Evolution meets extinction
By Paul Hunter
I've been closely following Evotinction ever since it was announced a few years back as part of PlayStation's China Hero Project. It's a new stealth-action game developed by Spikewave Games, a studio founded by former members of 2K Games' China branch. The game delivers unique stealth gameplay and a story that explores themes of evolution and extinction in a futuristic setting.
Let's dive in to explore Evotinction, from its innovative hacking system to its narrative pacing, there's a lot to discuss!
Evotinction is set in a captivating futuristic world dominated by artificial intelligence. You step into the shoes of Dr. Thomas Liu, a brilliant scientist who wakes up alone in an isolated, self-sustained research facility named HERE. Well not exactly alone, as Liu has his friendly AI companion Oz who guides him through the facility. As it turns out, the AI has unleashed a malicious virus called RED, that has seemingly wiped all traces of life within the HERE facility and has the potential to wipe out humanity if it ever escapes.
The storyline mainly unfolds through well-crafted dialogue between Oz and Liu, but there are plenty of nice cutscenes as well to keep you invested in the characters, their backgrounds and their plight. As a stealth game, the pacing is intentionally slow and deliberate, allowing you to uncover layers of the plot at a steady pace.
Evotinction is a pure stealth game, so the focus is entirely on sneaking around the facility and hacking. All throughout the large, multi-area complex are AI machines known as Genies that have been affected by the RED virus and immediately turn hostile if they spot you. There are no weapons in the game so you can't shoot the Genies, but thankfully fairly early in the game, you acquire an EMP taser that can put Genies out of commission.
I was impressed by just how much the game encourages you to think strategically as you navigate through various environments filled with hostile Genies, insta-kill laser traps and other deadly obstacles. As you make your way through the facility, which consists of research labs, offices, warehouses, and residential areas, you'll need to hack into security systems, doors, and even enemy machines. Hacking surprisingly is fairly simple, you either press a button and wait, or have to press a series of buttons within a time limit to successfully hack.
While the game follows a linear path, there are plenty of side rooms, hallways and cleverly hidden areas that feature collectible audio logs, action figures, diary entries and more. You can also find materials that help you upgrade your tools in many different beneficial ways, encouraging you to really take your time and explore every nook and cranny of the beautifully crafted environments.
Visually, Evotinction impresses with its striking graphics and immersive presentation. Spikewave Games nailed the futuristic aesthetic and suffocating loneliness as Dr. Liu desperately explores the facility hoping to find other survivors like him.
Whether it's the high-tech laboratories to dark, eerie corridors, each environment is meticulously designed, showcasing detailed textures and vibrant colours all rendered beautifully. Dr. Liu's character model is equally impressive, with realistic motion-captured animations that bring the character and cutscenes to life. It helps, too, that Liu is highly relatable, making it easy to connect with his journey.
The sound design in Evotinction is also top-notch, whether it's the distant buzzing of Genie machines or the hum of machinery at work, everything adds to the game's suspenseful tone. Lui's voice acting is great as well, as he delivers lines with strong emotions that make him feel authentic.
Final Score: 8/10 - Great
Developer: Spikewave Games
Publisher: Astrolabe Games, Perp Games
Genre: Stealth
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
I've been closely following Evotinction ever since it was announced a few years back as part of PlayStation's China Hero Project. It's a new stealth-action game developed by Spikewave Games, a studio founded by former members of 2K Games' China branch. The game delivers unique stealth gameplay and a story that explores themes of evolution and extinction in a futuristic setting.
Let's dive in to explore Evotinction, from its innovative hacking system to its narrative pacing, there's a lot to discuss!
Evotinction is set in a captivating futuristic world dominated by artificial intelligence. You step into the shoes of Dr. Thomas Liu, a brilliant scientist who wakes up alone in an isolated, self-sustained research facility named HERE. Well not exactly alone, as Liu has his friendly AI companion Oz who guides him through the facility. As it turns out, the AI has unleashed a malicious virus called RED, that has seemingly wiped all traces of life within the HERE facility and has the potential to wipe out humanity if it ever escapes.
The storyline mainly unfolds through well-crafted dialogue between Oz and Liu, but there are plenty of nice cutscenes as well to keep you invested in the characters, their backgrounds and their plight. As a stealth game, the pacing is intentionally slow and deliberate, allowing you to uncover layers of the plot at a steady pace.
Evotinction is a pure stealth game, so the focus is entirely on sneaking around the facility and hacking. All throughout the large, multi-area complex are AI machines known as Genies that have been affected by the RED virus and immediately turn hostile if they spot you. There are no weapons in the game so you can't shoot the Genies, but thankfully fairly early in the game, you acquire an EMP taser that can put Genies out of commission.
I was impressed by just how much the game encourages you to think strategically as you navigate through various environments filled with hostile Genies, insta-kill laser traps and other deadly obstacles. As you make your way through the facility, which consists of research labs, offices, warehouses, and residential areas, you'll need to hack into security systems, doors, and even enemy machines. Hacking surprisingly is fairly simple, you either press a button and wait, or have to press a series of buttons within a time limit to successfully hack.
While the game follows a linear path, there are plenty of side rooms, hallways and cleverly hidden areas that feature collectible audio logs, action figures, diary entries and more. You can also find materials that help you upgrade your tools in many different beneficial ways, encouraging you to really take your time and explore every nook and cranny of the beautifully crafted environments.
Visually, Evotinction impresses with its striking graphics and immersive presentation. Spikewave Games nailed the futuristic aesthetic and suffocating loneliness as Dr. Liu desperately explores the facility hoping to find other survivors like him.
Whether it's the high-tech laboratories to dark, eerie corridors, each environment is meticulously designed, showcasing detailed textures and vibrant colours all rendered beautifully. Dr. Liu's character model is equally impressive, with realistic motion-captured animations that bring the character and cutscenes to life. It helps, too, that Liu is highly relatable, making it easy to connect with his journey.
The sound design in Evotinction is also top-notch, whether it's the distant buzzing of Genie machines or the hum of machinery at work, everything adds to the game's suspenseful tone. Lui's voice acting is great as well, as he delivers lines with strong emotions that make him feel authentic.
The Verdict
Evotinction presents a unique blend of stealth and strategy in a captivating futuristic setting. The game excels in its innovative hacking mechanics, allowing you to approach challenges creatively. The semi-open world design encourages exploration, rewarding you with hidden collectibles and upgrades. This variety in gameplay keeps the experience fresh and engaging throughout your journey. The only real downside is some of the gameplay mechanics can be poorly explained, leading to some initial confusion. But once you get accustomed to the gameplay, there's plenty of exciting stealth action to be had.Final Score: 8/10 - Great
Evotinction details
Platform: PS5, PS4, PCDeveloper: Spikewave Games
Publisher: Astrolabe Games, Perp Games
Genre: Stealth
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
A key was provided by the publisher.