradicate the supernatural terror.

As the star agent in his father’s undercover monster-hunting organization, his fight is also a personal war against the nightmarish leading figures in the vampire world. Take on Jesse’s role as the final line between humanity and the vampire threat, rise up to become a Wild West Superhero and save the United States.

Get fired up by the explosive third-person action gameplay featuring an overpowering arsenal of weapons and guns. Take part in stylish, visceral combat as you unleash hell with your firearms, lightning-fueled gauntlet and gadgets.

Pre-orders are now open on Steam and on the Focus Entertainment Store with an exclusive cover art.

The post Evil West Release Date appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Focus Entertainment and Flying Wild Hog are delighted to unleash the Gameplay Reveal Trailer of Evil West, the dark fantasy, Weird West, third-person action game. Premiered at The Game Awards 2021.

Get a thunder-packed uppercut of adrenaline in today’s trailer with fast-paced and visceral third-person combat.

Paint your lightning-fuelled gauntlet with monster blood using brutal combos as you blast your way through various weird west locations.

Face hulking abominations, screeching monstrosities, and ancient vampires and ram them all back to hell one piece at a time in spectacular boss fights and encounters.

Evil West releases in 2022 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.

The post Evil West – TGA Reveal Trailer appeared first on Shane the Gamer.