EOE: Eve of Extinction

Publisher:
Eidos

Release Date:
03-01-2002

Genre:
Action / Adventure

ESRB Rating:
Teen

Description:
Things are not going well for Josh Calloway. Having found a job as a guinea pig at Wisdom Incorporated, a shadowy genetic engineering firm, he's now discovered that Wisdom's work goes way beyond designing mutant tomatoes. Specifically, they're producing a number of genetic superweapons, known as The Legacy, that are powered by (wait for it) human souls. If that wasn't bad enough news, the most powerful version of the Legacy to date (the eponymous Eve Of Extinction) happens to be powered by the soul of his recently abducted girlfriend. This is the cue for Josh to embark on an epic journey of free-roaming 3D action adventure mayhem, with only a Legacy to protect him.

Fortunately for Josh, the Legacy is an extremely versatile weapon, whose form can be changed by finding crystals that are dropped by the game's bosses. These crystals can transform the Legacy into (among other things) a double handed staff, a sword, a rather mean-looking axe, or even a crossbow, all of which will come in handy when fighting the enemies found in Eve Of Extinction. What's more, you can switch between these weapons in the middle of combination attacks, to wreak the maximum havoc on anyone foolish enough to cross your path.

If that's not enough destructive power for you, each of The Legacy's weapon modes comes with an extra elemental attack, showering fire, lightning, or worse on those around you, and it can even halt the flow of time, allowing you to deal out punishment with impunity. But wait, there's more! Yes, the Legacy's myriad modes are also required for non-violent purposes, such as reaching otherwise inaccessible areas, or solving the numerous puzzles that block your way. Yes sir, that's one versatile weapon.

The Legacy could easily be dismissed as nothing more than a gimmick, were it not for the seamless way that it has been integrated into the gameplay. The ability to change weapons whilst in the thick of battle introduces a tactical element to combat that most fighting games would kill for, and the puzzle-solving and exploration aspects should ensure that Eve of Extinction never becomes stale or repetitive.