Evil West Preview: Darkwatch Meets God Of War With A Splash Of Doom Eternal
The Gothic Western is one of my favorite and most underserved subgenres in horror. Cowboys and vampires have some of the strongest iconographies in folklore and blending the two together always creates wonderful opportunities for awe and terror. A full moon hanging low over a dusty trail is an evocative setting rarely explored outside of Dark Tower novels and American Vampire comic books. Evil West, a new third-person action game from Polish studio Flying Wild Hog (Shadow Warrior, Trek to Yumi) picks up where Darkwatch left off nearly two decades ago. While the theme alone was enough to pull me in, a 20-minute demo during PAX East this weekend convinced me Evil West is going to be one of 2022’s most talked-about games.
Like Darkwatch, Evil West follows a pair of super-powered cowboys working for a secret vampire-hunting organization in the American West. The tone is appropriately light, given the exaggerated theatricality of the setting. The demo begins as the hunters arrive in a bandit town in search of an ancient, evil crypt. Among their convoy is a captive; a mustachioed vampire chained inside a coffin who the hunters need to get into the tomb. The vampire is nonplussed, entertaining himself by insulting the hunters. Their banter is casual and charming - at least until they make their way into the vampire tomb where all hell breaks loose.
Related: The Untold Story Of Darkwatch
Combat will be familiar to God of War 2018 players. There’s a good mix of ranged and melee abilities and some thoughtful design that compels you to frequently switch back and forth between the two. You’re equipped with a lightning-powered fist weapon that can make short work of smaller enemies either by juggling them into the air, launching them
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