Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick

(1)The Evil Dead.
(2)Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn
(3)Army of Darkness (Evil Dead 3)

... once you have done that you are now in a better position to enjoy this game release which tries to be Evil Dead 4, but isn't really. The story is interesting (Ash must save a town from the deadites which have taken over) but the gameplay is only so-so entertainment (good 3D environment though) and there is nothing new here we have not seen before elsewhere, but like I said you must be a fan to give this one 5 stars or else it is just 3 star material. Basically you must run around town (kinda plays like State of Emergency with the bad guys running after ya), close otherworld portals, find items, hack up zombies with a chainsaw, blow them away with a shotgun (cool over-the-sholder moves and everything), defeat the end bosses and save the gal.

For all intensive purposes if you like the Evil Dead movies or want to BE Bruce Campbell for a few hours a day then this is EXACTLY what you have been looking for. Don't even continue this review and just get the darn thing. For all those lowlifes out there who do not know what ED is then GO FIND OUT and come back here later when you get what all the fuss is over.

I also recommended checking out his book "If Chins Could Kill".

HAIL TO THE KING BABY!


Dumb name; class game   April 5, 2004
Its difficult to know how to start this review, as i imagine that you'll have to be an Evil Dead fan to really 'get' this game. If you buy this game as, say, a fan of the horror genre of gaming and with no knowledge of the movie series then you'll probably wind up disappointed.

On the other hand, if you are a fan of the movies then you'll more than likely be absolutely delighted in the latest attempt to bring the old movie classic to the console. Unlike its predecessor 'Hail To The King', this game presents VERY different, almost comic-like characters and settings which i was initially apprehensive about, but the game manages to pull it off. The deadites move in a very exaggerated way, their blood spills as if it was a cartoon, and the cops trying to deal with all hell being let loose are complete retards. But in the end, its all these factors that help the game along. It doesnt ever try to be something its not - a quick read about its 'explore in between killing the undead' nature might lead you to think it was a Resident Evil clone but after 2 minutes of play you'll see it for what it is. Its nothing groundbreaking and nothing original, but it certainly holds its own.

One thing i particularly enjoyed about this release - and an improvement on the previous game - was that the chainsaw no longer needs fuel to work. Once you find it - pretty early on in the game - you can slice and dice deadites 24/7, and you'll always have atleast 2 weapons at your disposal thanks to the excellent 'two handed' combat system. Aswell as the now trademark 'quip' button (and lets face it - this wouldnt be an Evil Dead game without the ability to make fun of your enemies), there are some trademark moves such as the trusty boomstick-over-the-shoulder move.

Unfortunatly the game does have some bad points. You'll constantly be surrounded by buildings and doors but you'll very rarely be able to go inside without blasting a hole in the wall or finding a keycard (just so you can go kill the billion deadites that are waiting for you inside). And the game has some flaws in the logic department, too. For example, on one level you have to get inside a building via a big glass door - and you can smash the glass yet you cant go through it unless you actually open the door with the key card, despite the fact theres a massive gaping hole you could easily step through. And also, i imagine Ash to be the type of guy who likes to keep clean - so why has he been wearing the same outfit for 3 movies and 2 video games? And, more to the point, why was it ripped in all the exact same places BEFORE he even goes into battle? And why hasnt he had a replacement hand yet? The producers seem determined to stick to the 'movie' ash in term of design but, considering the comical humour of the game, i guess it can be forgiven.

Overall, its tiny flaws aside, this is a game that any Evil Dead fan will love (despite what several website reviews might say) so long as you dont mind the 'serious horror' of the original movie being chucked out of the window for the slapstick style of its sequels. 5 stars.


Cool...   February 22, 2004
Is not the game of the years but is a cool game! B+


Ash Is Back.   January 30, 2004
The story of the game starts off with Ash telling a story about how "it all started". This time what that means is that a pretty reporter and a kook archeologist play parts of the Book of the Dead live over the air causing the Evil Dead to return and turn Dearborn, Michigan into a city full of deadites. Ash has to hack his way through the city and through time to retrieve a summoning stone and prevent the queen bee from taking over the world. All in a day's work for the world's best and favorite S-Mart employee.

The graphics on the game are fairly good, though there are a few times (such as in the forest during the Civil War and in the tunnels on the last level) that things turn a little grainy and very dark, making it difficult to see and fight. The sound and music is pretty cool and since Bruce Campbell provided all his own voice work it makes the game that much more fun. Through the course of the game, you sometimes have to be very strategic because you might be low on life, but you'll never run out of ammo--once you find the chainsaw in the first level, you'll always have a choice of at least two weapons: shovel, sword, rifle, gattling gun, etc.

My brother and I played this game back and forth for about two weeks before we were each finally able to meet it. More experienced gamers can probably beat it in less time. Whatever the case, it's a lot of fun. Evil Dead fans will love it and it's one of the best zombie games on the market and for the fairly inexpensive price, you can't go wrong.