PGC NEWS

This review of Evil Genome is based on a playthrough supported by Crystal Depths Studio. The game was played on PC.

The Chinese gaming industry is rapidly expanding its reach, with a growing focus on “offline” games. Among the rising indie developers is Crystal Depths Studio, the creators of Evil Genome. This game offers a glimpse into the potential of this burgeoning market, while also highlighting the challenges faced by newer studios. Is Evil Genome a worthy addition to your library, or a stumbling first step? Let’s delve in.

A Narrative Lacking Depth

Evil Genome unfortunately suffers from a predictable and clichéd narrative. The story revolves around an amnesiac protagonist who embarks on a journey of self-discovery. While this premise isn’t inherently bad, the execution falls short. The dialogue feels simplistic and often reveals plot points prematurely, leaving little room for intrigue. The linear progression further contributes to the narrative’s shortcomings, with the player simply moving from point A to point B, meeting NPCs along the way.

Gameplay Imbalance Hinders the Experience

While Evil Genome boasts a decent combat system, a diverse skill tree, a crafting system, and clear main/side quests, the gameplay feels unbalanced. The core combat is engaging, but other elements feel underdeveloped and ultimately detract from the overall experience.

Evil Genome – Gameplay

The main and side quests are repetitive and offer little reward beyond basic progression. The randomly generated equipment sold at save points feels largely inconsequential. The save point placement is erratic, sometimes overly abundant, other times scarce, which is frustrating given the game’s difficulty. The skill tree, divided into Gun, Sword, and Agility branches, is convoluted and poorly organized. Upgrading equipment also feels underwhelming due to the frequent acquisition of new gear, rendering previous upgrades obsolete. The crafting materials are plentiful and their purpose unclear, further diminishing the importance of this system.

Audio-Visual Dissonance

Evil Genome’s presentation is a mixed bag, with both the audio and visuals suffering from inconsistencies. While the character models and enemy designs are visually appealing, the environments are bland and lack detail, reminiscent of a mobile game rather than a PC title. The animations are stiff and awkward, and the environmental effects are basic and poorly implemented.

Evil Genome – Environment

The game’s soundtrack is equally jarring. The music quality fluctuates dramatically, ranging from well-composed tracks to low-quality audio clips. The sound effects are similarly inconsistent, with missing audio in some scenes and varying volumes in others. The voice acting is particularly problematic, sounding amateurish and often delivered in unconvincing accents.

Challenging Yet Engaging Combat

Despite its flaws, Evil Genome’s core gameplay loop holds promise. The side-scrolling combat, emphasizing lengthy combos, provides a challenging and rewarding experience. The game’s difficulty stems from its unique energy system, which governs all actions, from attacks to even basic movements like crouching. This system demands careful resource management and strategic play.

Evil Genome – Combat

The game’s difficulty ramps up significantly when facing multiple enemies, requiring players to master the diverse skill set. Each skill has its own specific use, encouraging experimentation and strategic thinking. Boss battles are frequent and demanding, often involving multiple stages and supporting enemies. This relentless challenge can be frustrating, but overcoming these encounters provides a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Evil Genome – Boss Battle

Conclusion: Potential Held Back by Execution

Evil Genome demonstrates potential, but its numerous flaws hold it back from being a truly enjoyable experience. The challenging combat and diverse skill system offer engaging gameplay, but the lackluster narrative, unbalanced mechanics, and inconsistent presentation ultimately detract from the overall experience. While the core gameplay loop is enjoyable, Evil Genome needs significant refinement to fully realize its potential.