Well, I just stumbled across your review and have to agree with some of it - but not all :)
I consider the first The Evil Within a true survival horror classic. It's rough, gritty, unpolished, badly balanced (that garage boss almost made me give up on the game), but the set-pieces, the scenarios, there was always a surprise. It's right up there with the best.
Ironically, the sequel is polished, feels great, looks awesome, and adds elements that very few horror games dare to: open world, sidequests, an art-themed villain and setting that really gives you goosebumps, and yet they couldn't reach the diversity and ingenuity of the first game. I loved both of them, and consider the first to be an underrated gem, while the second is the better, more mainstream game. I consider this an evolution, regardless, and seeing some reviews (not this one) bashing the game because, pretty much, it's more polished and easier to pick up is just plain stupid.
The Evil Within is, along with Silent Hill (a few of the games, at least) a deserving horror series. I wonder if there will be a third game, though, considering that all that hard work and, quite frankly a better game was sometimes labeled as a safe game, when it's far from that.
I absolutely agree with you on the first game and consider it a hidden gem myself. I think in a lot of ways people just didn't give it enough of a chance when it was initially released. I partially blame that on the uber hype it was given and the unrealistic expectations fans had when they heard Shinji Mikami was making a new survival horror game.
But in the same respect all that was great about the first one was kind of toned down for the second (at least atmospherically). It was a great game and I found myself wanting to continue playing it when I was done. Which I can't say for the first and it was much more approachable.
There's nothing wrong with the open world aspects that they added either, I guess I was just looking for a more polished sequel in the same vein as the original. The Evil Within as series should definitely be taken more seriously and is a well deserved competitor to the greats Resident Evil and Silent Hill.
Great insights and thanks for the read!
I also enjoyed the mini-games, as you did. I'm waiting for any DLC to see if it adds anything to the game (I'm assuming we may know more about Joseph Oda, after the first game's allegedly tragic event). I liked the DLC of the first game, except for the Executioner, which really wasn't my cup of tea.
All in all, I love the series and I respect Tango Gameworks for the obvious effort they put in both games.
I was actually surprised when I couldn't find any information about DLC for the game. It would be exciting to see what happened to Joseph. Especially since they alluded to him being dead in the first one!
Yeah! I don't know if you spotted the hint - I think it's on the last slide -, but --SPOILERS-- he may actually be alive, so they're clearly doing something with him :)