2022 has been an odd year for game releases – thanks partly to the aftermath of all those virus-related delays pushing – but if you’re looking for a big hitter this year that’s worthy of your excitement, Evil West is it. Boasting brutal combat, enticing lore and a cast of charmingly brusque characters, we were able to check out an early section during our time at Gamescom, and frankly, November is too long to wait.
You’re introduced to Jesse Rentier and Edgar Gravenor, a pair of cowboy/mercenary/hunter/grumpy types whose particular goal at that moment is cleansing a decaying Old West shanty town of Ticks. Now, Ticks is Evil West’s nom de plume for those classical vampiric bloodsuckers, and while there are some clear mythological links, it seems that Flying Wild Hog has taken a leaf out of the Resident Evil franchise’s approach to expanding the menagerie beyond pasty elven types with sharp teeth.
That swollen lineup falls under the title Sanguisuge, and includes a variety of thoroughly evil things, starting from the Boo-hag, bloodsuckers of very little brain, through to Highborns, the top of the vampiric food chain. Each one of these monsters is as ugly, disgusting and vicious as you could hope, and they make for a great batch of creatures to despatch with the utmost prejudice.
Flying Wild Hog are giving you the tools to do it as well. Starting things off, you’re equipped with a gauntlet. This hand-based battering ram provides extra strength for pummelling, placing you on a more even footing with the undead as you smash them in their hideous faces. You can tap away to unleash a hard-hitting combo, while holding the button unleashes an uppercut that would make Ryu proud. It comes together so well I could imagine playing the whole of Evil West as a brawler.
You won’t want to miss out on the gunplay, though. Our hands-on gave us plenty of time with the revolver, the staple western weaponry proving invaluable against the waves of bloodsuckers and their followers. Enemies will at times expose a weak spot, with a brief glowing circle that appears, and if you’re quick enough you can snap your reticule to this and fire off a ridiculously swift shot, doing a great job of making you feel like a sharpshooter. Your arsenal not only expands, it’s also upgradable, with the addition of electricity or explosives letting you become the ultimate vampire hunter.
The story is certainly intriguing, drawing upon the idea that humanity has sprung up despite the best efforts of vampiric society. Human technology is now not just putting them on an equal footing, it’s pushed them ahead, and there’s a clear sense that the vampire’s time may be drawing to a close. Jesse and Edgar are looking for D’Abano, seemingly the head of this coven, and beneath the western town is an incredible series of constructs, culminating in an inverted pyramid. It looks fantastic, and you’ll want to explore ever further despite the dangers.
The Gamescom demo gave us a further taste of the game’s gruff humour, with the vampire hunting duo dragging a heavily chained coffin around behind them. This houses Chester, who may or may not be a captive vampire. Whatever he is, they keep him about to work against glamours and magical barriers, strapping him with dynamite to make sure he doesn’t get any ideas about running off. Their interactions are supremely sarcastic and bound to bring players a wry smile at the very least – it’s well worth putting some time in with this crew.
Evil West is all set to fill the top slot in the action-adventure category this festive season – after all, nothing says ‘holidays’ like eviscerating the undead, right?
Evil West releases on the 22nd of November, 2022, and will be available on PS5, PS4, XSX/S, XBO and PC.
