Amid Evil takes you on a fantasy journey through 7 different universes with a variety of enemies to face in each world which helps spruce up gameplay with different enemy designs and combat. As well as combat the worlds of each episode have really good level structure that a lot of the time i really enjoyed just exploring the world rather than just continuing through and that is what makes a good boomer shooter making very explorable and satisfying worlds to explore. Weapon variety is small but each weapon is really unique especially the weapon that has you throw literal planets, including earth. Plus the soul power mechanic changes your weapon temporarily boosting its damage greatly and changing how your weapon works like having the BFG of the game shoot out black holes instead From a technical standpoint it gives at least for me heavy ps1/late 90s fps vibes and it captures a weird nostalgia I didn't know I had and I love it. Best comparison I have is its a mix of the creepy and quiet ambience and lengthy worlds of Turok with the constant chaos and fighting of Serious Sam. The ambience and sound design I thoroughly like especially in the some chapters it kind of had me on edge with how silent and quiet it was. Story is rather simple but the story is not the center focus of the game as the gameplay and enemies are on the forefront. I think if I could give any critiques towards this game it would be that the game is a bit too easy outside of the last chapter but nothing really had me struggling for hours and the bosses did not have much of a challenge to them. However that being said, this game is still a real joy to play through and I would honestly replay it again to find all the secrets and on the hardest difficulty. New Blood has shown themselves to be a leading force in the boomer shooter genre with games like Dusk and Ultrakill (which once I get through those ill review each of them) and they have been a big influence for indie devs that want to recreate that boomer shooter magic and I can't wait for more games from them especially their next game Fallen Aces.
YEAH BOYYY!
7,5/10 - Length
8,0/10 - Enjoyment
9,5/10 - Perfomance/Bugs
7,0/10 - Story/Experience
8,0/10 - Gameplay
Score = 8,0/10
7,5/10 - Length
8,0/10 - Enjoyment
9,5/10 - Perfomance/Bugs
7,0/10 - Story/Experience
8,0/10 - Gameplay
Score = 8,0/10
very good boomer shooter, would recommend to any fan of the genre, especially if you played heretic or hexen, it's pretty much like that but with a ton of polish and modern controls. It's a very speedy game I liked it a lot, even if like in a lot of doom likes, not knowing where to go sometimes can be frustrating. Overall it looks great, feels very good and is a lot of fun
Played well on Linux with ray tracing
This game has a irresistible visual style and top tier boomer shooting. It helped me get into the boomer shooter craze. The environments and enemies have tons of variation, which a lot of games like this lack.
This game has a irresistible visual style and top tier boomer shooting. It helped me get into the boomer shooter craze. The environments and enemies have tons of variation, which a lot of games like this lack.
This game is really good, definitely made by people who knew what they were doing. Rather than focusing on a big number of maps, each map was huge, which is fairly different. The weapons are pretty good, nothing really special to talk about but fun to use nonetheless. However, all weapons are introduced by the second episode so the only new things getting introduced are the enemies and the maps. This was worth playing, I do recommend this game, but it feels like it took too long and the final battle took ages to beat.
Amid Evil? More like AVeryGood Evil
This is such a great game, easily being one of most pretty indie games ive ever laid my eyes on. All the weapons are a blast to use and the soul mechanic really brings spice to big encounters, another great game from New Blood
fun boomer shooter, with it being closer to hexen and heretic than doom or quake. Pretty fun, awesome weapons and incredibly stylish.
Classic retro shooter quake style move from New Blood, if you liked ultrakill you will probably like this as well.
If Hexen had a HD younger brother that was smarter and sexier and more successful.
If Hexen had a HD younger brother that was smarter and sexier and more successful.
wait hold on... Hexen 3?! What! What!
Different "boomer shooter" for a change. Weapons are not the typical type and the gameplay is somewhat different because of that. Above average in it's genre given its uniqueness.
New Blood games just don't miss. Think Hexen meets Heretic 2.
In terms of gameplay, this is the weakest FPS of New Blood's that I have played (Ultrakill, Dusk, and Amid Evil). That being said, I also think it has the best visuals of the bunch. The environments are beautiful and jaw-dropping, though none are as mind-bending as what you would find in Dusk.
The gameplay is still fun, but once you've gotten a grasp on the weapons, it doesn't offer much in terms of depth, and the combat starts to get stale.
The gameplay is still fun, but once you've gotten a grasp on the weapons, it doesn't offer much in terms of depth, and the combat starts to get stale.
Probably the worst/least good of the New Blood games that I've played so far, but it's still a good game. It's a well-designed shooter, but not much more than that. It's closer to an OG boomer shooter than a modern movement shooter, so in the end, it just kind of feels outclassed by DUSK.
Again, not bad, just unremarkable.
Again, not bad, just unremarkable.
My least favorite NewBlood FPS so far, but it is still pretty good.
First, the good part: It is probably the most unique-looking FPS I've ever played, in terms of atmosphere it is beautiful. Secondly, enemy variety is huge, with different enemies in each chapter, they are all distinct from each other despite having the same basis. Lastly, weapons are usually fun to use, with the soul mode making things even more spicier.
However, weapons are also where my issues begin: Despite what I said above, I also think they didn't feel as satisfying as it should have been (other than the scepter that shoots spikes and the fist weapon in the DLC). But that is a minor complaint when compared to the level design: In many levels, there is no clear indication where to push forward, and when combined with the frustrating platforming sections in the later chapters, it puts a sudden stop to the action (but I won't lie I loved some of the crazy level designs in the late game). Also, I found the bossfights either way too easy (I played the whole game+ the DLC on hard difficulty) or bullet-spongy (specifically the last bosses of main game+DLC). Finally, I didn't find the music as memorable/impactful as in the other NB games.
Despite the negatives I mentioned, in general it was a solid boomer shooter, and I recommend it to anyone who likes this kind of games.
First, the good part: It is probably the most unique-looking FPS I've ever played, in terms of atmosphere it is beautiful. Secondly, enemy variety is huge, with different enemies in each chapter, they are all distinct from each other despite having the same basis. Lastly, weapons are usually fun to use, with the soul mode making things even more spicier.
However, weapons are also where my issues begin: Despite what I said above, I also think they didn't feel as satisfying as it should have been (other than the scepter that shoots spikes and the fist weapon in the DLC). But that is a minor complaint when compared to the level design: In many levels, there is no clear indication where to push forward, and when combined with the frustrating platforming sections in the later chapters, it puts a sudden stop to the action (but I won't lie I loved some of the crazy level designs in the late game). Also, I found the bossfights either way too easy (I played the whole game+ the DLC on hard difficulty) or bullet-spongy (specifically the last bosses of main game+DLC). Finally, I didn't find the music as memorable/impactful as in the other NB games.
Despite the negatives I mentioned, in general it was a solid boomer shooter, and I recommend it to anyone who likes this kind of games.
Amid Evil is a very well made boomer shooter. Level design, sound design and artstyle are all really strong in this one. All the weapons remain relevant throughout the whole game, even the axe you start with, which is something you almost never see (imagine using the knife in Serious Sam in later levels for example). Some weapons really need some getting used to, but once you figured out how to use them effectively, they are all great. I just wish there were one or two more weapons in the game and that you could switch soul mode on and off whenever you please instead of having to fill the meter completely and then having to use it all up at once. Movement and platforming feel tight and there was no really frustrating or unfair moment in the game. I can recommend this game to anyone that likes boomer shooters.
NOTE: only played the demo
i am obsessed with the aesthetics and the level design, they remind me of a ps1-era game but upscaled to the modern day, which is great.
however! i really dislike how it's basically just guns with fantasy skins. the melee-looking weapons are just guns. the staves are guns. everything is guns. the ammo is called "mana", but again, it's just guns.
there doesn't seem to be any depth or complexity to the combat, either. weapon-swapping is too slow to set up anything interesting, there're no environmental interactibles, no powerups, no alternative movement aside from a slow crouch and a toggle walk...
there's nothing to do except shoot folks with your not-guns, and even that feels meh. strafe and spam, all day long, nothing else.
i am obsessed with the aesthetics and the level design, they remind me of a ps1-era game but upscaled to the modern day, which is great.
however! i really dislike how it's basically just guns with fantasy skins. the melee-looking weapons are just guns. the staves are guns. everything is guns. the ammo is called "mana", but again, it's just guns.
there doesn't seem to be any depth or complexity to the combat, either. weapon-swapping is too slow to set up anything interesting, there're no environmental interactibles, no powerups, no alternative movement aside from a slow crouch and a toggle walk...
there's nothing to do except shoot folks with your not-guns, and even that feels meh. strafe and spam, all day long, nothing else.
Replaying the campaign on EVIL difficulty with Warrior and Auto-Soul modes enabled has rocketed Amid Evil into my favorites.
This is still one of the best looking FPS titles ever produced and maintains an overall high level of quality throughout its levelset. The only points of chaffing I encountered is the occasionally brutal difficulty of The Forges, which was still more than manageable. Thanks to each of the seven episodes having a custom enemy roster, the campaign ended up feeling much longer than its actual runtime is due to how memorable each chunk of the game is allowed to become.
Each episode has its own tone and slightly altered flow for the combat encounters. The different tiers of enemies across the episodes can have altered vulnerabilities to the arsenal, continually mixing up the gamefeel slightly. Coupled with how each level was designed to accomodate the Warrior mode, the order of acquisition of the arsenal within a level adds a whole other layer of complexity. It's a testament to how well balanced the weapons are that I was often delighted to acquire the Azure Staff even after I had previously reacquired the Voltride in the same level. Said arsenal also plays very well without crosshairs, which I always appreciate. I prefer to have unobstructed views of enemies and environs wherever possible.
The Arcane Expanse looks like a manifestation of the palaces I wandered in childhood dreams, and I want more. Perfection.
This is still one of the best looking FPS titles ever produced and maintains an overall high level of quality throughout its levelset. The only points of chaffing I encountered is the occasionally brutal difficulty of The Forges, which was still more than manageable. Thanks to each of the seven episodes having a custom enemy roster, the campaign ended up feeling much longer than its actual runtime is due to how memorable each chunk of the game is allowed to become.
Each episode has its own tone and slightly altered flow for the combat encounters. The different tiers of enemies across the episodes can have altered vulnerabilities to the arsenal, continually mixing up the gamefeel slightly. Coupled with how each level was designed to accomodate the Warrior mode, the order of acquisition of the arsenal within a level adds a whole other layer of complexity. It's a testament to how well balanced the weapons are that I was often delighted to acquire the Azure Staff even after I had previously reacquired the Voltride in the same level. Said arsenal also plays very well without crosshairs, which I always appreciate. I prefer to have unobstructed views of enemies and environs wherever possible.
The Arcane Expanse looks like a manifestation of the palaces I wandered in childhood dreams, and I want more. Perfection.
(from original post in 2022) Well that was...not very good
Legal, mas faltou um metal pesado de fundo
Great game, kept getting lost and finding ways to escape the map geometry with planet rockets
I love the aesthetic and feeling of it. I love retro games that feel so modern.
Stunning maps and stunning visuals.
Stunning maps and stunning visuals.
With good weapons and levels, Amid Evil shows off what’s so good about the Boomer Shooter genre.
WICKED cool boomer shooter with so much style. Iterates on the genre in really creative ways. Hooked immediately, and couldn't put the game down til' I was done. Want to come back and play the DLC sometime soon.
AMID EVIL is another classic FPS made by New Blood, this time it takes a more fantastical approach. It forgoes guns and bullets, instead adopting staffs and magic, reminiscent of the older Heretic and Hexen. However, its most striking feature is its visuals. The Unreal Engine, on which the game is built, allows for some amazing lighting. You have probably seen that it has RTX support. It should be noted that due to AMID EVIL taking a lot of inspiration from FPS games from the 90s, it lacks story wise. Overall, if you liked DUSK or like these kinds of games, then you will enjoy your time.
Story
You are a champion who has been tasked with taking back the world from the hands of evil. As I said, it very much lacks in any kind of story. There is however lore that you can read while in the main menu. Also, there are texts scattered throughout the levels, but I couldn’t discern whether they had any kind of meaning.
Gameplay
Fairly standard classic FPS gameplay. You run around levels at relatively high speed while battling though hordes of monsters with an arsenal comprised of a myriad of weapons. There are 7 chapters, each with its own theme and unique enemies, which helps the game not feel repetitive. They all end in a boss, that provides a nice challenge, but they aren’t particularly memorable. To beat all of these foes, you are provided 7 magical weapons. They all have different uses, so it is best to learn when to use each one. For instance, the sword fires a piercing projectile, so it best use against tightly packed groups of enemies. Whenever a foe dies, you can collect it soul. Collect enough and you can unleash a devastating attack. While all the mechanics describe above are well-made, none of them do anything new or push the boundaries in any way. I can’t say that I was bored at any point while playing AMID EVIL, I can see someone who is not a big fan of the genre experiencing such an emotion.
Graphics and artstyle
As I said before – incredible graphics. They are still chunky and low poly as you would see in other games, but the lighting makes them stand out among the rest. The colour choices helps a lot – there is never a monotone part in AMID EVIL. It's always switching colour pallets and using different levels of light to make every area more interesting.
Atmosphere
From ancient ruins to sacred temples, from mystical palaces floating in vast nothingness to abstract environments twisted by evil, the atmosphere changes quite a lot. This wouldn’t be much of a problem, but the game being split into distinctive chapters hampers the immersion compared to a continuous journey.
Soundtrack
Another banger by Andrew Hulshult. He never misses, and AMID EVIL’s ost is no exception. Favourite part is “Aetheres”.
Final Thoughts
You are a CHAMPION OF EVIL, Harry!
Story
You are a champion who has been tasked with taking back the world from the hands of evil. As I said, it very much lacks in any kind of story. There is however lore that you can read while in the main menu. Also, there are texts scattered throughout the levels, but I couldn’t discern whether they had any kind of meaning.
Gameplay
Fairly standard classic FPS gameplay. You run around levels at relatively high speed while battling though hordes of monsters with an arsenal comprised of a myriad of weapons. There are 7 chapters, each with its own theme and unique enemies, which helps the game not feel repetitive. They all end in a boss, that provides a nice challenge, but they aren’t particularly memorable. To beat all of these foes, you are provided 7 magical weapons. They all have different uses, so it is best to learn when to use each one. For instance, the sword fires a piercing projectile, so it best use against tightly packed groups of enemies. Whenever a foe dies, you can collect it soul. Collect enough and you can unleash a devastating attack. While all the mechanics describe above are well-made, none of them do anything new or push the boundaries in any way. I can’t say that I was bored at any point while playing AMID EVIL, I can see someone who is not a big fan of the genre experiencing such an emotion.
Graphics and artstyle
As I said before – incredible graphics. They are still chunky and low poly as you would see in other games, but the lighting makes them stand out among the rest. The colour choices helps a lot – there is never a monotone part in AMID EVIL. It's always switching colour pallets and using different levels of light to make every area more interesting.
Atmosphere
From ancient ruins to sacred temples, from mystical palaces floating in vast nothingness to abstract environments twisted by evil, the atmosphere changes quite a lot. This wouldn’t be much of a problem, but the game being split into distinctive chapters hampers the immersion compared to a continuous journey.
Soundtrack
Another banger by Andrew Hulshult. He never misses, and AMID EVIL’s ost is no exception. Favourite part is “Aetheres”.
Final Thoughts
You are a CHAMPION OF EVIL, Harry!
I'm usually not into FPS games but damn does this game have some real charm. Played it entirely in one sitting which I never do so it really got its hooks in me. Helps that the weapons feel really unique and varied from typical FPS ones. The Star of Torment may be my favorite videogame "shotgun" now.
9.5/10
9.5/10
Fantastic throwback FPS / "boomer shooter" with high replayability. In the retro FPS world, I would say this handles closest to Quake, but it is certainly its own beast in many ways and should be treated as such. Handles brilliantly and the visuals feel and look great, perfect for the style and atmosphere. If you're into retro FPSes or want to try getting into them, I'd highly recommend trying this out.
Fantasy Quake
I will be upfront and say I played on Hard (didn't know there was a higher difficulty hidden away until after) so some of my thoughts might be skewed because of that.
The gameplay and combat felt fresh but turned sour and stale very quickly. I understand it's a throwback to shooters of old, but that shouldn't mean it has to play exactly like them. Many encounters I found myself either holding the S key while firing away or just circle strafing and chipping away at the monster's health.
There was a chance missed here to use the colors inherent in both the enemies and the weapons to inflict extra (or less) damage based on those 'elements.' Instead it felt often like 'use whatever weapon you have the most mana (ammo) for,' which never felt that great. I'm sure there is targeted limb/head damage but it truly didn't feel like it made much of a difference.
Am glad I stuck it out though as some of the later levels have such neat platforming segments and honestly some very cool boss fights. The final boss alone was very well done.
With so many more 'boomer shooters' in my steam library I'm going to dive into them and see if it's this game that's a one-off or if the genre maybe just isn't my cup of tea.
The gameplay and combat felt fresh but turned sour and stale very quickly. I understand it's a throwback to shooters of old, but that shouldn't mean it has to play exactly like them. Many encounters I found myself either holding the S key while firing away or just circle strafing and chipping away at the monster's health.
There was a chance missed here to use the colors inherent in both the enemies and the weapons to inflict extra (or less) damage based on those 'elements.' Instead it felt often like 'use whatever weapon you have the most mana (ammo) for,' which never felt that great. I'm sure there is targeted limb/head damage but it truly didn't feel like it made much of a difference.
Am glad I stuck it out though as some of the later levels have such neat platforming segments and honestly some very cool boss fights. The final boss alone was very well done.
With so many more 'boomer shooters' in my steam library I'm going to dive into them and see if it's this game that's a one-off or if the genre maybe just isn't my cup of tea.
Da integrare il DLC "The Black Labyrinth"