Debuting last night, Geoff Keighley's annual Game Awards showcase brought with it a number of huge reveals, including showing off the first-ever gameplay of Turtle Rock Studio's Back 4 Blood and teasing the next entry in the Mass Effect series. Among these reveals was the newest IP from the team behind the Shadow Warrior games, with Flying Wild Hog announcing Evil West through a high-octane trailer.
Slated to debut at an as of yet unannounced date next year, the title appears to be a peculiar mix of the Western genre, dark fantasy, and an action-packed monster horror. Taking place in the American Frontier, the game is said to feature a "weird wild west universe" and will be playable alone or with a friend in co-op on the PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
The cinematic reveal showcases a lone protagonist - that Flying Wild Hog later confirmed is called Jesse Rentier - navigating a desolate Western town. Suddenly, day shifts to night, and the seemingly barren ghost town erupts to life, as monstrous vampires breakthrough nearby doors, windows, and back alleys. Rentier is seemingly unphased, however, taking down the ghoulish creatures with guns, gadgets, and more. The take away from the action appears to be that Evil West will feature tons of imaginative weaponry, including a wrist-mounted device that can fashion itself into a triple-bladed claw and a powerful brass knuckle.
The trailer caps off showing some of the different vampire types players will encounter, including winged, bat-like creatures, tougher, spiked foes, and floating enemies. It also gives a small feel for some of the game's locations, with Rentier cascading into an eerie crypt during the reveal's final moments. As for those wondering what the game will actually be about, Flying Wild Hog has them covered, with a synopsis beneath the game's trailer revealing tons of new information about the new IP's narrative and lore.
According to the summary, Evil West sees players assuming the role of one of the last agents in a society of vampire hunters, vowing to rid the world of the undead monstrosities that stalk the American Frontier. The devs claim the game will feature a "narrative-driven" campaign, filled with high-octane combat and tons of upgrades to acquire. It looks to be a lot of fun and an ambitious next title for the studio following its work on the Shadow Warrior franchise. Speaking of which, Shadow Warrior 3 is also slated for next year, bringing the Ninja-focused series back to the forefront with another wacky, over-the-top entry. With both games on their way very soon, it's clear Flying Wild Hog has a big year ahead of it.
Evil West is coming to PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X in 2021.