Werewolf Apocalypse Earthblood is an action-packed acting game where players take on the guise of a werewolf. This beastly man can change from human form to wolf form and finally to a werewolf form. Using our hero’s different forms, the player will take down the evil Endron company and protect the Earth and his pack. Cahal is a tough customer, a man who lost his pack due to his rage. He’s lived a peaceful life but, while looking for his lost daughter, he picks up the scent that his old friends are in danger. He might have run away from them earlier, but he won’t let them die like this. Cahal comes back, ready to help, knowing he is the only one who can save them. It might be odd to see them after all these years, but he’s ready to do what he has to rescue them all.
Cahal can change his form at will, which will help him take down Endron. His human form gives him access to weapons. He can take down foes from afar with a shot from his crossbow or grapple them to submission. His human form is also the only form in which he can communicate with people. He will need to use his words at times, and this form could help save the day. His other guises may be bestial, but he will need all of them to survive this. Cahal’s ability to talk can change the game. Cahal will need to say the right things to the right people. Saying the wrong things might cause these people to say lines that will enrage Cahal. It is better to be safe than sorry unless the player wants to use his rage. Cahal is a cunning man, so players can use that or let him go off the deep end.
His Wolf form is his stealth form; no one suspects a wolf. As a wolf, he can sneak around to and fro without getting caught. It’s a form that is perfect for scoping out an area. Taking a cursory glance at the layout is key to success. His ability to sneak around as a wolf is thrilling because he can use his wolf senses to see what’s around him. His wolf senses may save him, as, without them, he wouldn’t know what was hiding in the deeper parts of the bases. Cahal can also use his wolf senses even in human form but, it feels like a disservice to the wolf form. The wolf form gets less opportunity to be usable, as players can’t attack in that form. So, at least in my playthrough, I aimed to use the wolf sense only in wolf mode. A wolf is a necessary form for Cahal, and he’s going to need its help to save his pack and the world.
Cahal’s greatest asset in taking down Endron is his Werewolf form. The Werewolf has the energy to take down waves of enemies, destroy machinery, and cause a lot of havoc. Cahal can gain rage points by fighting, saying the wrong things, or drinking a tonic. These points allow Cahal to unleash a powerful jump attack or even heal, along with a few other skills. Player’s can silently walk in and knock out the reinforcement boxes, shoot an enemy or two with a crossbow bolt, and then transform. The werewolf form has two attack modes, agile and deadly, while the other is slow and powerful. Each attack option works well on different enemies.
When mechs start showing up, the player might want to strike hard or strike multiple times fast. It’s up to the player how the action plays out, so plan accordingly. Players can also use their rage to go into a frenzy. Frenzy mode gives Cahal enhanced strength and speed. It allows him to create combos faster and to use all his power to take down foes. If they back Cahal into a corner, they might want to go into a frenzy to take down the other enemies. If the player wins the fight or loses, they will gain their health back, so that’s a good thing. There is another enemy for the player to avoid at all costs. Silver is a weakness of werewolves and thus is Cahal’s weakness. Cahal will lose health for the remainder of the fight if a silver bullet strikes him. Even healing will not regain the lost health, so players need to dodge every silver shot. These shots appear as a silver streak, which is quite helpful.
Cahal will need spirit points to unlock skills. He will gain them from completing story objectives and bosses, but he can also absorb them from nature. The werewolves and Gaia, or the Earth, are connected. They aim to protect the Earth at all costs, and the Earth is happy for their help. If Cahal sees plants, he will want to sniff their essence to gain more skill points. Skill points are necessary because they help Cahal unlock skills. These skills give Cahal more attacks or enhance his werewolf form. The Werewolf will do a lot for Cahal, so keeping it ready for battle will do wonders for the player. The skills Cahal chooses are not locked in stone; Yfen will help change them anytime Cahal wishes.
Yfen is the great tree guardian of Cahal’s form caern or Werewolf den. Yfen looks like a huge human man with a glowing face surrounded by branches. Yfen wants to help his werewolves out and will reset Cahal’s skill points if need be. He asks for one thing in return, for Cahal to put to rest the spirits out in the world. In every level, Cahal will want to find all the spirits. The spirits are found easily with his wolf senses: so players won’t feel too lost. Though they aren’t easy to find, and players may miss them on their first trek through a level. The spirits will thank Cahal and head off back to Yfen, who is glad for their safe return.
The story of the game is pretty enthralling too. Cahal was once second in command of the pack, five years ago, that is. After watching his wife die before his eyes, he went into a rage, killing her killer, taking a friend’s life, and half blinding her brother. He runs away for five years and happens to find them five years later. His daughter Aedana isn’t too happy to see him, but she accepts his help, as do the rest of the pack. He was always helpful, and they know he was doing his best to fix things inside before he even tried to find them. With his help, they may take down Endron and save our world.
The music in this game varies from quiet when in stealth mode to rock when in Werewolf mode. The music flows between the two, letting players recenter themselves after a battle. The hard rock plays on the main menu, so players should be aware of that when playing the game late at night. It’s pretty rocking, so players might want to adjust their volume accordingly. As with any game with voice acting, I have to give them credit. While some of the voice-acting is a little weak, Cahal’s voice actor gives an entertaining performance. He’s a brooding tactical Batman type, and his concise responses work well. The rest of the characters speak decently, but sometimes the lines fall a little flat.
There are a few customization options too. Players can change the look of Cahal and his forms, choosing their fur color. They can also change the emblem on his vest. While no dramatic changes, having the chance to customize, even a little, is a good thing. The only big issue I have with the game is the enemies are pretty boring. A majority of them have bald heads so Cahal can blend in a bit after killing one. It’s just another game where the enemies are all basic men out doing their jobs. The mechs do change things up, and the werewolves make the humans inconsequential but it’s all good in the end.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse Earthblood, is a great Werewolf action game. The story picks up as it goes along, the combat changes when in Werewolf mode are excellent. The skill tree system is solid, and the voice acting brings the characters to life. Cahal has a lot of work to do to fix things with his pack, will the player help him save them and the world?
Reviewed on PlayStation 4.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse Earthblood is also available on PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Disclaimer: A review key was provided