The Evil Within, while not the greatest achievement in Survival Horror ever created, is a fun little trip back to the 90's with a new coat of paint. I suppose it's like meeting up with an old childhood friend after years of being apart. It looks different, but the spirit is the same.
The gameplay is a great blend of old fashion Survival Horror and modern Action Horror. For the most part, you have the option of shooting, sneaking or spiriting away, and, other than a few occasions, each choice has it's pro's and cons. The only mechanic that doesn't feel that well implemented is Stealth, which is only useful on some occasions. Still, each decision has weight to it, and the best part is, even if you make the wrong one, you can still come out on top if you're crafty and improvise. The games various guns offer variety in how you deal with enemies, and things such as Matches, which are required to burn corpses to prevent them from coming back (A la RE Make) and traps make it so that crafty players can always find a way out of a tight spot. There are times when the game feels like it just isn't providing you the tools you need to survive, but I rarely felt that any situation was "un-winnable", even when I was down to one rifle shell and a crazed monster was about to lop off my head.
Sadly, the games story and presentation is REALLY lacking. For a game that sets up such a great mystery, you will feel like you have more questions coming out than you did going in, and that is a damn shame. The set pieces and areas are all over the place, and there are tons of side stories, notes and mysterious moments that just don't feel like they're given ANY payoff. Also, the regular Bethesda Jank is very much a problem, with ugly texture pop and stilted animation looming over the game. It sometimes looks worse some of Mikami's older works! Also, the final boss, frantic and crazy as it is, just isn't a fitting end to such a strategic game, as it uses almost none of the skills you've learned to master throughout the game.
But for a team comprised mostly of new talent and a game that almost NO ONE thought would succeed The Evil Within really does shine through. It's far from the best Survival Horror game out there, and not likely to blow your mind, but if you've been craving an old fashion survival horror that is both scary and fun, this is it.
VideoGame The Evil Within - Not Mikami's Best, But Still Great
The Evil Within, while not the greatest achievement in Survival Horror ever created, is a fun little trip back to the 90's with a new coat of paint. I suppose it's like meeting up with an old childhood friend after years of being apart. It looks different, but the spirit is the same.
The gameplay is a great blend of old fashion Survival Horror and modern Action Horror. For the most part, you have the option of shooting, sneaking or spiriting away, and, other than a few occasions, each choice has it's pro's and cons. The only mechanic that doesn't feel that well implemented is Stealth, which is only useful on some occasions. Still, each decision has weight to it, and the best part is, even if you make the wrong one, you can still come out on top if you're crafty and improvise. The games various guns offer variety in how you deal with enemies, and things such as Matches, which are required to burn corpses to prevent them from coming back (A la RE Make) and traps make it so that crafty players can always find a way out of a tight spot. There are times when the game feels like it just isn't providing you the tools you need to survive, but I rarely felt that any situation was "un-winnable", even when I was down to one rifle shell and a crazed monster was about to lop off my head.
Sadly, the games story and presentation is REALLY lacking. For a game that sets up such a great mystery, you will feel like you have more questions coming out than you did going in, and that is a damn shame. The set pieces and areas are all over the place, and there are tons of side stories, notes and mysterious moments that just don't feel like they're given ANY payoff. Also, the regular Bethesda Jank is very much a problem, with ugly texture pop and stilted animation looming over the game. It sometimes looks worse some of Mikami's older works! Also, the final boss, frantic and crazy as it is, just isn't a fitting end to such a strategic game, as it uses almost none of the skills you've learned to master throughout the game.
But for a team comprised mostly of new talent and a game that almost NO ONE thought would succeed The Evil Within really does shine through. It's far from the best Survival Horror game out there, and not likely to blow your mind, but if you've been craving an old fashion survival horror that is both scary and fun, this is it.