The Evil Within (2014)

This game has a kinda rough first hour, with a clunky feel and a focus on stealth gameplay that’s... not particularly fun. Chapter 1 was borderline boring and 2 becomes a bit more interesting, but there’s nothing attention-grabbing in terms of gameplay and everything feels a little awkward. People acted like this was an RE4 clone or something closer to the classic RE entries, so I’m surprised by the first couple chapters.

If the game keeps its focus on stealth, I think there’s a pretty solid chance I won’t actually like it, but I’ll give it a chance. I’m a bit spoiled with much more refined stealth systems from this past generation with a more pulled-back camera and polished movement feel. At least there’s just enough weird stuff going on to keep my interest at the moment, and it’s obvious from the upgrade system that the gameplay will shift in some way. But huh, expected to be enjoying it a lot more

(DLC) The Assignment part.2

Longer than I expected. A lot of exposition. Not very exciting if not interesting on story elements. Am ready for it to finish.

EDIT: Just finished it. It was great as a narrative piece. Really filled the holes, especially for those (read myself) that didn't get a lot of the story. It is also the prequel to DLC 2, so they went pretty hefty with their DLC. Everything seems to be tied to the main story.

(DLC) The Assignment

Just started it and, against all odds, this stealth focused DLC has its hook on me. The addition of a couple, simple cover mechanics helps a lot in navigating the Stealth puzzle-like sections. It is nice to get some narrative depth about the story behind the story. Am looking forward to finishing it, and hopefully, the other DLCs are decent or, at least, unique in their own ways.

Just finished the Main Story and I won't lie, I was ready for it to end but, boy am I glad I saw it through all the way. Story wise it flew over my head, though I don't consider myself a "story buff," but moving from set piece to set piece, all the way to end, it was totally worth it.

I kinda want to play through it again, I think I'll enjoy it more now that I have an idea of what's going on. I have the DLC also, so I might give that a check too.

Another chapter another couple of bosses. Wooo, you sure kill a lot of grotesque things in this game. If you ask me, they should die harder! The scenery gets crazier and grander, this couple with the crazier monsters around every corner is what keeps pushing me forward. Wanting to find out what's behind each curtain. The game does a GOOD job at sending you new threats without warning.

There are a quite a few cheap deaths, teaching by game over I suppose; I don't like them. I find these deaths abhorrent, like a relic of game design's path. It works for rapid games like Super Meat Boy, but here, I feel, works in against the Horror theme. Like, I GET IT, I got gruesomely killed, but then I'm back 20 seconds later, and I'm like, oh right, this is just a game, I'm quite alright, and nothing will actually kill. So it then becomes an exercise on repetition.

PS: I'm glad to inform that I can play the game before bed and not have nightmares. Yay Me!

Another play, another couple of Chapters. Sometimes I don't know why I keep playing this game, the tension bothers me more than it entices me. But then I just trudge along.

I must say that I find the "Boss" segments of the game quite appealing. Some of them are just fights, which are so-so, but the ones that are actual set-pieces are creative and I find myself enjoying them after the fact... you know, after running for my life or surviving by the skin of my teeth. I will keep praising the imager of the game.

I also want to highlight that I've gotten to the parts of the game where the story starts making some sense to me. I can see some actual characters, settings, and motivations, which is a welcome sight, to be honest, I could have gone through the entire game without knowing squat about the story. I'm actually playing this game because I played the Free Trial for The Evil Within 2 and just in the beginning of that game so much gets spoiled about this first one, so note to the wise...

If you care about the story this is one of those game were playing them in order matters, a TON. PLAY THIS ONE FIRST 100% I kinda wish I hadn't played that Demo for the Second One.