Turtle Rock Studios has explained how Evolve’s progression system works, in time for the upcoming Big Alpha.
There are two different progression tracks, one for the character you are playing, and one for your overall progress.
With character progression, you slowly but surely ramp up character specific abilities and weapons with every match you use a specific character. There is a three star scale for each weapon and ability, and every time you level up one of them, you get a permanent perk. The more progress you make with each character, the closer you get to unlocking more. This system encourages you to give all the classes a try.
The game starts by giving you access to these characters:
• Assault: Markov
• Trapper: Maggie (+Daisy, her pet Trapjaw)
• Medic: Val
• Support: Hank
• Monster: Goliath
And using them, in turn, will allow you to unlock these characters:
• Assault: Hyde
• Trapper: Griffin
• Medic: Lazarus
• Support: Bucket
• Monster: Kraken
Overall game progression is connected to your player profile. Experience from awards and medals earned unlocks perks, which you can use in each match one perk at a time. Player progress has a level cap of 40.
Here are some examples of these perks:
· Climb Speed / Jump Bonus
· Weapon Switching Speed
· Jetpack Recharge
· Damage Bonus
· Ability Cooldown Rate
· Armor Regeneration
· Health Regeneration
· Feeding Speed
· Smell Range
Evolve’s big alpha is coming October 30 to Xbox One and October 31 to PlayStation 4 and Windows, and will be open until November 2. The final game will be released to these platforms on February 10, 2015.