Gaming rules dictate that when a group of hardened mercenaries is sent in to any skirmish, it comprises your fat guy with the massive gun, ripped chap with the reasonable face, pretty lady usually wearing next to nothing, and the rough-as-guts girl with the potty mouth.

Check, check, check and check, although Evolve thankfully does away with the skimpy undies on the pretty one.

Added to the mix here is the outrageously dangerous dribbly one that the previous four would like to render very much dead.

So one has the option to play as the monster and feast on the corpses of its dead foes, as well as chewing on the planet's native beasties. Chew on enough and the your growly chum can evolve into an even more horrifying killing machine. Bless.

Why is this all happening? The story is utterly vague on that front, choosing a 'rescue colony from dangerous predators' route. All very Aliens, really.

If you don't fancy an online multiplayer sandwich, Evolve shouldn't be in your lunchbox. The solo missions are pointless, populated as they are with 'bots'.

But online typically has its issues too. Evolve takes some getting used to; each hunter is vastly different, and patience is soon lost with the novice who can't help his team-mates as quickly or effectively as expected.

Evolve is a good wheeze but really comes into its own with a bunch of mates, and taking down a gargantuan Wraith is fist-pumpingly satisfying. The lack of a decent single-player campaign is a problem, but some titles just don't suit the lonely gamer.

Out on PS4, Xbox One, PC