Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood Review

Author : Cally Mclellan

Published: 01.06.2025

Views : 21285

A Wolf’s Fury Unleashed

The guards spotted me as I slipped into the blind spot of the cameras, disguised as a wolf. They weren’t ones for warnings—armed and dangerous, their rifles made that clear. But they underestimated what was coming. The first bullet hit but did little more than provoke a rage-fueled transformation. Moments later, the wolf gave way to a monstrous Crinos, a half-man, half-wolf beast, its thunderous roar shaking the room.

With a single swipe, three guards fell lifeless. The werewolf, massive yet lightning-fast, leapt across the room, obliterating machines and enemies alike. Amid the chaos, desperate gunfire and death cries blended with the grinding aggression of heavy metal, painting a scene of raw destruction.

World of Darkness: A Flawed Introduction

Set in theWorld of Darknessuniverse,Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthbloodcomes from the same world asVampire: The Masquerade. But don’t expect intricate dialogue or social intrigue. This is a story of Garou—werewolf guardians of nature and Gaia—pitted against the corrupt serpent spirit Wyrm. Diplomacy isn’t their strength; battle is in their blood.

The lore is compelling, but the game struggles to convey it. Unlike the richly detailed tabletop experience,Earthbloodoffers no comprehensive library, bestiary, or immersive item descriptions. Much of the lore is tucked away in scattered notes or the pause menu, leaving newcomers in the dark.

A Clichéd Hero Against a Corporate Menace

Protagonist Cahal is a stereotypical, grizzled hero: a warrior exiled after a personal tragedy. His enemy? Endron, an energy corporation exploiting nature under the guise of sustainability. The story critiques industrialization, but its execution feels heavy-handed. Endron’s management serves the destructive Wyrm, and their villainy is cartoonishly simple—less corporate intrigue, more generic evil plans.

Gameplay: A Battle of Missed Opportunities

The trailers promised fast-paced combat and stealth gameplay reminiscent of old-school action games. In reality,Earthbloodstruggles to meet those expectations. Combat as the Crinos is satisfying in bursts, offering chaotic, visceral fights. But the game’s stealth mechanics, centered around Cahal’s wolf form, feel outdated and underdeveloped.

Short-sighted guards patrol predictable routes, and bodies left in plain sight rarely raise alarms. While transforming into a wolf adds a novel twist to stealth, it’s marred by simplistic AI and repetitive mechanics. Even the thrill of disabling cameras and sneaking past enemies grows stale quickly.

An Empty World

The game’s “open world” feels hollow. The Washington forests and Nevada deserts lack intrigue, populated by a handful of characters and uninspired side quests. Exploring offers little reward beyond sparse experience points and dry lore notes. The absence of meaningful interactions or dynamic environments leaves the world feeling lifeless.

A Missed Howl of Potential

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthbloodcould have been a standout, linear action game. Its old-fashioned graphics and short playtime wouldn’t have mattered if the core gameplay shone. But Cyanide Studio’s indecisive design approach—trying to balance combat, stealth, and exploration—leaves none fully realized. The result is a game that struggles to find its identity, offering fleeting moments of fun amid a sea of missed potential.