The first time I saw Evolve in action was at PAX East 2014, and my big concern walking away from the booth was that it was going to be hard for hunting a monster to hold people's attention for long. Evacuation mode's announcement assuaged that fear. Tying all the game types together, Evacuation plays almost like a mini-campaign. Beginning with a Hunt mission, Evacuation lets players vote for the game type of the next round, with the caveat that you can't play the same type twice in a row. At the end of each round, the winner is rewarded with a bonus on the next mission. For example, if the monster wins the mission on the dam, the dam is broken. This floods the area the next round takes place in, and the flooded areas are filled with dangerous eels, posing a grave threat to the hunters.



Turtle Rock claims that there are over 800,000 possible variables that players can string together in Evacuation. While I haven't played all of them, I can say that the variety of maps and outcomes in Evacuation make it a very satisfying mode to play.

In fact, if I had to describe Evolve in one word, it would be "satisfying." The game presents a host of challenges that need to be overcome, not including the other players. Managing your jetpack fuel, staying together with your teammates, and avoiding indigenous wildlife that's out to eat you are just the beginning. When it all comes together with a really good team, it's a co-op experience that's almost unmatched. Unfortunately, that's also Evolve's biggest weakness.

Playing with a great team is an amazing experience, but playing with a mediocre team can be extremely frustrating, especially if the player running the monster is experienced. This was one of the reasons for my initial doubts about the game, as the random group of people I played with at PAX East became easily separated, leading them to be picked off one at a time by the monster. You can't always get four friends together to play as a team, and the interplay between classes and unique abilities means that even just one poor player can drastically drag down a team's chances of success. In an effort to stop a losing team from going off the rails, the game adjusts after a loss to slightly buff the losing team in the next round, but the buff isn't always enough to turn the tide. Getting caught on the wrong side of a couple of games like this can be a very frustrating experience.

The other big issue Evolve has is its complicated DLC plan. A number of different pre-orders and special editions not only caused confusion, it raised a lot of eyebrows among gamers, who wondered if the game would wind up being pay-to-win. From what I've seen so far, you won't need the DLC monsters or hunters to be a viable part of a team. With all the maps coming for free, fragmenting the community with map packs won't be a concern, either.

All in all, when Evolve is working well, it's one of the most enjoyable co-op experiences I have had in a long time. It looks great, the varied classes are all fun to play, and there's almost certain to be one that becomes your favorite. It's a great addition to Turtle Rock's resume, and a solid entry into the early release slate for 2015.

Bottom Line: Evolve is a strong co-op title that rewards good teamwork with an amazing experience. Plenty of variety in classes and game types makes every round something new.

Recommendation: If you're a fan of team shooters, or you just want to be a giant monster, Evolve is the game for you.