Lovingly Evil | PC Review
Have you ever wanted to be a villain? What about a villain who is on the hunt for love? Lizard Hazard Games has you covered with Lovingly Evil. This is one of the funniest visual novels/dating sims I’ve had the immense pleasure to play, while also implementing fresh elements to the genre that will hook players who aren’t usually fans of this type of game.
Being Bad Has Never Felt So Good
Lovingly Evil casts you as a villain that is a first-time attendee to the Villain Conference (V-Con). Shortly after the game starts, you’re given access to a fairly extensive character customizer. I really appreciated the amount of choices I was given for body type, hair color, facial features, clothing, and accessories. Want to be a vampire or cyclops? You’re covered. Granted, this is purely for your enjoyment and you never actually see your character after this, but the options are fantastic and are rarely seen in other entries in the genre.
After you create your character’s physical appearance, you’re asked for your preferred pronouns, your dietary choices, why you became a villain, etc. Each option offered made me laugh at how silly they were, and it was genuinely difficult deciding what kind of villain I wanted to be. Every choice was that fascinating. After crafting your glorious character, you’re given free rein at the con. You can attend conferences, or explore the venues and chat up different characters.
Love Is a Game
Talking to the five different characters opens up possible romance options for each. Among the baddies vying for your affection are a sentient robot, the queen of a foreign country, and even Satan himself. Each of these contenders for your heart have their own minigame, and the higher you score in them, the better chance you have of winning their heart. Depending on who your heart desires, you may have to man a grill for hungry imps, engage in trivia or participate in a card game, among others. I really enjoyed the minigames and found them well balanced. There is just enough of a challenge to keep you invested, but remains accessible to gamers of any skill level.
You’re also rewarded if you choose to spend time attending conferences. Some of the love interests will host or attend some of the talks, and they’re always hilarious. The pop culture references and fourth wall-breaking were refreshing and made me chuckle. I never felt like I was wasting my time, or that I was just going through the motions with these segments. My only minor gripe with Lovingly Evil is the fact that it’s so short. Each of my playthroughs only took about an hour and a half to complete, and I yearned to learn a little more about the characters I was getting to know.
The Last Call
I was instantly charmed by Lovingly Evil, and I don’t think I’ve laughed more while playing any other game of this nature. The character customization is fantastic, the dialogue is hilarious, and I genuinely liked each of the romantic options that were available. The minigames are fun and give you a break from the visual novel portion. I just wish the game was a little more lengthy so I could have stayed in this diabolically wonderful world for a longer.
To hear me talk more about Lovingly Evil, be sure to listen to Episode 309 of The Gaming Outsider Podcast.
This review is based on a PC copy of Lovingly Evil provided by Press Engine for coverage purposes.
Lovingly Evil
$12.99
Pros
- Extensive Customization Options
- Charming Characters
- Hilarious Dialogue
- Fun Minigames
Cons
- A Little Too Short
