One of the most graphically violent games ever made, XEvil is probably one of a handful of games that manage to be this offensive and controversial and get away with it. The game features incredibly addictive gameplay that will have you laugh like a maniac while blowing up enemies in imaginative ways. Liberal references to the software industry also make this a great game for any basic Dilberts out there, letting you release some of that built-up steam ;)

The premise is there just to justify the no-holds-barred gameplay, but here it is anyway: you have died and gone to Hell. XEvil is the contest that determines your fate, i.e. what you will spend the rest of eternity doing. As the manual says, "...at the end of a game, you receive one of many possible rankings. A poor player, for example, may spend the rest of time as "Satan's Earwax Remover", while a good one might achieve a prestigious title such as "VP of Hell Marketing" or even "Lead Software Engineer of Hell". Simple enough, eh?

The game is basically a free-for-all Death Match, played from a 2D side-scrolling perspective. The XEvil world is a randomly generated two-dimensional map composed of walls, floors, ladders, horizontal and vertical movers (elevators), and doors, all randomly in one of several graphical themes. The maze algorithm guarantees every character that can at least walk and climb ladders can get from any room to any other room. You can walk, climb ladders, climb on walls and ceilings, fly, use weapons and items, and/or fight hand-to-hand depending on a specific set of abilities. At the start of each life, you are randomly given one of the characters to play. One time you may be a Ninja, next time a "Chopper-Boy". To succeed in the game, you need to learn all the abilities and weakness of the major characters. This is one reason the game is a lot of fun: just when you think you have seen it all, the game will throw you into an all-new arena with a new theme, controlling a character you haven't seen before. The characters are humorous, and very original. You can build up them up with more powerful weapons and items, with shields, or by earning bonuses like double health, double speed, hellfire powers (light enemies on fire by touching them), or healing powers. Another fun aspect of the game lies in finding the killer weapon/item combo that gives you the edge.

XEvil has a plethora of cool weapons that make it very addictive. For instance, you can use a Soul-Swapper to take over powerful enemies just as your character is about to die. Then there's a Frog-gun, the Transmogrifer, Cloak (gives you limited invisibility) and even Doppelgangers and Dog-Whistles that give you followers who help protect you and attack enemies. The single player mode isn't quite as much fun. The objective in it is simply to kill all the enemies on each level to advance to the next. After every five levels, there's a curveball like Capture the Flag.

With a lot of inventive weapons, characters, and flawless network play (supports Windows, Linux, and other UNIX systems), XEvil is a must-have for anyone interested in straightforward mayhem. Be warned of the game's offensive content, though: drugs are used liberally in the game (cocaine keeps you awake and make you run faster), and the mention of Satan and various minions of Hell, although cast in a humorous light, make this game unsuitable for young children or anyone gullible enough to believe it ;) Otherwise, it's a great game that will get you hooked for days, especially in multiplayer mode. Two thumbs up, way up!