Eight years after the events of Army of Darkness, Ash Williams returns to the infamous cabin with his new girlfriend, Jenny. However, upon arrival, the evil forces are reawakened, and Jenny is kidnapped. Armed with his chainsaw hand and boomstick, Ash must battle through hordes of Deadites to rescue Jenny and stop the evil once again.
Evil Dead: Hail to the King is a survival horror video game developed by Heavy Iron Studios and published by THQ. The game serves as a sequel to the 1992 film Army of Darkness and is the first video game developed by Heavy Iron Studios.The story picks up eight years after the events of Army of Darkness. Ash Williams, now back working at S-Mart and in a relationship with Jenny, begins experiencing recurring nightmares about the Necronomicon and the Deadites. Seeking to help him face his fears, Jenny takes Ash back to Professor Knowby’s old cabin.Upon arrival, Ash’s severed hand reappears and plays the Necronomicon’s incantation, unleashing evil once again. Jenny is kidnapped, and Ash must reassemble his chainsaw hand and battle through various environments, including the cabin, woods, and an Arabian village, to rescue her and stop the evil.
Gameplay
Evil Dead: Hail to the King follows a fixed-camera, tank-control style reminiscent of classic survival horror games like Resident Evil. Players control Ash as he navigates through pre-rendered backgrounds and encounters various enemies, including Deadites, animated skeletons, and possessed individuals. Combat involves using a variety of weapons, such as the chainsaw, boomstick, and melee attacks. Players must manage limited ammunition and health items while solving puzzles and battling enemies to progress through the game.
Visuals & Style
The game utilizes pre-rendered backgrounds with 3D character models, a common technique in early 2000s survival horror games. The environments are designed to evoke the eerie atmosphere of the Evil Dead films, with detailed textures and lighting effects that enhance the sense of dread. Character models are appropriately detailed, and the use of shadows and limited visibility adds to the tension during exploration and encounters with supernatural entities.
Importance in Survival Horror History
Evil Dead: Hail to the King is significant for translating a popular horror film franchise into a survival horror video game while maintaining the series’ signature blend of gore, dark humor, and supernatural threats. The game adopts classic survival horror mechanics—fixed camera angles, tank controls, resource management, and puzzle-solving bringing the tension and atmosphere of the Evil Dead films into an interactive medium. Its faithful adaptation of the franchise helped set a precedent for licensed horror games in the early 2000s, demonstrating that cinematic horror could be effectively translated into gameplay while retaining suspense and fan appeal.
Reception & Historical Value
Upon release, the game received mixed reviews. Critics praised its atmospheric design and adherence to the survival horror formula but criticized its controls and camera angles. All Game Mentioned “stagnant, still, lifeless” and that it needed “better control, better combat, a better look and feel”. These games were ahead of their time because despite these critiques, the game has developed a cult following among fans of the genre and is considered a notable entry in the early 2000s survival horror history.
Availability & Collectibility
Evil Dead: Hail to the King was released for PlayStation, Dreamcast, and Microsoft Windows. As a result, physical copies of the game have become sought after by collectors. Prices can vary based on condition and completeness, with complete-in-box editions fetching higher prices. Its status as a licensed title and its connection to the Evil Dead film franchise contribute to its appeal among collectors and fans of survival horror games.
Gameplay :