Geekatana Game Review: Evil Zone

I'm a big fan of 3d anime style fighting games such as Destrega, Psychic Force and Battle Arena Toshinden in the arcade. It's one of those easy to get into 3d none Tekken fighting games novice players like me can easily get into and enjoy. So when a game with a familiar premise like Evil Zone hits the ps1 console back in 1999 I knew I have to get a copy of the game.

Originally released as Eretzvaju in japan. Evil Zone is a 3d fighting game by Yukes which is best described as an amalgamation of Psychic Force and Destrega games. 

The game revolves around Danzaiver a superhero in the form of a japanese super sentai hero. He and nine other fighters are gathered across time and space to put a stop to Ihadurca which looks like your typical anime voluptuous female villain of the 80's. I can't help but get a Tenchi Muyo/Evangelion vibe from the cartoon opening.

The story mode plays like an anime series with each match unfolding like an episode with each character having a short narrations and picture stills the encounter before the match begin. There's even short dialogue between the two characters before and after the match. And yes one of the voice narration sounds like that Colonel from Metal Gear Solid.

A magical girl, a loli vampire, a bulky warrior with a big sword that isn't Guts, a bruiser type girl with tan skin and a possessed magic sword wielding high school girl are some of the ten characters of the game each pretty much showing their character anime tropes. 

The game is as an anime as fighting games can get. And each character has moves and special uniquely to their own character like Danzaiver calling forth an orbital satellite to shoot laser down from the sky much like the a sentai/metal hero.

I also like to add that for a PS1 game it has some of the most epic video game music put to game. And yes this could pretty well give Ryu and Guile's theme a run for its money. Just check out Setsuna's on the video below.

The graphics hasn't aged well but the gameplay and the dynamic angle of each attack makes up for it. You got to remember this came out back in 1999 by Yukes the company that eventually gone on to create Smackdown series. One can only imagine if this game is given the smackdown graphics treatment and remake for the PS4 console.

Sadly the english dubbing is badly done and feels clunky at best. The game could have easily gone for japanese with english subtitles in my opinion. Controls are too simple for hardcore players and mashing buttons can easily win you most of the matches except for the boss fight. The attack looks different for each characters but they are executed in the same manner. Same goes for grabs projectiles and what not.

Finishing each character story mode only unlocks you that characters alternate outfit. With one button for attack and one button to block theres really nothing in terms of combo aside from mashing buttons. It's fun to play and watch but not much strategy fighting wise. And the only reason to play through all the character story mode is to unlock Ihadurka as a playable character.

As badly as the english translation and how cliche a lot of the characters are though Evil Zone dynamic camera angles and game combat system eventually inspired games like Tech Romancer, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle, and the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm series. Dynamic camera angles would later be used by Yukes in their Smackdown games years later. It's decent game to play with your friends to spend some time.

Overall the game is pretty enough for a 3d anime style fighting game and the simple controls can easily be fixed with modern day technology. I'd probably give this game a much lower rating but it deserve a passing score for what it was trying to do. This game is a definite underrated game that needs a reboot or a sequel. If you own a PS1 I'd definitely suggest to give this one a try as this is a PS1 console only inclusive game.