I always suspected there was an ‘I’ in team
In a recent update on Turtle Rock Studio’s Evolve blog, it was confirmed that the asymmetrical four-versus-one shooter will have an offline mode available for those who’d prefer to play the game solo. This is great news for people with unreliable internet connections as well as those, myself included, with hectic schedules that don’t allow for extended multiplayer sessions.
Turtle Rock co-founder Chris Ashton was quoted as saying that being able to go solo “was always a part of the plan.” Ashton elaborates on this by saying, “We wanted to make sure anyone could play the whole game, including Evacuation, alone with or against the AI and it’s still fun.” Turtle Rock’s track record with competent AI teammates is pretty solid in my book, so I’m cautiously optimistic that this will also be the case in Evolve.
However, unlike Left 4 Dead’s single-player mode, Evolve‘s offline mode will allow you to switch between the different Hunters on your team at will. If you’re using a controller to play the game, the d-pad will be your quick-select: tap in one of four directions and you’ll instantly take control of a different Hunter. Ashton offers a brief example of this by presenting this scenario:
“Go on and set the traps, then switch over to Assault to press the attack. Then jump into Hank’s shoes and shield the medic. Beyond that, no more waiting for someone to come save you from the jaws of a MegaMouth (or some carnivorous plant you accidentally walked into). And no more sitting by, spectating, while waiting on the drop ship. It’s all you.”
While it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise, it’s still a relief to have official conformation that a single-player mode will be available at launch and that the game’s been designed around it from the very beginning. Some might think it pointless to offer an offline mode in an obviously multiplayer-centric title, but for a certain segment of the gaming populace, options like these make the difference between picking up the title a year later on sale or buying it day one.
