The Evil Within takes inspiration from survival horror genres across many me-diums. Think Resident Evil crossed with Hostel and you’re nearly there. It’s a curious game with a lot going for it. It’s strangely beautiful but not scary, yet contains some real exciting sequences.
The Evil Within is 15 chapters of gore spread across several typical horror settings such as a hospital, factory and even an underground torture chamber. All are designed to create an atmosphere of fear, which they do in part.
The setting is the fictional Krimson City and you play as grizzled police detective Sebastian Castellanos. You’re initially thrust into the action with nothing but your trusty police revolver and a few rounds of ammunition. That’s it. You’re outnumbered and it’s going to be tough to survive.
While some of the settings look great, the graphics are surprisingly middle of the road. Until some post-released tweaks, the game was only playable at a ratio of 2.5:1, meaning black bars at the top and bottom. However, now that full screen is available, the character takes up more screen than he should, so matters haven’t really improved.
What definitely doesn’t work is the narrative. The story is weak, the main protagonist is a bit wooden and the storyline is instantly forgettable. You don’t actually care whether Castellanos survives or not – it’s your player’s survival that matters. Incidental characters are exactly the same.
The Evil Within is one of those games that will be remembered as almost but not quite. It’s almost scary and almost great, but not quite. The story is weak and the game is more gore than horror. While there is tension, there is just as much frustration which takes away all the good work of the rest of the design.
The Evil Within is ideal for those wanting to consume a survival horror game with lots of blood and guts. If you’re looking for an immersive experience with a great story though, this game isn’t it.
Jesmond Darmanin is a technology enthusiast who has his own blog at www.itnewsblog.com.