10 Reasons The Evil Within 2 Is The Best Survival Horror Of The Decade
9. It Builds On Classic Mechanics Rather Than Leaning On Them
While genre staples like limited ammo, low health and resource management are still at the heart of The Evil Within 2, the game never leans too heavily on these survival horror conventions without adding something new.
For instance, resource management is still there, but it's now at the heart of a new risk/reward gameplay system where players have to weigh up whether it's worth wagering their existing supplies to pursue missions or secondary objectives. Killing enemies gives 'Green Gel' that grants new abilities like breaking an enemy's grab with an otherwise throwable bottle, or unlocking a stun-kick to create some much needed distance in a crowd.
For all of its strengths, Resident Evil 7 had few ideas that weren't just ripped from other games in the series. Despite the radical shift in perspective (something The Evil Within effortlessly does in one of its levels), the title was praised for returning to a gameplay style that was tried and tested, rather than analysing what was actually brought to the table.
The Evil Within on the other hand isn't tied down by the past, and it's never content to just repeat old familiar mechanics without adding something worthwhile.