Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Evil Dead delivers a tense and methodical gameplay experience by placing you in the shoes of Ash, navigating an overhead, top-down view of the infamous cabin. Your primary objective is to defend against the creeping green shroud of evil that seeps in through windows and doors. Each entry point is represented by simple white or dotted lines, and your success hinges on closing these portals before your friends—Linda, Cheryl, Shelly, and Scotty—fall victim and transform into grotesque mutants.

As you patrol the cabin, you’ll encounter a dynamic item system where weapons like hatchets, shovels, and swords intermittently spawn in random locations. Timing and map awareness are crucial: pick up a weapon just as a mutated arm or a full-fledged evil spirit materializes, or you risk being overwhelmed. Defeating these foes awards points, and the more elaborate the enemy—think disembodied limbs or swirling ghost forms—the higher the reward. This scoring mechanic keeps you moving, encouraging quick decision-making in the face of escalating threats.

Your health is tracked numerically, starting at 10,000, and each hit you sustain chips away at that total. Unlike many arcade-style titles, The Evil Dead emphasizes strategic defense as much as offense. Should your health drop to zero, the game ends immediately, raising the stakes of each encounter. Ultimately, you must rack up enough points to summon the Book of the Dead, dash to the fireplace, and toss it into the flames—your only path to victory.

Graphics

The game’s graphics employ a minimalist, plan-view aesthetic that mirrors a simple architectural blueprint of the cabin interior. Doors and windows are represented by clean, geometric lines that disappear and reappear as they open and close—an elegant solution that keeps the focus on gameplay clarity. Although the presentation may seem dated by modern standards, it effectively conveys every necessary detail without unnecessary visual clutter.

Despite the simplicity, small flourishes add atmosphere. The porch swing gently sways in the breeze, the fireplace flickers with realistic flame animations, and the twin beds in the bedroom give the environment a lived-in feel. These touches, though subtle, evoke the original movie setting and make each room feel distinct. Enemy sprites—whether mutant limbs or spectral shapes—are rendered in contrasting green hues that pop against the muted browns and grays of the cabin.

Animation is intentionally sparse but impactful. When you dispatch a mutant, you’ll often see it split into various body parts that scatter across the floor before disappearing. This gruesome detail reinforces the horror theme and rewards you with satisfying visual feedback for your efforts. All told, the graphics strike a balance between functional clarity and the eerie ambiance that defines the Evil Dead franchise.

Story

True to its inspiration, The Evil Dead adapts the 1981 horror film’s chilling premise: an isolated cabin in the woods and an unsuspecting group of friends who accidentally unleash malevolent forces. Playing as Ash, you pick up the story at the moment the evil shroud begins to creep through windows and doors, threatening to possess your companions. This setup instantly injects tension into every moment of gameplay.

While there is no spoken dialogue or cutscenes, the narrative unfolds through environmental cues and the relentless behavior of the green shroud. Each window that opens on its own, each room you clear, and each creature you vanquish reinforces the sense that this is a living, breathing threat. The absence of text-heavy exposition keeps you on edge—there’s no respite, only the ongoing battle to save your friends and yourself.

The ultimate goal—conjuring and destroying the Book of the Dead—ties back directly to the film’s lore. Scoring enough points to summon the Book transforms the gameplay loop into a race against time: will you manage your resources, health, and positioning well enough to end the curse, or will you be overwhelmed by the growing tide of evil? It’s a fitting finale that honors the source material and delivers a satisfying payoff.

Overall Experience

The Evil Dead stands out as an engaging blend of strategy, horror, and arcade action. Its straightforward controls and clear visual design make it accessible to players of all skill levels, while the escalating difficulty ensures that veterans will find a worthy challenge. Each playthrough feels urgent and unpredictable, thanks to random weapon spawns and the shroud’s stealthy incursions.

The game’s atmosphere is its greatest strength. The sparse but evocative graphics, combined with the relentless advance of evil, create a pervasive sense of dread. You’ll find yourself constantly scanning every room, anticipating windows to burst open and monsters to emerge. This tension is precisely what fans of the Evil Dead franchise crave, making each session memorable.

For potential buyers seeking a compact yet intense horror experience, The Evil Dead delivers. It captures the spirit of the film without relying on heavy narrative or complex mechanics, focusing instead on a core loop of defense, combat, and point-driven progression. Whether you’re a die-hard Ash Williams fan or a newcomer intrigued by classic horror games, this title offers a satisfyingly eerie journey into the heart of the woods.