In the shadowed depths of a long slumber, awaken to an ancient evil that threatens humanity. As one of three members of The Order of the Dragon, you are summoned as society’s last line of defense. EvilVEvil by Toadman Interactive is a vampire cooperative first-person shooter that promises to be a blood-pumping experience.
Trapped in a nocturnal prison for some time, Zagreus is powerless. With plans in motion to escape, he seeks to finally suck humanity of its essence. Doing so grants Zagreus an immense source of power that renders him omnipotent. The Order of the Dragon, anointed protectors against evil, are the only formidable forces that can prevent humanity’s demise.
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While fending off the evils of destruction can be more work alone, EvilVEvil is best with others. The synergy of a three-person party begins to highlight the potential that lingers amongst the horde-driven encounters. With distinct abilities and playstyles, players can choose between three vampires from The Order of the Dragon. As an arcanist, berserker, and assassin, each offers a different approach to combat. These differences remain present as they bleed over to their starter weapons.
In addition to abilities, each vampire begins with two starter weapons: a primary and a secondary. These weapons reflect their class’s strengths and tactics. The berserker’s primary outputs devasting shotgun bursts while the arcanist relies on more rapid, steady fire. Additionally, specialized secondary weapons excel at shattering enemy shields. This typical standard loadout for most first-person shooters paired with class abilities makes for breezy runs. However, this interplay of available skills underscores the prowess players should feel as members of The Order of the Dragon.
Rather than traditional health pickups, players rely on biting their enemies to replenish their vitality. While thematically fitting for our vampiric saviors, it felt imbalanced and exploitable. Bite, alongside two unique abilities for each vampire, has cooldowns. This means players can briefly take shelter, wait for abilities to recharge, and utilize Bite again. In a sense, your character’s chances of death are almost nonexistent.
The 11 playable episodes take players through peculiar laboratories, snowy mountain tops, and city streets to name a few. Within each episode, a voice navigates and tasks players through each success of expelling Zagreus’ forces. The enemy swarms in hordes and presents a challenge in their numbers. Regardless of quantity, they fall flat in substance.
In this preview of EvilVEvil, I experienced a gameplay structure that is promising but left much to be desired. Objectives move players point to point, but are executed in such a way that feels empty. Whether it was retrieving items, gathering intel, or simply occupying a space, each task triggers enemies to flood your path. While the waves of enemies house distinct appearances, the overall impact of their presence is lacking.
In cooperative play, we quickly realized that most waves are easily bypassed. By sprinting past humanoid and shield elites, we were able to reach our objectives quickly. This revelation stemmed from lackluster encounters. Some would stand directly in front of you without exhibiting any compelling behavior or movement patterns. Instead of offering exciting combat, they fail to incite a desire to engage prompting us to opt for the quickest route to complete each mission.
EvilVEvil may best appeal to players seeking cooperative gameplay prioritizing a laid-back experience. Swiftly navigate through maps and objectives while effortlessly dispatching waves of enemies. Whether gliding through the shadows or unleashing a rain of gunfire, pave a path of blood towards saving the world from an ancient evil.
EvilVEvil releases in Summer 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
