AMID EVIL

This does extremely well channeling the greatness of what made 1990s PC games so good. Heretic, Hexen, and Quake, specifically. But it also does a good job at that charm and really fun gameplay without feeling like it's an intentional retro throwback. Feels very genuine. So much of the design in the game is great. The wide variety of weapons, the enemies, the pick ups, and the environment/architecture design are all fantastic, creating a really detailed and interesting world. Each of the episodes have their own style to them, too, with unique enemies and environments. It doesn't get boring with its constant variety and fast-paced gameplay. And on top of that, a fantastic complement to the atmosphere in the game is Andrew Hulshult's excellent soundtrack. It's really good and suits the environments that each piece of music is made for. All these elements come together really well creating a very solid experience in a simply fun game. It really doesn't feel like a modern indie game, but like something great that would have come out in the late-90s. Do yourself a favor and get this.

This is easily the best looking throwback fps, but it's much more than that. Some of the levels remind me of Romeros work... Then later I felt like I was in an American McGee map. You get hints of the past while experiencing something new and different. They really have their own style. Several maps are more vertical than I'm used to and that was a very welcome change. There have been plenty of comparisons to Heretic and Hexen and I can see that in the style and setting. So, I replayed both of those games. Amid Evil is a longer game with way more variety, better weapons, better bosses; it's just bigger, better, & more insane in about every way. It's hard to beat the classics, but they have. I'll leave you to experience the rest on your own. If you like fast, retro, fps... BUY THIS GAME.

Its so refreshing to be able to just pick up a game and just play without being bothered by pointless cutscenes and boring tutorials. The gameplay is fast and erratic - the weapons feel great - the visual style is intriguing - the music is on point. Like Quake, I'll be playing this for years to come.

I may edit this review later ot go into more detail once I feel I've fully explored and conquered the game, but for reference just after beating it: This game is a work of art. It's proof that art design will always trumps raw graphical power, though some competent hardware is required to pump this game's effects up to maximum. Combat is a breath of fresh air, a throwback to unreal and quake-style shooters. There's almost nothing I can say that hasn't been articulated better somewhere else. In the end, if you're in the market for a throwback late 90's,-early 00's fps, look no further...until DUSK comes to GOG. Then get both of them.

Amid Evil is quite good. Not great, not amazing, not awesome. Okay, the art direction is awesome but it's not BLOOD or DUSK or DOOM or SHADOW WARRIOR or even Nightmare Reaper (should I block letter that one too?). But what is? There's nothing wrong with being pretty good and looking good doing it. And make no mistake, this game is visually striking. It's not like there are many fantasy themed boomer shooters with a green sword for a shotgun or a staff that shoots planets for ammo. Including ours. I played the game twice through and probably won't play it again for a long time. Because behind the amazing art direction, it's a competent boomer shooter but not much better than that. I can't say the weapons and combat have that... you know, that feel where you shoot everything in a room and feel like John Wick ain't got nothin' on you or like you've just snorted a line of coke. I couldn't remember one of the enemies in the game the way I could, say, a shambler from Quake. This is hard to quantify but it's missing that something that makes me keep coming back to the truly best shooters. If the worst thing about your game is that it isn't one of the greatest of all time and I can't really think of anything else to complain about, I say that's pretty darn good. Especially for a $20 game. Just buy it.