Evotinction Review – Hackneyed

As an avid gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Evotinction has certainly piqued my interest. This title offers a unique blend of stealth and hacking mechanics that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. It’s not often you come across a game where you can outsmart your enemies rather than just brute-forcing them with gunfire.

In this scenario, you’re Doctor Thomas Liu, dealing with a spherical entity named 0z (not ‘O’), and a menacing virus called RED that has infiltrated the operating system MORE within HERE. The origin of RED is unknown to both Liu and 0z. With the script moving at an astounding pace, 60 words per minute, you’re tasked with resolving this issue while the story unfolds. Since the remaining Genies in the facility have been compromised, you must employ hacks, an E-Blaster, and synthesize a serum to counteract RED…

Initially, the game Evotinction by Spikewave Games started abruptly, making me think I’d skipped a crucial part of the story. However, upon reflection, it turns out this is how the game begins. The narrative moves extremely fast, hardly allowing the plot to develop at a steady pace. There are extended shots with no edits, strange close-ups, and an excessive use of lens flares that seem more like shallow visual effects than genuine aesthetics.

Extinction often contains unexpected elements, and though I can’t go into great detail, it involves quite a bit of overarching storyline. Intriguingly, the loading screens occasionally acknowledge the audience, breaking the traditional boundaries between the game world and reality.

Despite its somewhat ordinary narrative, unmemorable characters, and peculiar action scenes, the stealth action in Evotinction, enhanced by Unreal Engine 5 and as part of Sony’s China Hero Project, retains a certain appeal.

In this scenario, you find yourself as Dr. Thomas Liu, the leader of a distant research center named HERE, where groundbreaking discoveries are commonplace. However, your decisions sometimes clash with those of your superior regarding the ethical implications of certain experiments. Suddenly, a virus labeled RED infiltrates the facility’s system MORE, causing the doors to lock and trapping everyone in their quarters as the temperature rises. Your mission appears simple: eradicate the RED virus while rescuing as many individuals as possible. But upon closer inspection, the true objectives may prove more complex.

Extinction features some unexpected elements, and though I can’t go into detail about all of them, there is a significant amount of overarching storyline. The loading screens often acknowledge the player directly, suggesting that it’s more than just a game. While the overall direction isn’t terrible, the speed at which events unfold and the development of characters could use improvement.

Initially, Thomas shows some intriguing characteristics, and this is reflected in the voice logs, where you sense a weariness and apprehension. However, these traits don’t seem to make the player feel sympathetic towards his situation. Eventually, the game focuses more on the player’s perspective, which can come across as abrupt, even though it later gets rationalized.

In particular circumstances, being noticed, especially at the beginning, often leads to trouble, or as you put it, getting caught – because there are usually few options for escape or defense against those chasing you.

As a passionate fan, I find that 0z’s delivery is straightforward and to the point, yet it seems like he’s quickly going through his lines without fully exploring the nuances of each analysis. The same can be said for everyone else, even Thomas, as if they’re reading a first draft with minimal emotional depth. The storyline isn’t richly woven into the gameplay experience, making it feel somewhat detached. However, if Evotinction veered too far off course, it might have been something truly extraordinary, both in its strengths and weaknesses.

Although the storytelling in Evotinction might be challenging, it’s important to acknowledge the gameplay as well-deserving of recognition. This is a stealth game, but it comes with instances where failure occurs instantly. Being detected in certain situations, particularly early on, often leads to death – or as they call it, “being hacked” – due to the limited options for escape or evading pursuers. However, at its heart, it boasts a robust stealth system that’s worth noting.

Thomas instinctively ducks for cover and cautiously peeks out from behind it. His movements are steady, but navigating through tight spaces with closely arranged furniture might be tricky, and there aren’t many obstacles he can leap over. What makes the gameplay engaging is the diverse set of tools to outsmart the Genies.

With drones, you’ve got a variety of tactics at your disposal. One method involves using a close-range E-Blaster or upgrading to a long-range E-Gun later to eliminate them. Alternatively, you can manually disable them, but this requires being in close proximity and may take more time than simply firing. This approach also depletes your ammo supply. Another option is hacking the drones, which disables their movement and vision, making it easier to evade or shut them down. Moreover, I found that advanced models come equipped with enhanced hearing, leaving the possibility of silencing their auditory sensors as a viable tactic.

I’m really impressed by how Evolutionary Extinction consistently introduces fresh tools, making it harder for opponents, and maintaining a consistent level of challenge, particularly with the introduction of new Genie types and situations.

Additionally, you can insert viruses into the system which will cause interconnected devices to malfunction simultaneously if their counterparts are manipulated. The deployable chips offer flexibility, enabling you to set up decoys to misdirect attention or forcefully link machines, simplifying the hacking process. However, despite the vast capabilities at your disposal, hacking comes with its own limitations – you need to get close enough to the target, increasing the risk of being discovered. If the hack isn’t finished within a brief five-second timeframe, the Genies will begin tracking your location. Moreover, each subsequent hack gradually diminishes the “Stealth” level – once it’s exhausted, there’ll be no more hacks available for use.

I’m quite impressed with how Evotinction consistently introduces innovative tools to outwit adversaries, maintaining a high level of threat, particularly as we uncover more types of Genies and intricate scenarios. The AI is somewhat lenient, but it increases the detection rate and diversity of elimination methods in tandem with your progression. Fortunately, there’s a short period after detection during which you can deploy the E-Gun or disrupt the network, stunning all nearby enemies while you make your escape.

The design of the levels isn’t mind-blowing, yet it’s still robust and well-executed. It effectively uses various HERE features for sneaking around without making it feel too unusual or forced. While there isn’t a lot of room for free exploration, there is sufficient flexibility in mid to late-game stealth situations.

Alongside the usual stealth segments, you’ll encounter boss fights as well. The initial one offers a humorous twist as the gameplay shifts temporarily into a third-person shooting style – featuring an unusual dashing move that stands out in UE5. Contrastingly, the second boss is more realistic, although it required some thought to discover that I needed to aim for its vulnerable spots on the shell.

Besides the main campaign, there’s also a Training Simulation where you can try out various hacks and tools. By completing tasks within this simulation, you earn Tokens that allow for upgrades to your existing skill set. The initial tasks are designed to be simple, providing multiple scenarios for mastering each method before increasing the complexity. It appears one of the challenges encountered a glitch, making it impossible to use the specific hack, but overall, it’s an enjoyable side activity.

Visually, Evotinction’s environments appear appealing, yet certain character models may show inconsistencies in quality. Generally, performance is satisfactory, but specific situations might lead to minor drops. The frame rate significantly decreases during scenarios with an abundance of particle effects, such as the second boss fight, making the encounter more chaotic than intended.

I’ve expressed my thoughts on the voice acting, yet the sound effects and musical score also warrant attention. It seems that at times the volume is too low, not in a purposeful unsettling manner – rather, it feels as though certain sounds are absent. The music isn’t poor, but there are instances where it doesn’t align with the ambiance, particularly the sci-fi techno tracks.

Extinction is an interesting attempt by Spikewave Games, although its different components vary greatly in quality. The storyline and characters are frustratingly dull, but the stealth gameplay mechanics are solid enough to keep you going and see what comes next. Unfortunately, there’s not much here that would make me want to come back, but it serves as a decent way to pass time, with potential for improvement.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

2024-09-16 12:11

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