Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick

Product Information

It's nice to see that games are starting to move away from the formula of basing their games directly on specific movies. Like Enter the Matrix, Evil Dead utilizes the license to tell a story about Ash and the Deadites that doesn't exist in any of the movies. For fans of the campy horror films, the story is instantly recognizable, but it's delivered in the signature style of Bruce Campbell. And the Adventure Continues: At the end, it's revealed that Ash is in feudal Japan after having botched the sealing spell after beating Trisha. The Evil then starts possessing the palace guards, leaving Ash to fight his way out.

After the Necronomicon is read aloud in a local television program, Deadites are running amok in the small town of Dearborn, Michigan. It's once again up to Ash ( Bruce Campbell) to fix things up by killing every sorry-ass deadite in his way and even travelling through time. There are some good puzzle solving moments in the game, which often require some lateral thinking, and good observation of your surroundings, and also having to make full use of everything at your disposal.This is the second Evil Dead game I know of; the previous, also by THQ, was awful in every way. So awful, in fact, that I only bought this because someone said it was better. When you press Triangle, Ash will say a funny comment. Later in the game, he gains the ability to say different comments. For example, when in Downtown Dearborn, he says, “What time is it? Bah, what do you care, you’re dead.” In the Outskirts of Dearborn he is incapable of saying this. There are a few pre rendered cut-scenes lightly peppered through the game, which admittedly look much prettier than the in-game stuff, with striking facial animations and gestures and an overall high level of polish. These provide an interesting diversion for some good narrative, and add some spice to the proceedings.

The game is based on the game engine of State of Emergency, with very similar gameplay. Essentially it's a free-roaming beat-em-up with 360 degree aiming gunplay. The game sports some really good monster designs. There are some huge plodding green nasties, which are suitably imposing, and there is some enormous guardians to encounter at certain intervals, as well as the good assortment of decrepit twisted deadites that stumble about in a charismatic fashion. Sometimes you will encounter deadite torsos which drag themselves around with their hands, which is cool. Artistic License – History: Confederate troops never came anywhere near Michigan during the Civil War. Demonic Possession: Deadites are once again possessing humans. This time around, Ash can possess them too with a right spell, complete with the famous Raimi-cam.

Dead and loving it

Wait until he is walking toward a barrel and gets close to it. Then, shoot the barrel and it will explode, flipping him over. Start shooting him after he flips over. Later in the fight, he will start charging you. When this happens, run along the walls until he runs into one, then start shooting him.

Basic combat is actually quite satisfying, given that your basic weapons are the most macho things imaginable, a sawed-off shotgun and a chainsaw mounted on the stump of your arm. Especially cool is Ash's move of shooting over his own shoulder, spaghetti-western style. And you'll soon find it useful: deadites come at you in large swaths, making for frantic action.This facet of the game adds something unique to the game mechanics, which proves to be a welcome addition. Given the more open adventure style nature of the game, Saving progress is handled here with tokens that can be found at certain points about the various levels. Once collected, they are stored in your inventory, and can be used at any time during a level to keep all that you have accomplished to that point. Also, you get some freebie saves before and after a boss battle, which is a neat little inclusion. When you get to the Dearborn police station, the yard where you need to go is surrounded by Deadites. You do not have to kill any of them. First, find the Spell Scroll that allows you to posses a Deadite for a limited amount of time,.This spell takes up three mana. Posses a Deadite, then run to the other side of the yard. You will find the Cypher and a envelope that you must take to the auto body shop. Note: The police Deadites will not recognize you as Ash, but the others will. After assuming control of his father's hardware store, Ash also acquired a shotgun shell reloading press, which recycles spent empty shells and refills them with powder and shot.