The Evil Dead makes a killer first impression, but I’m worried about all the production and survival crap

Explaining what kind of game The Evil Dead is will prove challenging. After spending a few hours poring over the – apparently very divisive – Steam Early Access release, I don’t think I’m quite sure of the answer yet. I can tell you, though, I just can’t stop playing it.

No Rest for the Wicked is a new game from Moon Studios; the studio behind the Ori games. Not only is this the first time the team has launched into Early Access, but it’s also not a platformer that tugs at your heartstrings every few minutes. It’s a punishing action RPG with demanding combat set in a brutal world that adds a new perspective to the team’s masterful artistry.

This introduction is simple, but when you actually Give the game a try and you’ll find there’s a lot that isn’t covered. If you hear the word ARPG and see a screenshot of No Rest for the Wicked, you might think it’s an ARPG similar to Diablo. Then, you see it in action, and “soul” becomes a more appropriate descriptor. Stick with it long enough, and the crafting and survival elements start to become more prominent.

Now that I’ve played the game, I understand why it might be difficult to convey the early style of this game. The most interesting thing about No Rest for the Wicked is how it blends different genres while choosing how committed to any one of them is.

Yes, the isometric perspective initially gives it a Diablo-like feel, but it has little in common with similar loot-driven games. Combat is stamina-based, relying on a careful dance of dodging, rolling, parrying, and parrying without leaving your character tired and staggering—all Souls-like staples. What about those survival game elements? Well, they work in a variety of ways, too.

The game wants you to learn recipes, which are the methods you use to craft everything from healing and enhancement items to weapons and armor. Dig a little deeper and more survival game aspects become apparent, as you’ll build a home and decorate it, among other things. It was so much fun to find the recipe for a chair shortly after barely surviving a fight with a crazy bird-like creature.

This is really the core question that bothers me. I’ve never been a fan of survival games, nor their sticks and stones mechanics. Thankfully, they’re not that prominent in The Bad Guys , but you can’t avoid them either. If you want a lot of healing items, you’ll want to spend some time looking for mushrooms and gathering herbs. You need to cut down trees and mine veins to obtain weapons and equipment upgrade materials.

I’m not a big believer in the way all of this changes the flow of combat and exploration, and I can already tell you that having to stop what you’re doing to farm to craft materials is going to get tiresome. Fixed cameras were another sticking point for me in those early days. Enemies are numerous and combat doesn’t leave much room for error.Combine it with gaming Very

It’s still early, though, so we’ll see if reaching the first major town introduces some new systems that might make up for these early advantages. Until then, I’ll appreciate and enjoy the look, move, sound, and feel of “The Bad Guys.”

The Evil Dead is now available in Early Access on PC (Steam).