RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead Review (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, & PC)

Developer WayForward and publisher Boss Team Games are launching a series of 16-bit pixelated sidescrolling platformer titles. These all draw inspiration from some of the most iconic horror franchises of all time. To access the titles so far, you’ll need to download the RetroRealms Arcade first. It’s a 3D hub world currently hosting two arcade cabinets for RetroRealms: Halloween and RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead. All you need to do to play either game is approach the respective arcade cabinet in first-person and make a $25 purchase for each. Thereafter, you’ll be transported into the side scroller, where you’ll earn tickets you can use to unlock the diorama section in RetroRealms Arcade. Here, you’ll unlock your very own collection of memorabilia, which will be on display behind fancy glass cases.

By purchasing both games and the future upcoming ones to come, you’ll be able to crossover main characters. So, you can play as Michael Myers in RetroRealms: Halloween and then hop him over to RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead. The same applies to Ash Williams, who can cross between the two games. Each character has unique dialogue and story beats, too, effectively resulting in four campaigns. But you can also crossover DLC characters like Halloween’s Laurie Strode and Evil Dead’s Kelly Maxwell. As you can imagine, RetroRealms is a game changer, especially for fans of horror and the respective film franchises. Even then, we’ve scoured through the blood-soaked screens and razor-sharp platforming of the titles in the series. So, if you’re considering playing either game, then do check out our RetroRealms: Halloween review and RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead review below.

Rude Much?

Halloween and Ash Vs Evil Dead’s antagonists are the same. Still, the stories are slightly different. In the latter, you waste no time learning the characters involved. We find Ash Williams, the chainsaw and boomstick-wielding protagonist, sleeping. The Overlord rudely interrupts his sleep, demanding possession of the Necronomicon to execute dubious plans only God knows. But Ash refuses, which puts the Overlord in an awkward position that results in stealing the Necronomicon for himself. This triggers the rest of the game as Ash chases after the Overlord to the ends of the Earth, I suppose. But there’s a second dimension you gain access to as well, thanks to the Overlord’s clumsiness that led to dropping one of his eyeballs before taking flight. The eyeball, upon retrieving it, gives you the power to switch between the real world and the Nightmare Realm at will. 

Bit by Bit

Structurally, RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead has five chapters with a boss battle at the end. The chapters ramp up in difficulty as you progress. Moreover, each chapter gives you the opportunity to switch to the Nightmare Realm, where three Necronomicon pages are stuffed away in secret places. Collecting all three pages unlocks valuable upgrades, new abilities, and more. Further, the Nightmare Realm opens up new pathways of exploration and hidden shortcuts. However, these perks come with the caveat of more deranged and deadlier enemies. The Deadites in the real world are no match for the undead hordes in the Nightmare Realm. And so, your playthrough becomes a question of assessing the risk versus reward of prolonging your stay in the real world or taking your chances in the Nightmare Realm. 

Uphill Climb

In any case, there’s no way but through when hunting down all the upgrades and abilities available to you. And trust me, you will need all those hefty upgrades. Sure, at the start, the gameplay is relatively easy. You get your usual dodge roll, basic attacks, charged attacks, wall jumps, and even gripping onto platform edges. Plus, these all come with handy tutorials that get you up to speed pretty neatly. RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead’s controls, indeed, work seamlessly well. Ash controls like a charm as he slices and dices enemies with his chainsaw. And for those you’re unable to hack into, you can always use your boomstick shotgun to fire them to oblivion. Better still, you’ll begin to unlock throwables like daggers, axes, lamps, and more. These are handy in taking care of enemies at faraway distances, although the tutorial for this one is oddly missing.

However, combat and platforming will soon begin to grow horns. It’ll torment you as you strive to keep Ash alive. There are these annoying enemies who perch atop higher platforms and consistently launch poisonous spit at you. Not to mention the treacherous difficulty of beating the Nightmare Realm, which increases the more time you spend in it. You can switch to it and have enemies spawn right where you are, leading to trying to fight them off impromptu. Oftentimes, they result in what feels like cheap kills. Still, through it all, RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead remains unexpectedly addictive. It’s incredibly satisfying to slice enemies and watch their blood splatter across the screen. Bosses, too, are a delight, with distinct gory bits. But speaking of bosses…

Chop Chop

The bosses are pretty exciting. Plus, you’re likely to know who they are based on the Evil Dead franchise. I won’t spoil who they are, but I will point out that their attack patterns and design vary enough to keep your playthrough interesting. The whole game takes roughly three hours. So, having this level of variety is impressive. Now, the boss battles are no easy feat. They constantly challenge your newly acquired abilities and test your patience. The final boss, in particular, will probably send you into endless feats of rage. But all in good fun. Worth noting, too, is that Ash moves a lot quicker than Michael Myers. The combos and chainsaw strikes are much more chaotic and frenetic than Myers’ iconic knife. You’ll hack into enemies easily and bury enemies who try to get away with your charged shotgun. 

Perhaps acknowledging Ash’s faster combat and traversal, the enemies were designed to be tougher with more HP. You may find RetroRealms: Halloween’s bosses, which are also more varied and exciting. Still, the level design playing Michael Myers remains the same. The only thing that changes is the dialogue and story beats, which are still pretty engaging. This helps to add replayability, even as you bring on Laurie Strode and Kelly Maxwell, too. With regards to which game is better of the two, well, it certainly depends on which franchise you adore more. RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead definitely has a lot of film references. You’ll recognize familiar environments in the backdrops and encounter lots of fan-favorite characters. Still, Ash is faster and more chaotic to control, adding to the spice of life you’d probably be looking for in a gory 16-bit throwback. 

Gorgeous Gore

Lastly, RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead is a gorgeous game. While it uses 2D pixelated art design, you still enjoy lots of faithful fanservice. There are definitely lots of nostalgic moments as you spot the infamous cabin in the woods in the second chapter, among many more. The enemies maintain the hilarious charm of the Evil Dead series. And their blood-soaked demise never grows old. Also, the game runs without a hitch. We’d be nitpicking if we were to identify bugs or any cons, for that matter. RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead is a fine ball kick out of the park.

Verdict

RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead matches RetroRealms: Halloween, if not exceeds, in its razor-sharp platforming and addicting combat. It may only run for roughly three hours. However, each hour feels well worth it. Plus, there’s room for replayability, controlling Halloween’s Michael Myers, Laurie Store, and Kelly Maxwell. You can tell the title is a love letter to its respective franchise, thanks to its numerous environment and dialogue references. You’ll spot lots of familiar characters and even laugh at the hilarious Evil Dead charm we know and love. While the story is barebones and straight to the point, it’s more than enough to sustain your rampage hunting down the Overlord.

Meanwhile, mechanically, RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead outdoes itself. It performs seamlessly well, with Ash Williams being a breeze to control. You’re ushered into the tutorial of the mechanics and unlock upgrades and new abilities the more you play. With each stage, the difficulty spikes, presenting tougher combat and platforming sections. And the Nightmare Realm is the best of them all, presenting you with deadlier Deadites in staggering numbers. The Nightmare Realm across the stages has hidden Necronomicon pages, which you must retrieve to access Ash Williams’ abilities. This makes venturing into its depths a necessity. Still, you can always return to the real world or be forced to when your Nightmare Realm meter runs out. In any case, RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead isn’t afraid to push you to the limits, even if it veers dangerously close to the edge of testing your patience.

Whether RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead is better than RetroRealms: Halloween is largely dependent on which franchise you treasure. Frankly, though, both entries are special treats in and of themselves.