AMID EVIL - The Black Labyrinth Review Summary

Outstanding new weapons and fantastic level design and atmosphere exceed the base game, but weak enemy variety and design, an overtuned final boss, and uneven difficulty hurt it.

Outstanding New Weapons: The new weapons, especially the purple scythe and gauntlets, are fun, satisfying, and often better than the base game equivalents. They add freshness and are highly effective in combat.

Exceeds Base Game Quality: Reviewers consistently state the expansion is better than the base game, with improvements in level design, puzzles, and combat. Many consider it a must-play for fans of the original.

Fantastic Level Design: Level design is repeatedly praised as some of the best ever, with gorgeous visuals, unexpected surprises, and a peak in quality. Levels are bigger, more open, and more interesting than the base game.

Spectacular Final Boss: The final boss is a major highlight, described as hype, hard, visually impressive, and one of the best boss fights in gaming history. Its gimmick and satisfaction are widely praised.

Excellent Atmospheric Music: Music by Andrew Hulshult is atmospheric, heroic, and sets the tone throughout. Sound design and environmental effects are also superb.

Enemy variety and design underwhelm: Reviewers note a lack of enemy variety, with the roster feeling repetitive and generic across levels. Many enemies are considered poorly designed, not fun to fight, or too similar to the base game, diminishing the overall challenge and engagement.

Final boss frustrating and overtuned: The final boss is described as confusing, overtuned, and tedious, with janky semi-undodgeable attacks and mechanics that encourage exploiting AI rather than learning patterns. Some players experienced soft-locks or gave up after repeated failures.

Shield enemies frustrate players: Shield enemies are repeatedly called obnoxious, tedious, and overly tanky, with impeccable tracking that forces players to switch weapons or circle them. They are seen as a mana drain and a pace-killer rather than engaging combat.

Jumping and environmental puzzles criticized: Jumping puzzles and timed environmental movement sections are widely disliked, with several specific levels cited as patience-stretching and annoying. Some players feel the game becomes more of a puzzle game with combat sections than a shooter.

Difficulty tuning feels off: On higher difficulties like Evil, the game feels overtuned, with enemies becoming damage sponges and weapon selection limited by ammo maximums. Combat is often not fun, with adrenaline action only in the last levels.

New weapons added: The DLC introduces two new weapons, particularly gauntlets and a scythe, which replace existing weapons like the axe and BFG. Clusters 2, 6, 9, 14, 15, 17, 29, 35, 36, 40, and 41 detail these additions.

Final boss included: Multiple clusters confirm the expansion has a final boss, often with multiple phases and gimmicks. Cluster 1 and Cluster 13 highlight the final boss battle as a key feature.

Gauntlets as melee weapon: Gauntlets serve as a melee replacement for the axe, with a punch-rush super and soul mode. Clusters 15, 18, 21, 27, and 28 describe their mechanics.

Prequel expansion: The DLC is a prequel to the base game, set before the main events. Clusters 3 and 37 consistently state this.

Increased difficulty: The expansion is harder than the base game due to tougher enemies and puzzles. Clusters 4 and 26 mention higher difficulty and settings like Warrior mode.

Smooth without ray tracing: Performance is smooth with no noticeable frame drops when Ray Tracing is turned off or set to low, even during intense combat. This suggests good optimization for non-RT scenarios.

Runs on potato hardware: The game is highly optimized, allowing it to run smoothly even on low-end hardware. This makes it accessible to a wide range of players.

RTX works intended: RTX functions as intended and noticeably improves the graphics. This feature is highlighted as a positive aspect by some players.

Fantastic performance: Players report fantastic overall performance. The game runs smoothly and meets expectations.

Recommended for Base Game Fans: Many reviewers strongly recommend this expansion for anyone who enjoyed the base game, often calling it a must-buy or must-play. The sentiment is consistent across numerous clusters, indicating a clear consensus.

Recommended for Amid Evil Players: Reviewers frequently state that if you liked Amid Evil, you will enjoy this DLC. This recommendation appears across several clusters and is a common theme.

Worth Buying on Sale: A recurring point is that the DLC is worth purchasing, especially at a discount. Many advise against paying full price but highly recommend grabbing it during a sale.

Generally Worth the Price: Several reviewers feel the DLC is worth the money and time, with some calling it absolutely worth it. This positive sentiment is echoed in multiple clusters.

Play DLC Before Base Game: Some reviewers recommend playing The Black Labyrinth before the base game because it serves as a prequel. This advice appears in a few clusters, suggesting it enhances the overall experience.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00.

Game completion: 5.0h.

Story completion: 3.0h.

Endgame: 0.7h.

Reports describe the core combat, level design, and pacing as enjoyable without citing a later unlock, while specific enemies, bosses, difficulty, and bugs create friction. The strongest evidence supports immediate fun, with mixed complaints about repetitive or tedious content.

Friction: Tedious fodder, swarm, and shield enemies; Overtuned Evil difficulty with cheesy or gimmicky bosses; Tedious jumping puzzles and platforming interruptions; Repetitive weapons and forgettable enemy design; Bugs and getting stuck in levels; Boring background sections that must be walked through.

Base-Game Loyalist: Plays through the new campaign as a direct extension of the base game, treating it like extra episodes. Motivation: Getting more of the Amid Evil formula they already love in a new set of levels. Stance: buy.

Hardcore Difficulty Seeker: Runs on max difficulty without HUD, learning enemy patterns, dodging waves and AoE attacks with precise movement. Motivation: Testing their skill against the hardest difficulties and punishing encounter design. Stance: buy.

Value-Conscious Deal Hunter: Plays through the couple-hours campaign casually, judging worth by price versus length. Motivation: Getting good value for money on a short expansion. Stance: sale.

Monetization: The reviewed feedback centers on the price and content value of a traditional paid DLC expansion, along with a minor technical complaint about overly dark level areas. None of the reviews mention in-game microtransactions, currency shops, loot boxes, gacha pulls, battle passes, or paid power or convenience. The only monetization-adjacent complaints are base-price/DLC value concerns, which the scoring criteria state cannot by themselves push the score above 20. As the Real Money Gate is not passed, the game is treated as a fair, one-time-purchase product with a paid expansion.

Short campaign duration: The DLC is short, with playtimes ranging from under 3 hours to about 5 hours. Many reviewers finished it in a day.

Adds new content: The DLC adds new levels (around 9-10), weapons (two new ones), enemies, and boss fights (two bosses) to the game. Weapons can be carried into the base game after completion.

Prequel to Amid Evil: The Black Labyrinth DLC serves as a prequel to the base game, often described as fine to play before the main game. It is a step up from the Amid Evil base game.

Mixed reception on quality: Some reviewers find it a disappointment compared to the excellent base game, lacking soul and enemy variety. Others consider it on par with the best parts of the base game.

Priced around $12: The DLC is priced at $12 USD by New Blood and is often on sale. Some consider it reasonably priced for its length, though others note it's close to the main game's price.