Game Play
Genre?
As we mentioned earlier Evolva doesn't fit neatly into a traditional genre. It's a squad based third person shooter with elements of a role-playing game. New genre? Probably not, but it was still cool enough to get that. While the entire game is played in the third person, it is not plagued by bad camera angles! I'm generally not a fan of third person games for that main reason. With one of my primary concerns alleviated the review could continue without me having to scream in pain. While I preferred to play in the 3rd person in this game, one does have the option to play in the first person too. In fact the game will push you into the first person mode in areas too tight to accommodate a third person view. Hey they just got rid of bad camera angles altogether by doing that!
![Evolva Review [ hmm... nothing @ 640 x 480 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/11-s.jpg) hmm... nothing
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![Evolva Review [ Smile! @ 640 x 480 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/12-s.jpg) Smile!
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The Keys
In game controls were fairly easy to use, a little difficult to master though. Normal FPS commands can be used with relative ease. The WASD configuration works perfectly in this game. Some additional keys are required but nothing drastic. It is a little harder to shift between your other 3 units because those keys are pretty far away, aside from that no complaints.
![Evolva Review [ Lunch @ 640 x 480 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/13-s.jpg) Lunch
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![Evolva Review [ Target Practice @ 640 x 480 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/14-s.jpg) Target Practice
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Instead of taking direct control of the other units you can also control the other members of the squad by using the command keys. You can either select all the units or only those in close proximity. This makes it pretty easy to leave one guy behind to mop up some stray stuff in later levels.
![Evolva Review [ Me not being nice 1 @ 640 x 480 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/15-s.jpg) Me not being nice 1
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![Evolva Review [ Me not being nice 2 @ 640 x 480 ] > View Full-Size in another window.](images/16-s.jpg) Me not being nice 2
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Ahh the Brits
Also included is a nifty little tutorial that is verbally as well as visually complemented. They hired a British actor for the voices with the movies demonstrating what is being done. Quite informative, and entertaining. If you are decent at FPS games you can just jump right in and learn as you go along. The hardest thing to do, for me, was creating strategies with my units. This whole squad of four people gets rather unwieldy if you like to micromanage, but they perform pretty decently by themselves and keep themselves out of trouble for the most part.