'SHOP SMART. SHOP S-MART.' The fact is, Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick is graphically ugly, too easy, and too short. But if you're a fan of the Evil Dead movies, it's also too cool! Staying true to the style and story of the Evil Dead movies, the game delivers many film references, from quirky Ash-isms to the use of Ash's S-mart badge. The gameplay also gives you a great sense of what Ash goes through every time you mention the word Deadite. The story begins in Dearborn, Michigan, present day. As you progress through the six levels in the game, you'll be hurdled through time, visiting the past, and eventually ending up back at an altered present, courtesy of the Necronomicon Ex Mortis (Book of the Dead) and the evil that lurks within its pages.
'THIS IS MY BOOMSTICK!'
A Fistful of Boomstick incorporates a great targeting system that, when used, auto-targets the nearest Deadite to Ash. Because of this, the camera will automatically shift to show you the action, while Ash remains standing in the same direction. The results are some nifty poses for Ash as he slays baddies with his boomstick or other weapon he may be using at the time. Whether it be a quick shot to the side or a double-barrel over the shoulder, Ash always has an answer for the living dead. And you better believe that after the kill, good old Ash will have something clever to say.
'WELL HELLO, MR. FANCYPANTS.'
Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick is as much a puzzle game as it is an action game. Throughout the game, you'll have to solve puzzles and run errands in order to accomplish your mission of ridding the world of Deadites once and for all. This can be a daunting task considering the respawn rate of these baddies is extremely fast. Deadites travel to our world via open vortexes, and the ultimate goal is to close these vortexes with silver you will find during your quest.
'GOOD. BAD. I'M THE ONE WITH THE GUN.'
At your side are a number of weapons. Some are tried and true, like Ash's trusty Boomstick (shotgun) and Chainsaw. Others are old favorites, including Molotov Cocktails, Dynamite, and Pistols. And yet others are completely new, like the new right arm replacements (Gatlin Gun, Leecher, and Flame-Thrower). Also in Ash's arsenal is a Spell Book, which he can use to cast spells with the touch of a few buttons. Screw up and be treated to a quick snippet of Ash blundering the chants used to cast the spells. But if you manage to hit the correct buttons, you'll be able to cast many enchantments, including lightning and fire, and also have the ability to possess Deadites for a limited time. As you do so, you'll see one of the coolest effects in the game... your spirit flying through space in the same manor as in the films!
'YO, SHE-BITCH. LET'S GO.'
As mentioned above, however, A Fistful of Boomstick is just too easy and too short of a game. As it is, you could hypothetically beat all six missions in one day without much difficulty. In fact, the end boss is laughably easy, and ultimately disappointing in that regard. Still, with a price tag of only 20 bucks, you really can't go wrong. Besides, if you do manage to complete the main story mode quickly, you can always try to best your times in the cool Arcade Mode. Here you'll have a set amount of time to slay a certain number of Deadites, using only selected weapons. This mode is very fun also, and a new five levels are unlocked each time you clear a level in the Story Mode.
