KMC Forums - Evolve

So far, this games a blast. Yesterday marks the first time I played a game for almost 12 hours straight in my entire (short) adult life (22).

I'll start off with the bad. First off, the game seems a little light on content. At launch, it will have 4 game modes (two variants of each, which doesn't add much), 8 playable unique characters (4 more in DLC), 3 playable monsters (1 more in DLC), and 12+ maps.

The large amount of maps doesn't matter. None of the existing maps are unique in any notable way, so they all kind of blend together. It really may as well be 4 maps for all the difference it makes.

3 or 4 playable monsters might get old kind of quickly. The overall dynamic of each map doesn't change. At level 1, its at a disadvantage and would get rocked if it tried to fight the hunters. Level 2 is more of a toss up, but the monster can win if its clever. The monster runs and gets hunted across map in the beginning of each map until it gets to level 3. At level 3, it doesn't take much skill to slaughter the hunters.

The only thing that makes the hunt different is the monsters. They all evade and play a little differently, so tracking them is a little different for the hunters too. The same 4 monsters might get old.

The small character pool to pick from and lack of customization also saps the experience with the hunters of choice. You pick your role, and your role does the same thing every match. I do like the idea of archetype hunters with their own roles to play, but you should at least let people pick their own load outs and tech. A customizable character with a big tech pool would have gone a long way.

Also, for me, I didn't really enjoy playing the monster. From what I've heard though, this is unique to me. Ive met people who enjoy playing the monster more than the hunters, and they played the monster with me hunting for like 10 games straight. I've also met people with no real preference.

Now for the good. The game is a ton of fun. I did say earlier that it could get tedious, but after almost 12 hours of playing with a friend yesterday, I was still just as excited to play some more when I woke up today as I was yesterday.

I only have hunt mode available, but I've loved every match so far. I have had some epic moments. The kraken is powerful monster, and actually induced fear a few times when it reached level 3 and my group waited with traps ready at the power generators for it to show. Its faster than the goliath, fly's around, and has a great assortment of abilities.

The dynamic weather system also adds a good amount of variability to each game. I told you before that none of the maps really stand out. They're designs and textures don't vary. Only the layout does. The weather system, on the other hand, randomly added light snow and frosty surroundings to full blown blizzards, dense foggy areas to compliment dead trees, sprinkles of rain to absolute downpours, (etc...). The dynamic rain gave each the maps a completely different feel, and made the world feel more real.

I also ragged on the archetype characters earlier, despite the fact that I actually like them. Each has their own role to play, and each character within each archetype plays their roles completely differently. For example, the two medics I played with. One had a med gun to heal the team. This came in useful during quiet moments to get the team back up to full functionality. They also had a slow semi-auto sniper. and a tranq that slows monster movement. The other one couldn't really heal the team, but he had a lazarus gun that allows him to bring anyone back from the dead. His sniper was also a lot more rapid in its firing.

The trackers also serve as another example. One hunter has a dog that sniffs out the monster and you follow it around map. The other puts down little beacons anywhere around the map that tracks the monster if it walks within a certain radius. The other one has a tracking dart gun which he uses to shoot wild life. The monster then eats the wild life and has the tracker in him for a set time showing you were he goes.

The variability between each character makes each one work differently, and stand out. They also all have their own distinct personalities and dialogue that wouldn't be possible with customized characters

As for the monster, I didn't spend too much time with him. I played as the monster 3 times, and won every time. That should give you an idea of how powerful they are if you play smartly. For example, the best monster players make heavy use of stealth mode. That got me out of some stick spots, and got me some brutal kills. It also served to make the most tense games when I was playing as a hunter and the monster player would seemingly disappear despite really being in close proximity to me.

Still, the monster isn't for me. I enjoy the co-op of the hunters too much. This is all up to preference. Like I said, one dude I encountered only played monsters, and he was a beast with his unlocked kraken. Theres a video below of how to play a good monster.

Overall, it's good enough for a buy, for me. For anyone else though, I'd recommend you wait till a little closer to release to hear reviews if you cant play the beta now and form your own opinion. Have it on preorder just incase though (you get the behemoth monster for free if you preorder).

Also, from what I've heard, you get to keep your unlocks from this beta.

Here are some good tips too.

quote:
Val destroys Kraken (Just keep him tranqued, higher priority than even weak spots.)

Hunters waste their jet pack fuel way too much, save it for dodging (not flying) -double space saves lives. Also dodge before he attacks, not as he attacks.

Kill wildlife and starve him (especially useful against Kraken who has trouble eating on the run), they decompose and are only worth 1 no matter how big. Wildlife on a map is finite.

Don't shoot the monster trying to run away and you are alone unless it's keeping him from eating or it's health exposed. Shooting the monster regens his abilities and mobility faster. Or unless oyu have the bullets slow monster perk (ridiculously op if you get it, better than the 35% damage buff).

Taking the time to get buffs as a hunter is worth it. Most buffs help out the hunters far more than they help out the monster.

Don't shoot the monster if you are close and the rest of the group is catching up to not scare him away, priority is dome unless he has full armor (he want's to fight, stage 2 or 3) if he has armor save dome until armor is about 75% or you think you have him doming a full armored stage 2 Goliath is hilariously bad. You get a feel for when he wants to run after a while

If you have an orbital strike and he is evolving, drop that shit asap. (in view).

Maggie needs to put the traps as far away from each other as possible and be sprinting back and forth between monster sides. Maggie should rarely be doing damage, traps both prevent damage and help others deal damage. Medic should never be out in front, I don't care how good you personally are at tracking.

Trapper +1 other should be trying to cut it off while the other two drive it, you all shouldn't be more than 100 meters from each other.

All but medic should have movement speed, I'd say defense for medic. Support Hank needs to use shield religiously. Air strike> shield > Stealth> Damage, pop stealth before you do damage, Use it offensively, it helps, using it defensively against a good monster is a waste. -And yes, I know while shooting it reveals you, but it's not necessarily for you.

Hyde is a bad-ass, kill everything with toxic grenades and watch the hippies and monster squirm. I've starved a monster to death before, he couldn't get out of stage 2 (Kraken).

People think they are spreading out enough during a fight, they are not. You should be more than a jet pack's fuel away from each other in a dome fight but in sight of each other. Find out the max range of Val's heal.

Lazarus sucks against good monsters.

Assault try and take a blow before popping shield- it baits a bit better and its a blow someone else didn't take.

Markov isn't as good against good Goliath players because they can easily kill his mines with two of their abilities, flame and rock throw. Best to be dropping the mines after he flame breaths. (Spam that shit).

Learn what the monster's "sniff" sound sounds like from the hunter's side. You can track him in stealth. At closer ranges.

Same thing with your jetpacks, use them as little as possible as the monster can hear them from a mile off., even outside of sniff range - you should be saving them for dodge anyway, or if you can get a good double space burst to cover distance if you are the trapper.

Once again Movement speed > all other perks

Don't jump in front of support as he is shielding someone taking damage, flank around to get a position, no matter how badly you want to get to the monster. Same goes for the healing.

If you are being shielded, try and not move around (counter intuitive, I know) use the time to regen your jetpack and be ready to dodge when the shield is down. -esp the medic.

You DON'T need to fight the monster where he wants to fight,if he gets full armor at stage 2, it's often better to track him "gently", far enough away where you are at the advantage, close enough that if he evolves you can close the distance. Kill wildlife along the way. Isn't so true about a stage 1 full armor.