The makers of Candy Crush and other hit games have been churning out new titles faster than you can say, “That’s the same thing as last time!” But, now that most gamers have grown tired of matching three or more things in a row and watching them disappear, along with their lives, we’ve started seeing some cool variations on the format. One of those is the evolution of survival and strategy games, both of which have become increasingly popular over the past year. Another sub-category we’re starting to see a lot more of is burning games. Titles like In This Corner Of The World, Where The Flames Still Rage, and now Burning Evolved bring an interesting twist to games about fire. So read on for our review of this new release from Super Awesome Hyper COOL Developers – okay, maybe not quite that long…
What is Burning Evolved?
Burning Evolved is a survival game in which you must race against the clock to extinguish a raging inferno. You’ll have to use your wits, quick reflexes, and some strategic thinking if you want to survive. Each game is broken into three stages. The first is your preparation phase, where you’ll select your location and acquire the equipment and materials you’ll need to douse the fire. Next is the burning phase, where you must use your items to put out the flames as quickly as possible. Finally, there’s the cooldown phase, where you deal with the consequences of your actions. There are also mini-games sprinkled throughout each level, but we’ll get to those in a bit.
The Basics
This game is incredibly simple to learn and play, even for casual gamers. It features the same type of graphics and gameplay as Super Awesome Hyper COOL Developers’ other titles, such as In This Corner of the World and Where the Flames Still Rage. In this game, the user will see a 3D environment in the background while the action takes place on a 2D plane. The game includes both a menu and a story mode. The menu will allow you to choose the level you’d like to play, as well as tweak certain game settings. The story mode allows you to play through all of the levels one at a time. However, it also has a “quick play” option that allows you to jump straight into levels without having to complete the story first.
Gameplay
In each level, you’ll have a set amount of time to put out the fire. You’ll need to use your available resources to your best advantage if you want to survive. You can pick up and use items and tools lying about. But, you also have to be careful not to get too close to the flames, as you’ll take damage if you do. Items that you pick up or find can be used in a variety of ways. You can use items to put out the fire, create a barrier, or even use them to attack the fire. Be careful, though, as the fire might change its nature based on the items you use. For example, water will put out a fire but will create steam. However, if you use sand, it will turn the fire into dust and remove it completely. You can earn “bennies” by completing mini-games. You can also earn them by collecting cards throughout the levels. Bennies allow you to boost your abilities, add extra time to the clock, or even change the weather in the area.
The Good
One of the best things about this game is how simple yet challenging it is. You really feel like you’re in a race against the clock, as you try to put out the fire before you run out of time. But, it’s not so easy that you’ll complete each level on your first try. This is something that casual gamers as well as more serious gamers will enjoy. The graphics and sound effects are well done, and the game is fun to play. It also has a fair amount of replayability, as there are four different difficulty settings and a number of different items and mini-games you can use while playing.
The Bad
While the gameplay is good, the controls could use some work. In certain situations, such as when you have to be very quick, it’s difficult to move your character around. It also would be nice if you could skip certain mini-games that appear throughout the levels. Sometimes, they’re just not worth the time and effort. Also, this game is not available on PC. The controls are better suited to touchscreen devices like tablets and mobile phones.
Bottom line
Overall, Burning Evolved is a simple but challenging game. It’s easy enough for casual gamers to pick up and enjoy, but it also has enough challenge for those who prefer more complex games. The graphics and sound effects are well done, and the gameplay is fun. It also has a fair amount of replayability, as there are several different levels and difficulty settings. So, whether you’re looking for a new game to play on your phone or tablet or you want a new challenge for your PC, this is one game you don’t want to miss.
