Evil Timefall Review: Old-School FPS Meets Tactical Combat

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Evil Timefall describes itself as a hardcore FPS where players must face waves of medieval evil in a throwback, fast-paced shooter format. While that pitch may excite fans of old-school FPS action, the execution here blends genres in a way that rarely works. Here’s how the game holds up based on my playthrough.

Level Design and Variety

The game features only three levels, and unfortunately, they lack distinction. The same enemy types, layouts, and environmental assets are repeated, making the experience feel stale far too quickly.

Gameplay Mechanics and Genre Mismatch

Evil Timefall tries to merge tactical realism with retro shooter speed—a challenging fusion. The inclusion of manual reload mechanics, which make sense in slower, realistic shooters, feels jarring and unnecessary here. Movement and shooting feel stiff and deliberate, which clashes with the fantasy theme and old-school style it’s aiming for.

User Interface Limitations

The user interface is barebones. There are no options to remap controls or adjust audio settings, which is a frustrating oversight in a modern game, even for one that mimics retro styling.

Weapon System and Variety

Weapon variety is minimal. Players only have access to two weapons: a pistol and a machine gun (resembling an AK-47). While upgrades are available using gold earned in levels, the core mechanics don’t evolve much throughout the experience.

Enemy Design and Behavior

Despite having a dozen enemy models, they fall into just two behavior categories: archers and melee brutes. The demons, swordsmen, and other enemies look different, but all act the same. This repetitive combat loop severely reduces engagement after the first level.

Damage Mechanics and Realism

The game lacks any kind of damage zones. Whether you shoot an enemy in the head or the body, the result is the same. This may be forgivable in a pure retro shooter, but when combined with elements of realism, it creates a confusing and inconsistent experience.

Visual Feedback and Game Bugs

The red screen overlay indicating damage is overbearing and blocks your view of approaching threats. There are also small bugs, like incorrect grammar in item pickups (“ammo taking”) and floating enemies during melee attack animations. Melee enemies also deal damage immediately when their animation starts, regardless of distance, which feels unfair.