GameSpy.com - E3 2002 Coverage

Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomsticks (Xbox / PS2)
Bruce Campbell might not have much of a movie career but he'll always have Evil Dead games.
By Peter Suciu | May 22, 2002

Game Stats

Platform: PS2

Game Type: Action
Developer: VIS Interactive
Publisher: THQ
Release Date: 2003

All Screenshots...

Get ready to gas up the chainsaw because Evil Dead are on the loose again and Ash will have to battle another spawn of creatures that just won't seem to stay dead! VIS Interactive is developing the next title that features our zombie-killing friend: Evil Dead: Fistful of Boomsticks. Scheduled for release early next year, series creators Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert and Bruce Campbell will be back to once again voice the original bad Ash! Expect plenty of shovels, chainsaws, gatling guns and boomsticks, along with the film series' patented campy humor.

Again, Ash the chainsaw-handed hero will have to save the town of Dearborn from the influence of the infamous Necromonicon ex Mortis -- "The Book of the Dead." As with the film Army of Evil, Ash will also do a little bit of the time traveling as he heads to different periods of time including colonial America and the era during the American Civil War, complete with some slight variations on the town of Dearborn. This newest addition promises to continue the saga of the Necronomicon and remain fully faithful to the films and previous games.

Look forward to the same type of action, gore, and suspense, and as we mentioned, that b-movie style humor that only Evil Dead can supply. There will be hordes of deadites, as well as other enemies to battle. In addition to his chainsaw arm, Ash will be able to conduct spells and use a variety of weapons. Anticipate a very high body count when this game arrives sometime early next year.

In development for some time, yet still with a way to go before its release, the previewable version that THQ unveiled to the press is looking quite impressive. Evil Dead: Fistful of Boomsticks will be on hand for both the Xbox and PlayStation 2, and as a result you can imagine that this title will deliver a diverse number of impressive environments. One notable point is that the levels in the game are remarkably large with plenty of opportunities for monsters to run wild, and the suburban settings make a suitable backdrop for taking on these new armies of undead minions. Developer VIS is hard at work to make for a robust game where you'll truly have to battle a large contingent of evil.

With more than 50 enemies on screen at a time, and the ability to wield two weapons simultaneously, Ash will once again be quite the hero -- and will certainly be filled with his notorious one-liners. Obviously, these rotting masses of evil aren't exactly the quickest moving of opponents, but with dozens coming at you at one time you should expect some rather tense moments. At any rate, this won't be a kid-friendly game, and you can expect the streets of Dearborn to run red with blood. Evil Dead: Fistful of Boomsticks is sure to garner a "mature" rating.

On the whole, this latest addition to the Evil Dead series looks like it will stay true to the previous films and games. Its staple over-the-top humor and cutting-edge graphics should provide enough action and puzzles to keep fans more than satisfied. Finally, with Bruce Campbell on board once again, this title seems like it can't miss. About the only losers might be GameCube owners; this title has only been announced for the PS2 and Xbox thus far. While it isn't a killer-app for either system, it is looking to be one of those "must-have" titles that'll work on so many levels. •