E.V.O.: Search for Eden (1992)

I didn’t realize how close I was to the end after my last status update. What a disappointing play through. It wasn't at all what I expected or thought it would be, given how it was described in various reviews and videos out there.

For starters, I went into it thinking there would be some cool customization you could mess around with and evolve into various fun things. This isn't true at all. Instead, you're given a list of parts to choose from and the game is all about optimization rather than customization. Each era only has one or two right answers, otherwise you're crushed.

I don't even know how to describe the gameplay. You go through very short, horizontal stages, sometimes with miniscule amounts of platforming. Eventually it gets hard to progress, you find an ideal spot, and you just grind points until you become the thing it wants you to become.

Every few stages, you come across a bullshit boss with a stupid hit box that can effortlessly stun lock you, you die repeatedly until you get lucky, you move on. Thank goodness for save states because I'm not about to waste even more time.

Overall, it's a dumb story, the graphics aren't great, the music is dull and repetitive to the point of annoyance, controls are stiff and agonizing in combat, and the game is boring. I wish it wasn't so hyped because I would’ve been fine skipping it.

Preliminary: Really neat concept, and I am enjoying the grind aspect, but I do wish the gameplay was a bit stronger. Like the enemy mechanics and level designs just feel blah, with some enemies being irritating.

Hmmm I really like the concept and want to make it out of the fish levels since I think thajt's what's frustrating: the fish level mechanics. But it's definitely getting dry. And wow this boss is terribly hard even with mostly upgraded evolutions. I am finally on the land part though. H[pefully this will get me to stick with it, we shall see. Otherwise a 2 or 3 for the concept/Look/good Sound and move on.

Ugh yea this really should be a 2 star. The sprite slowdown is increasing and the jump is clunky and the bosses are overly hard and yea... I really need to learn to be better about these situations... If I end up playing thist o the end just because the concept is neat and the music is good... Lol.

Ugh yea with the first dinosaurs it was my sign to move on. Now the real questino is whether to give a 3 or a 2...

Look: 7.5/10 The actual levels weren't anything spectacular but lots of different neat concepts and sprites and areas/settings, plus the nice world maps... still overall lackluster compared to what it could've been on the SNES

Sound: 8/10

Play: 6.5/10 Some awful controls and mechanics for real, I liked the grinds/RPG mixed with the action game tho (and indeed, that plus the level-completionism of the world map almost put me in a loop that would've gotten me to played through the game)

Feel: 7.5/10 The fun just wasn't there. But the idea/concept was!

Attachment: 7/10 One I will just remember/read about more than actually replay heh. I guess it earned its 3 ugh seems the 90s will be the era of countless 3s rather than countless 2s

Overall: 7.3/10

Beat the game. I ended up being some kind of predator rhino; big, slow, hard to kill and sharp teeth. I found the entire game boring and barely managed to stick with it to the end. Each chapter would play out the same; find a good spot to grind, max out evolutions, skip most of the levels because almost all of them are tiny with minimal challenge, and then struggle with the boss. I had trouble with the bosses until I learned you can de evolve one thing in the middle of the fight to get back to full health, and evolve it back for another heal. Had to check a walkthrough for the maze when you are a pterodactyl; that was by far the worst aspect of the game.

Overall poor game that I did not particularly enjoy.

This is what spore should have been, except made in 1992!

What can I say? You start off as a little guppy, and with a little hard work and determination you can evolve and become anything you want to be! A killer whale? A shark? An Alligator? A Dragon? A bear? A cheetah? A pterodactyl? Even a human! Survival of the fittest is the rule of the land. Eat the delicious meat of your enemies and use your evolution points on better teeth, stronger legs/arms, better jumping ability, more body mass, etc etc.

One of the best games on the SNES system. It really shines, especially if you had a chance to play it when you were a kid. This is just one of those games that sparks the imagination like that. The game refuses to get technical and complicated. It's all about being an awesome dragon jumping through the air and biting the boss that is 3 times your size until he turns into giant ham hocks.