Still enjoyed the first game over this one, but from a technical and gameplay point of view, The Evil Within 2 is better. Different engine this time(still custom ID tech). The shoddy acting and music score holds it back a bit. It's way too melodramatic(like a soap opera in many parts) and moves away from the understated tone of the Lynch-style underdelivery of the acting lines in the first game(even if unintentional, it was a big part of the dream logic feeling of that first entry). Sabastien's character goes from Stoic to overy emotional which threw me off. The music is also much more of a generic Holllywood thriller sound, however, there are still a lot of unique ambiet soundscapes that trigger during alert events that add to the tension. The game's story really starts to fall apart towards the end and there is a lot of B-movie sudden 3rd acts that get randomly thrown in there, including a bait-and-switch mid game where the primary antagonist suddenly isn't the villian anymore. I enjoyed the semi-opened world aspect of the game and there's a lot of really challenging extra difficulties that open up after beating it the first time. Definitely recommend playing on one of the harder difficulties if you want that classic survival horror feel.

Another game doing the Assasins Creed, you plug yourself into a machine and enter another world, bonus you get to have the G-man watching you. Technically well executed but its a press E to pickup and continue the story type game. Unoriginal main character that I switched off within 3 minutes.

This series is perfect.

I saw many flogging the first game, saying this one is better... In my opinion, those are nitwits, fans of spunkgargleweewees. They have no appreciation of something that accomplishes something as finicky to be done right as horror and especially terror (yes, they are different concepts), by finely-tuning all its aspects, without purely relying on cheap jumpscares or supernatural, but rather on protagonist’s near helplessness, harsh punishment for mistakes and the terrifying nature of the disturbing unknown. TEW2 *is* good, but for very different reasons that made the prequel excellent. The previous game emanated dread and tension in nearly every minute up until the very end—not from cheap jumpscares, but from the atmosphere, unpredictability, challenge and execution of surrealism. This installment abandoned nearly everything that made the prequel so great and unique, and instead merely relies on gruesome imagery and occasional jumpscare, in an attempt to fulfill the "survival horror criteria”. The developer abandoned attempts to appeal to a gourmet audience and made it to cater to the wider audience (although understandable from the marketing standpoint, it’s a loss from creative one), dumbing it down by dragging it into the stealth/action category, from nearly every perspective. The fact that some skills—although fun—trivialise the challenge, are proof to the point. Also, quite a shame the characters have different voices… and looks (and I’m not talking about just the graphics being “upgraded”). Now, I did say it is good despite my criticism right after. What it is trying to do is not what TEW1 did, but it's good in its own merit. Especially in NG+, where—if you weren't overly wasteful in the first playthrough—you become the hunter, no longer the hunted and there is a lot of fun to be found in that. Sections of the last few chapters are also quite epic. Some considerable plot, logic and apparently math holes, but it does tie up the story quite nicely.

The Evil Within 2 is a highly anticipated horror game that builds on the foundations of its predecessor. It offers a thrilling and terrifying experience for fans of the survival horror genre. The game's environment is incredibly well-designed, with a wide variety of settings that range from creepy hospitals to desolate landscapes. The graphics are top-notch, creating a truly immersive world that is both beautiful and frightening. One of the standout features of The Evil Within 2 is the way it balances action and horror. The game provides a good mix of both, allowing players to get their adrenaline pumping with intense action scenes, while also scaring them with jump scares and psychological horror. The game's story is also well-crafted, keeping players engaged and on edge as they progress through the game. However, some criticisms of The Evil Within 2 include a somewhat predictable and cliched storyline, and the enemy AI can be inconsistent at times. The game's difficulty level can also be uneven, sometimes feeling too easy, while at other times being frustratingly difficult. Overall, The Evil Within 2 is a highly enjoyable game that provides a great balance of action and horror. It's a must-play for fans of the genre, and offers a challenging and terrifying experience that will keep players on the edge of their seats.