The Evil Within 2 | Can Open-World Survival Horror Work? 

You came out of no where but you’ve quickly become one of my favorite gaming channels.

The evil within 2 is still one of my favourite games to this day it really felt like they were so close to perfection from the mini open worlds, combat, music, graphics which is still stunning, a super interesting intriguing universe etc it really felt like it could've been the next big thing in horror

The small open world in 2 was the best horror I played last gen, it was the closet thing to Silent Hill at the time, entering the empty houses having no idea what could happen was so good.

I have to admit I'm a sucker for the "small open world" concept, especially when its interspersed with a few linear sequences, so its no surprise to me that I loved TEW2 way more than I did the original game. A smaller game that also did it surprisingly well was Terminator Resistance.

One day I hope we get an Evil Within game that really takes advantage of the concept of being in a mindscape, I dont think theyve yet to truly mine the potential there

It almost feels like TEW2 went more in the direction of Silent Hill than RE, least in regards to moving around a sleepy little town. I always enjoyed the more exploratory side of survival horror as opposed to the linear levels - so maybe TEW2 would be more for me? I just like to explore one space and memorize it as I find new ways of expanding it. That is why RE1 will still be one of my all time faves in the genre! Another excellent and thoughtful video, Majuular!

Oddly enough I started replying this game yesterday, it's one of my favourite survival horror games and I love it, thank you for giving it more attention, its like nothing else out there.

As much as I loved the first game, 2 is so much more special and interesting to me. I desperately wish to see a third game evolve the many interesting ideas in 2. With horror being as big as it is right now, who know? Maybe a third game could come out and actually be successful this time.

I just binged all of your videos yesterday after discovering you through the Xenogears one. I was pretty bummed out that I had nothing left to watch, and then you immediately drop this one! You're the best. B)

In regards to the flamethrower enemies, I seem to remember you can target their tanks at the back for an easier kill. And I found a tactic with large groups of enemies that almost trivializes those encounters. Fire a smoke bomb in the midst of them, rush in and go absolutely ham with the stealth kills. Works like a charm.

Tango's next game, Ghostwire Tokyo, leaned harder on the open world and action elements, much to a lot of people's chagrin. I, for one, love that game. While clearly having a checklist to go through in a way bigger open world, the merger between traditional japanese folklore and urban legends with modern Shibuya makes for a very striking world to play in. There are side quests that involve more linear quests solving hauntings and the like, which are nice, but not terrifying. Until you get to the Fear For The Children quest. Not gonna spoil much, but that quest has the horror of the entire game concentrated in a single mission. It came on the Spider's Thread DLC, released almost a month ago, and it feels like the developers telling those who were disappointed the game wasn't a horror experience through and through "you wanted horror? Here, have some horror." It's a great sidequest, perfectly meshed with the open world. Still, I've found Tango's formula for open world games, while drinking deep from the western scavenger hunt well, to be sufficiently interesting and nuanced to be a gripping experience.

Seeing where you started compared to where you are now is amazing. Keep going man. Awesome content.

That intro… sweet bliss

everytime i see your vids in my subscription box, i stop everything and watch it. keep up the amazing work!

Okay. I need to give this game a second chance. I disregarded it when it released but as a Silent Hill fan, this is what I've been missing.

Sort of a shame that there was such a gameplay shift between the first and second game, I feel like if TEW players didn't go into 2 with the expectations of more of the same (like if it were a new franchise or something) that it would have performed much better, because this small open world hub system for horror is really intriguing as a concept. As usual, awesome video! Edit: I realized that once again I can tie this into Chrono Cross by saying it suffered from the same problem, CT fans going into CC expecting more of the same 😂

Both TEW 1 & 2 are some of my favorite games ever and both games do some things better than the other, but i do agree there's definitely potential for more small open-world survival horror. If they ever make a 3rd game? maybe..... Great video man its nice to see people still discussing these gems to this day 👍

as usual, Majuular comes in clutch with the cool video. not that there could ever be a not cool Majuular video. LOL.

I don’t know why, but the opening music to your videos always makes me happy.

Can I just say your channel is just absolutely incredible with how you're able to churn out such long and high quality videos at such a pace. I just hope you're not burning yourself out, because I've seen other creators who make similar content over the years try to make videos like this half as fast drive themselves crazy. As an aside, I made a video about using the fighting game concept "footsies" in order to play survival horror games without getting scared, and in it, I used TEW2 as one of two prominent examples of games where you can do this, but I didn't really go into detail with how it works in that game because I was going for a more generalized approach to the topic. (Plus it was for a contest and it needed to be under 5 minutes) Suffice to say if you try to do a 'knife only' run in TEW2 it's surprisingly not completely impossible, it's just really hard. Enemies have a surprising amount of animations that have similar start-ups that they can switch between to literally mix up your reaction and surprise attack you. Zombies have a multi-swipe move that has the same start-up animation as their single swipe, so you could try to punish a single swipe only to get your attack punished by their triple swipe, and so forward. However, there is nothing they do that's inherently 'bullshit.' They don't read your inputs or rubber-band you, and each attack they do starts when they are in the exact amount of distance that lets you tap sprint and stumble out of the way. (since there is no dodge roll or anything with invul) If you have time, I recommend booting up TEW2 again and just try knife fighting a couple enemies. Its surprisingly pretty fun, if hard.

You’ve become one of my favorite channels, can’t wait for thief 2

Majuular! Imagine a game where you play as a giant Godzilla monster rampaging through a city that exists within the mind of a fish! Imagine participating in a grand strategy game against Napoleon Bonaparte where you become a playing piece who must endeavor to satisfy the hungriest playing piece's appetite for snails who willingly give their lives in support of the cause! Imagine finding the answer to one of the most important questions in gaming! Who is the Milk Man? Are you the Milk Man? Am I the Milk Man? His milk is delicious! Can you imagine all this within one slightly flawed but special game that tackles deep issues while giving you a good laugh? This is day fifteen of my outstanding request that you review the hidden gem, cult classic Psychonauts!

Ahh I love the evil within 2, in my opinion both are unique in their own way. Yeah both have flaws but regardless they are some of my favorites that made it on my horror game shelf. I will say, I’ve beat both 1&2 on nightmare and it is a must to give it a go!

Just found your channel thanks to my recommendations and I gotta say I am loving your videos. I hope you make it big sooner rather than later!

People don't realize how good of a year 2017 was. Not only we got bangers, we got underrated gems like TEW2. This video is 5 years late, but encapsulates its appeal so well. Small open ended map filled with dense encounters and meaningful stuff.

love your videos, kinda just binged all of them

I love the longer videos and those are what drew me to the channel but this shorter more focused format is awesome too. Gives a nice variety to the content on display.

Recently found your channel, love the content man. Thanks!

Found the channel yesterday and started with Legend of Dragoon and now this. Really enjoying the content - really well narrated and edited, and overall highly engaging. Would love to see some PS1 era Final Fantasy game deep dives. Keep up the amazing work.

After Elden Ring re-spark my love for open world, I finally realize that it isn't me who grew older and "too old to play open world", it is just that most modern open world design stop emphasize exploration and risk and reward, it is either anywhere is easy and explorable, or the exploration is fake as enemy has certain level tied to it. Evil Within 2 and Elden Ring does these too but it gave players choices, there are always multiple choices regardless players level, and if we want to push our luck, there will be more choices out there that has harder enemies but also better rewards at the same time, that's why I love open world but sadly, it is hard to design game like this

great video! glad i found your channel

i wish you talked more about how Sebastian drinking the coffee... mmmm coffee 10/10

Good work, friend. Dont stop making these kinds of videos.

A new video just in time for Spooky Season! The man provides!

I am here for Majuular video fun time; I am here early, and I'm FOR IT. Because BOIIIII, I know you'll be at 100k like _that._ Keep it up.

Well, it's not a 12 hour video haha, but I can definitely tell it's the video you want to make, regardless of what others might tell you to make which I am fully on board for. I am enjoying your critical and comedic tone on stuff you wanna talk about so keep doing that!

A Tales of the Abyss review would be awesome. Anyway, great vid as always

Finally a new video! Please make more JRPG videos Majuular.!

Mic is indeed sounding great!

Great video liebling 💞

I loved EW1, so i was very excited for EW2, but when it came out it was really dissapointing to me, partly because of the use of open world. I haven't played it since then, but i did watch a few video here and there, maybe looking for a reason to try it again. Other people usually talk about how story is better told, how upgrades are streamlined or how stealth is improved. And i tend to disagree with those statements. But what you talk about in this video actually made me want to give it another fair try, and see if maybe with this new found knowledge i might enjoy it more. Great stuff.

Oh good. Something I can watch while I agonize over whether or not I should spoil xenogears. Likingvthe videos man.

i loved playing like solid snake, stealth killing everything possible to hoard items.

babe wake up new majuular vid dropped

I enjoyed The Evil Within 1 and was super excited about the second one. I was shocked to find out all the new mechanics and I loved it way more. The Evil Within 2 quickly became one of my top Horror games but it is hard to place it. I loved the Resident Evil games, Silent Hill, Haunting Grounds, The Clock Tower games. I've been wanting to try some others that didn't do so well either like Rule of Rose.

I loved this game and this video highlighted some of the reasons why. I found the ending great especially compared to the crappy closing moments of the first game and this towers over the first game in general in every way. The word underrated gets used a lot but here it fits. Really does suck that there won't be a third one coming anymore.

The game is amazing and hugely underrated. On the other hand, I'm glad to like something that isn't talked to death. I even dared to put it on the same level as RE4.

As a fan of both Evil Within 1 & 2 for different reasons I just hope they return with a third game sooner than later. I have a soft spot for its inception meets horror type universe. Going into evil within 2 blind on launch and experiencing the small open world in contrast to the first game blew me away at that time

I hate open world games but when it's small like this, I really really like it.

I remember talking to a friend about how I love the structure of this game: open section, linear area, small branching area, open area ect. I was lamenting it wasn't a normal approach to survival horror, then I remembered that its pretty much the exact method used by most silent hill games!

I love both games. I always do my best to tell others to check both out.

Patiently waiting for your Tales of the Abyss review someday...

I would love to see you do more long form in depth analysis videos on the tales of games (particularly Xillia, cuz no one talks about it) because no one talks about them really, and it's disappointing. I do like your other videos too though

I loved this game. I think the open world horror genre is how it should be. I feel like they dabbled with the idea here and with a sequel they could really flesh out this concept. I think we’ll get one in the future too but it may be awhile

I love Evil Within as a guy who grew up playing resi 4 on the GameCube. However, I don’t like how Evil Within put horror before gameplay with its clunky controls and rng enemy reactions. However, the story of Evil Within is fantastic. Also, I do prefer the tight linear structure for survival horror but the second game did wide linear surprisingly well

The Evil Within 1 is one of my favorite games of all time, I recommend it any chance I get. Truly a great game.

The open world does sadly eliminate all sense of dread when you can abuse the overpowered stealth system (untill later parts where you are forced in more chamber combats, god forbid you screw up near the end, where those Marble Lost will rush and gank you if spotted), but it was fun to gather a ton of supplies before proceeding to further into the (sugarcoated sappy and hammy) story. Its a pity tho that the only parts i like wasnt explored or redesigned better, but when you unlocked the Anima side quest she only appears in the first map at random (Not counting the scripted moments in later parts ). Afterwards, she doesnt reappear in the second or third map, which kinda kills the tension you had when you saw her in the first, which is a pity

The music ~21mins in is so pretty.

When this game was first released I beat it in a few sittings and somehow didn't realise how divisive it was amongst fans until later on. I enjoyed EW1 and 2 quite a bit just for different reasons.

Isn't survival horror rooted in open world gameplay?.. Exploring the mansion in RE, exploring the town in SH. Both games required player exploration to progress. TEW2's open world areas are more linear than traditional survival horror games as you always have a navpoint showing where to go to progress the main story and there's nothing stopping you from going directly to that navpoint. Exploration, while certainly incentivised, is optional. I absolutely loved that they had all these optional areas that contained callbacks to the original game. They were really well done and it was really gratifying to have your choice to explore every building rewarded like that.

Evil within 2 is one of my favorite survival horror games and i would be extremely happy to see a third. Its got a great length unitl the final act honestly everything is brilliant until those flame throwing fuckers. Ok not the final act because the last level is actually really good I'm mostly talking about back tracking through the movie theatre district while it is a cool gauntlet ill be honest i was disappointed when i had to go back through here rather than a final third open zone but i agree a man can dream and it doesnt get more lofty then a well funded third evil within with 3rd and first person mode lol

Evil Within 2 is so underrated, Amazing story, Amazing music, Amazing game. I wish it got more attention, an evil within 3 would be incredible and after the way the 2nd game ended it's very possible to continue the story

I wish I liked the two games in the series since I love RE4. TEW1 drives me nuts with all the insta kills. The boss in the parking garage has lived rent free in my head since I played it when it came out. TEW2 does have a great idea with an "open world" horror game, but it just feels too milquetoast for me to really sink my teeth into it. I can only hope they take a third shot at the series and maybe nail the formula perfectly. We really need another RE4.

I bought both games on a Steam sale a while ago, played the first one and hated the beginning and never went back. The second one seems a bit better, gonna try it soon.

TEW-2 "scared" the s.. out of me when I first played it many years ago, specially the enemies, the music, the visuals...it was like nothing I ever experienced before in a game. Having played Alien Isolation, Outlast or RE7:Biohazard, this game is one of the best horror games ever made.

I mean, part of what's great about the open-world experience, if done well, is that you can sort of dynamically set your own difficulty. If you're struggling too much, go explore a bit and mess around, and you'll be better equipped, leveled up, and have more experience as a player, to tackle continuing the story. As long as this isn't necessary and excessive, it provides the ability for players to adjust difficulty without breaking immersion. Of course, this allows the player to screw themselves by making the game too easy, but, yeah, that's the nature of having control, and being able to have control within the gameplay instead of via a menu is, imo, hands down better.

Oh yeah, now this is epic

And idk The Evil Within 2 scared the absolute shit out of me. The first one wasn’t scary at all. I think it’s the slower, relaxing setting is what adds to the overall tension

For it's part, I'm in the EW2 crowd so I'll argue the merits of it more; the first one feels like retread of Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space (I'd daresay it's a downgrade of DS, and absolutely DS2, mechanically) while relying a little too much on that particular..., thing? That je ne sais quoi, the "distinct lack of subtlety Japan apparently thinks is scary?" To summarize my feelings, I describe it with the nippy advertising catchphrase of saying Evil Within 1 feels like quick kills/cheap thrills, and EW2 leans more to a slow blade penetrating the shield - all that joy of the Sword of Damocles over your head, at least until you get stealth killin'.

a part of me still hopes for evil within 3, the second one was so danm good and went so under the radar

The implication that Death Standing was bad...tsk tsk Majuular. Too many people give up before Chapter 4. I don't play games for their relaxing quality, but there was something about Death Stranding that provided the same sense of relaxing accomplishment that WoW quests once provided. It was that same.....I'll do this, this, this and this...and then maybe I'll have the resources to do "this" so i can do all those original things again faster. I dunno. I'm not very good at communicating that, but there's a video in there somewhere....

Evil Within 2 is like 5 dollars rn on sale on the PS store 😁

Yes it can! Go play Witch Hunt! Also I haven't watched the video yet but it's made by Majuular so it's bound to be good. Watching it now.

I'd love to hear your thoughts of Project Zomboid one of these days. You seem to like Survival Games and where it might not be the most story driven (hell Zomboid has no story) its gameplay always pulls me back in.

IMO yeah, it works pretty well. This game is really good, and the world design is a big part of it.

This was pretty interesting, even if I am too scared to play horror games

Yaaay! Ilu

here before you hit a mil subs.

I sadly was done with horror games around that time. Since most turned into bombastic action games. Makes me wish I checked these out back then.

Ghostwire: Tokyo was originally being developed as The Evil Within 3, though that concept was quickly dropped in favour of the greater focus on yokai. Still, it's got a lot of TEW's DNA in it, with the shifting horror spaces and open world nightmares, and like TEW2 got way worse reviews than it deserved.

Well lets hope for TEW 3 since HiFi Rush had tons of easter eggs!

The gameplay made me think of it as a weird combination of Silent HIll+TLOU1. I ended up liking it much more than the first game.

I need IMAGINARY GUNPOWDER to make my DREAM BULLETS.

I genuinely think E1 is a failure. It has some interesting ideas but ultimately it falls short. E2 has problems but it just feels well thought out in comparison. I think as you said. The best game would have been a combination of both.

I think it's odd this gets labeled open world. I felt that the scale of Evil Within 2 was more like classic survival horror. Semi open. 2 was so much better than 1, and it felt more like classic survival horror than the 1st, which is so odd and sad considering Shinji Makami being the director of the first.

ULTRAKILL SPEEDRUNS LIKE WHIPGRASS% HAVE RUINED ME WHEN I HEAR CLAIR DE LUNE I START HOLLERING

I feel targeted with that trigger happy explanation. Thank you for explaining exactly why I don't play horror games 🤣

I think a smaller handcrafted environment trumps most open worlds

I still prefer these two games over the modern RE titles. They have a supreme sense of style and both have addictive gameplay you can't find in any other horror games. I love TEW1's industrial music, I love TEW2's melodic music. RE feels pretty sterile to me by comparison. I love the production quality but they're too safe.

I picked up the HD collection, but the janky tank controls killed it for me.

The first game have the atmosphere & idea albeit janky, yet still enjoyable & scary in parts. The second game more action, better visual & art, not that scary compared to first, but highly enjoyable too. Both games have their own pros & cons, wish we got the 3rd game.

This makes me more sad now that tango is shut down

Tew2 didn't feel as... Desperate? As tew1 - it didn't feel survival horror-y to me :/

There will be no sequel 😢

Dude Alan Wake 2 was a pretty good horror game

I love each and every Majuular video. But I never managed to get through this one - I now realized why. The background tracks are too loud and the narration is super fast. I can't focus on anything. Both are not the case in any other of his videos...am I imagining things?

Ah shit, I'm going to actually just go buy the game now. It's like 6 bucks

Sadly haven't played it yet......my backlog is complicated.

I actually didnt like evil within 1 at all, plus it made me motion sick and that letterbox you couldnt turn off on console was so annoying and just helped with the motion sickness trying to view the games hectic scenarios through a slit. I really loved 2 however, gone is the stupid letterbox and moving around sneak killing things and learning the worlds story was neat, where it fell short for me was later bits where world became more broken and more linear again

This is 1 of my favorite games.. perfect small open worlds and cool game loop