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We don’t often get to indulge in a bit of werewolfing. Resident Evil: Village may well change that (well done Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood for sneaking in earlier), but there are undeniable joys in switching, at the touch of a button, from a boring human to a hulking lycanthrope, lolloping around forests and carving holes in enemies throats. You half-wonder why we don’t see more games where you play the werewolf. Perhaps we should blame Twilight. Whatever though, Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood is out now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5 and PC.
Developers Cyanide, hot off the heels of Call of Cthulhu and Blood Bowl 3, clearly know what they have, and are taking the wish-fulfilment to its fullest extension. You have three forms in Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood, and they are all fun in their own independent ways.
There’s the human form, the one that can stealthily takedown enemies without them noticing, clearing a room without having to bare a fang. In this form you can talk to allies, wield a crossbow for long-distance kills, and generally explore the vast techno-industrial complexes in the game.
Then there’s the wolf form. This is the nimblest of the bunch, and you can move from one end of a level to another in barely any time at all. You’re also able to slip into small vents, which run throughout the game. These create great moments where you can bypass much of the challenge, emerging into the next arena without even raising an eyebrow.
Finally, it’s the Garou or ‘Crinos’ form, and the real unit-seller. You can switch into this hulking werewolf at the touch of a button, and the game stops playing around with all that stealth stuff. Now you’re in full-blown combat mode, and Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood becomes an out-and-out combat game, similar to games like Prototype. You’re massively overpowered, and can empty rooms with a single swipe of your matted paw, so these sections feel great. There’s even three flavours of this werewolf, ‘Crinos’ form, as you can be agile, combat-oriented but slow, or enter into a Frenzy mode that neatly splatters the walls with your enemies’ entrails.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood is a fascinating hybrid of combat and stealth, not too dissimilar to Deus Ex and Dishonored, and you will have ample room to approach each arena in the manner of your choosing. It creates some nice mood-switches. You can find out how well it delivers on all this promise in our full review, which is out now.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood is out now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S and starts at £44.99 from the Xbox Store. There’s a Champion Of Gaia Edition available for £49.99 too – with that bringing various outfits, fur types, finishing moves and more to the game.
It’s also out on PS4, PS5 and PC through the Epic Games Store.
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Game Description:
A unique experience full of savage combat and mystical adventures, inspired by the famous role-playing game. You are Cahal, a powerful Garou who chose to go into exile after losing control of his destructive rage. On his quest for redemption and blood, Cahal plays a crucial role in the great war between the Garous and Endron, a powerful oil company that serves the Wyrm, whose destruction is ravaging the planet. He can transform into a wolf and a Crinos, a huge ferocious beast.