AMID EVIL

Went into this expecting more melee. This is more of a classic boomer shooter. Boomer shooters aren't my cup of tea.

The best way to discribe amid evil is "arcane doom" a love letter to heretic and hexen it's the complete package a must play IMO to everyone involved with making amid evil thank you.

Amid Evil is a vibrant, ferocious celebration of 1990s fantasy shooters—an unapologetic revival of the lightning-fast gameplay pioneered by titles like Heretic, Hexen, and early Quake—yet polished with modern technology and a distinctive artistic identity. Developed by Indefatigable and published by New Blood Interactive, the game places you in the role of the Champion, a chosen warrior who emerges from the Black Labyrinth to reclaim corrupted realms from an ancient, all-consuming evil. The story is intentionally minimalistic, functioning more as mythic framing than narrative centerpiece, but it adds just enough atmosphere to justify the game’s surreal worlds and relentless action. The core appeal of Amid Evil lies in its combat and level design. Instead of linear corridors and modern shooter conventions, each chapter unfolds as a self-contained episode with expansive, exploratory maps filled with secrets, verticality, and optional side paths. Progress relies on old-school principles: colored keys, hidden alcoves, moving platforms, puzzle-like traversal, and arenas that erupt into wild combat encounters. The level layouts encourage curiosity, rewarding players who take time to seek out hidden areas or experiment with alternate routes. Each of the seven episodes presents its own architecture and enemy roster, ranging from moonlit temples to crystalline voids and murky cosmic structures, creating a steady rhythm of visual and mechanical discovery. Weapons are the heart of the experience, and Amid Evil fully embraces magical absurdity over realism. The arsenal includes items like an axe that cleaves through foes with supernatural force, a trident that launches explosive waves of energy, a mace that channels lightning, and the delightfully bizarre Star of Torment, which fires crystalline projectiles capable of pinning enemies to walls. Every weapon feels distinct, weighty, and capable of devastating impact. The game deepens this satisfaction with “Soul Mode,” a temporary power state activated by collecting souls from defeated enemies. When active, every weapon transforms into an overcharged version of itself, often turning combat into an intense, kaleidoscopic spectacle. This mechanic encourages aggressive play and careful resource management, creating a loop that rewards both precision and risk-taking. Visually, Amid Evil achieves a unique balance between retro aesthetic and modern technical sophistication. Though built to evoke low-poly textures and chunky geometry reminiscent of 90s shooters, the underlying Unreal Engine 4 framework allows for dynamic lighting, reflective surfaces, ethereal particle effects, and water reflections that give the game a surprisingly contemporary sheen. The result is a world that feels nostalgic without being dated, and surreal without sacrificing readability. Complementing the visuals is an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack by Andrew Hulshult, whose blend of ambient tension and explosive battle themes amplifies the game’s momentum. Each combat encounter feels heightened by the sound design, as magical blasts echo across caverns and monstrous roars punctuate the chaos. Despite its many strengths, Amid Evil is not without flaws. Some platforming sections can feel awkward or imprecise, especially when jumping between narrow walkways or emerging from deep water. The occasional level leans too heavily on long corridors or simplistic enemy placement, diluting the creativity seen elsewhere. While the overall design is consistently strong, certain realms simply shine more than others, making the experience slightly uneven. The lack of a deep narrative may also leave story-driven players wanting more, though this is largely by design: the game prioritizes atmosphere and intensity over exposition. Another consideration is the game’s pace. Amid Evil demands constant movement, reflex-oriented combat, and a willingness to juggle multiple weapons and enemy types at once. For players seeking tactical cover-shooting or slower, more methodical encounters, the relentless speed may feel overwhelming. Conversely, for those who long for purity in arcade-style FPS action—fluid strafing, circle-strafing bosses, and the mastery of weapon cycling—Amid Evil offers one of the genre’s most satisfying modern interpretations. Replay value is enhanced by multiple difficulty modes, abundant secrets, and optional challenges. Completionists will find plenty to uncover across its sprawling maps, and players who enjoy refining their skills will appreciate the brisk, aggressive gameplay loop. Technical performance is excellent across most systems, and the optional ray-traced visual mode provides a striking demonstration of how classic aesthetics can benefit from modern rendering techniques. Ultimately, Amid Evil succeeds because it understands exactly what it wants to be: a fast, fantastical, skill-driven FPS that honors the energy of its inspirations while shaping that legacy into something new. It is a tribute to the era of raw, imaginative shooters, yet executed with enough care and artistry to stand proudly on its own. For fans of retro-inspired FPS design, magical weaponry, and high-intensity combat, Amid Evil delivers a thrilling, atmospheric journey through corrupted realms that rarely loses momentum. It is loud, stylish, challenging, and deeply satisfying—one of the most accomplished modern revivals of the classic shooter formula. Rating: 9/10

i like the art style but the levels are just confusing sometimes and the lore is kind of absent. i wanted to like this game but for the 5h i played i just didn't know what to do and i just killed random guys while going back and forth in random levels. it is not for me so i will not recommend it

overall quite fun with some very inventive weapons, but some of the difficulty spikes, particularly with the bosses were insane

Genuinely incredibly boring and I say that as someone who beat Hexen on PS1.

Amid Evil is just... pure fun.