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Evolva
Developer: Computer Artworks
Publisher: Virgin Interactive
Category: : 3D Action & Adventure
System Req: Pentium 233Mhz or better, 64 Mb RAM , Win 98/95, Voodoo Graphics / D3D card
Might look like: ?
Date posted: 5 December 2000 (Requested by Readers)
Written By: Bert
- This game was reviewed on PIII 500, 128 Mb RAM, 32x CD-Rom, 3D Prophet DDR-DVI, Win98SE -
We also test other games on
"PlayDevil.com Game Machine"
Evolva?
Evolva is "Computer Artworks" latest game.
Evolva immerses the player in a violent, visually stunning 3D world offering a rich gameplaying experience driven by the "A-Life" game engine.
Once upon a time in the far future, our dearly beloved planet is overcrowded and out of recources. Time to explore space. After many successful years in space, technology has grown immense. The ensure the further development of our specie they've created Genohunters. These incredibly creatures are capable of "real-time" mutating.
Your job is to explore new planets and find new useful alien DNA.
The First Time
When I started the game for the first time I couldn't believe the superior graphics.
Especially with Geforce DDR and the Bump Mapping patch installed. Everything is really smooth and realistic.
Your four creatures are standing in a living world.
Birds are flying, strange looking cows and dinosaurs are walking around ... in one word: Amazing!
  
Gameplay!
After the nice intro you can choose between several game options, single player, multiplayer, etc.
As usual I start a new single player campaign. After the first FMV, which introduces the mission objectives, you can start playing. You are responsible for the four weird looking creatures, your "genohunters". Your first mission is to investigate the planet. There you are, standing in the middle of nowhere. I just followed a small path and I already encountered several strange things. Flesh eating plants, giant spiders, little eggs, exploding vegetables, weird looking creatures and so on. The world in Evolva really amazes me.
When you have troubles reaching certain area's, you just have to find DNA from other creatures and then you simply use that DNA to mutate. When you reach new area's and planets, you can mutate weapons like flame throwers or claws onto you body.
The environment in Evolva also changes continuously. You will encounter dangerous creatures that want to eat you.
  
No game without a plot of course. A giant egg crashed on a planet and it started to grow. It gave birth to several creepy monsters that aren't as friendly as you would think.
I will keep some surprises for myself and for you to find out otherwise I will spoil the whole game.
Artificial Intelligence!
Sadly the AI of you enemies isn't that good. Don't expect very smart AI like in Half-Life or any other decent game. I can't say that the AI is bad but it could have been better.
If you for example want to make a trap for one enemy, lets take that giant spider, your genohunters will attack it as soon as the giant spider is in front of you. That means that 1) the trap will be useless and 2) some of your genohunters will definitely be injured or dead.
Graphics!
Another great part of Evolva, besides its great plot, is of course its graphic engine.
Evolva's engine is so smooth and so detailed especially with the new patch for Geforce cards that enables bump mapping.
The engine fully supports T&L, triple buffering, etc etc, resolutions up to 1600*1200*32bit and plenty more. The colors used for the scenery and creatures are also top notch! Thumbs up for this engine because Evolva's developer, Computer Artworks really showed me what they are capable of doing.
Great work!
  
Sound
Same story with the sound effects and music in Evolva. They are 'kick-ass'.
Perfect sound, the background noises are very realistic and the soundtrack is addicting. The games even supports the latest sound engines like EAX2.
Conclusion
Although the game is top notch in terms of eye candy and sound effects, the gameplay however isn't.
Evolva really is a strange game and will not be loved by everyone.
It has excellent graphics, great sound effects but it lacks a bit on gameplay and AI.
And lets face it, it's really the gameplay and AI that matters.
Still I have seen worse games in every departement so Evolva certainly isn't bad at all. It has its weak points but perhaps every game, how good it is, has weak points.
So if you like originality, great graphics, excellent sound effects and music AND you're statisfied with "standard" AI and gameplay, then Computer Artworks' latest game, Evolva might be a game for you!
-Bert
Ratings
Manual:
81% |
Graphics:
93% |
Music & Sfx:
90% |
GamePlay:
75% |
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This game scores
 
on our 5-point Rating System
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