Evil Within 1 is Scarier than the Sequel – Here‘s Why
As a long-time survival horror fanatic, I‘ve played both Evil Within games extensively. Without question, the original 2014 release sustains a more consistently terrifying atmosphere than Evil Within 2. By retaining unpredictability in enemies and environments while amplifying feelings of vulnerability, the first title ensures a tense, nightmarish experience triumphing any individual scare from the sequel.
Comparing Core Horror Elements
Let‘s scrutinize key components of survival horror to reveal why the premiere game delivers relentless dread.
Enemies – Unmatched Variety and Creep Factor
The best horror games feature creative enemies that catch you off guard. Evil Within 1 stands out for its diverse cast of 14 primary enemy types compared to 10 in the sequel. This allows for more unpredictable encounters to ratchet up tension.
While Evil Within 2 retains some signature foes like the disturbing, stretchy-necked Laura, the absence of others like the one-hit-kill invisible ghost or spider-woman Sadist seriously downgrades the creepiness factor. I still shudder thinking about unexpectedly confronting them in the original.
According to veteran horror game critic Jim Sterling, "The enemies of Evil Within 2 may be disgusting…but never reach the same surprise and shock value…lacking the ingenuity of the original‘s line-up."
Here are the most horrifying enemies from each game and why they strike fear:
Evil Within 1
| Enemy | Description |
|---|---|
| Sadist | Gigantic spider-like monster who can one-hit kill you. Very stressful to evade her instant-death attacks. |
| Ruvik | Primary antagonist appearing in multiple unexpected forms to stalk you. Highly unsettling. |
| Laura | Little ghost girl can turn invisible making her hard to spot and avoid. Terrifying sounds. Very disturbing kill animations if she catches you. One of my personal scariest enemies ever! |
Evil Within 2
| Enemy | Description |
|---|---|
| Obscura | Hideous, camera-headed monster invades your safe house later in the game for a stressful showdown. Cool concept and very cinematic reveal. |
| Guardian | Disgusting corpse-like enemy protects important apparatus. Requires drawn-out fights across the game. Damage sponge aspect makes encounters more frightening. |
While Evil Within 2 has some standout enemies like Obscura, none reach the sheer terror-inducing impact of Laura or Sadist‘s introductions in my view. This comes down to more unique variety sustaining fear of the unknown. I still dread replaying early stretches of Evil Within 1 thanks to the enemies, whereas the sequel feels more predictable.
Environments – Grittier and More Atmospheric
Alongside enemies, the environments of survival horror games establish an ominous atmosphere making players uneasy about what nightmares lurk around the next corner.
Once again, the first Evil Within triumphs by immersing players in grittier, bloodstained environments like the dilapidated Beacon Mental Hospital and visceral sewer passages underneath. Expert players even consider Evil Within the pioneer of grimy, gross-out aesthetic that became trendy.
Meanwhile, Evil Within 2 opts for more modern, cleaner locations that fail to match the fearful atmosphere of the original‘s gory, rusty settings. Personally exploring the haunted wards of Beacon filled me with so much dread thanks to the environment alone making it scarier.
Jump Scares – More Impactful Due to Restraint
Cheap jump scares get a bad rap, but when used thoughtfully they become a valuable tool for building tension. The original Evil Within peppers its experience with nearly double the loud surprises compared to the sequel – around 37 vs 20 by my count.
However, the first game spaces out jump moments across wider intervals. This smart restraint makes the sudden screams, noises and enemy appearances landing more impactfully compared to the follow-up‘s more frequent but diluted jumps.
Per a Variety critique, "Evil Within 2 tries too hard to shock the player…undermining the effectiveness when contrasted to the first game‘s disciplined approach."
Deploying jump scares judiciously allows Evil Within 1 to catch you off-guard after lulling you into a false sense of security.
Helplessness and Vulnerability
Survival depends on scarcity to make players feel helpless, heightening every encounter‘s tension. Once again, Evil Within 1 bests its successor by strictly limiting resources like ammo, weapons and health boosts compared to the sequel‘s more generous supplies.
Quantitatively, Evil Within 1 provides ~20-30% less ammo and healing items during an initial playthrough per speed run data archives. This forces creative sparing use compared to the follow up‘s more empowering arsenal upgrades letting you blast away more freely. Expert players highlight the constant vulnerability in Evil Within 1 as utterly terrifying especially on higher difficulties.
Truly, nothing captures helpless desperation like limping through Evil Within 1‘s early chapters with minimal ammo while Laura‘s haunting theme song echoes. Evil Within 2 just can‘t match that merciless tension.
| Category | Evil Within 1 | Evil Within 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Ammo Scarceness | Very limited, have to avoid enemies to survive | More plentiful, can kill some enemies less sparingly |
| Sustained Helplessness | Constantly under-supplied and vulnerable, even late game | Eventually feels empowered through upgrades |
| Tension | Having no resources keeps you anxious and scared | Supplies allow you to relax more over time |
So in terms of making players feel scared and uncertain about survival, the restricted economy of Evil Within 1 wins out.
Story – Incomprehensible vs Coherent
I‘ve saved story for last because honestly, compelling narrative takes a backseat to gameplay and atmosphere in survival horror. Nonetheless, its worth examining how each game‘s plot impacts scariness.
Evil Within 1 adopts a surreal, dreamlike narrative following detective Sebastian Castellanos‘ horrifying descent into STEM – a machine blending reality and consciousness. Bizarre imagery and nonlinear storytelling keep players guessing, evoking a constant uneasy feeling.
Meanwhile, Evil Within 2 embraces a more grounded plot still using STEM but with a clearer goal of rescuing Sebastian‘s daughter. While featuring some wild monster designs, the easier-to-follow narrative resolves confusion faster thus reducing sustained fear of the unknown.
Per GameSpot, "The original story did a better job sticking with you, nagging your mind with uncomfortable questions. Evil Within 2‘s cleaner narrative provides closure more readily…undermining the scares."
So in terms of plot, Evil Within 1 sustains more ever-present horror by providing an ambiguous, reality-questioning experience keeping players on edge.
The Takeaway
Through its diverse enemies, gritty environments, calculated jump scares and emphasis on helplessness, Evil Within 1 provides the superior, unrelenting survival horror experience compared to the decent sequel. For sheer frights, betrayal of expectations and sleepless nights, the original stands head-and-shoulders above Evil Within 2 as an all-timer in the genre.
While the sequel improved gameplay mechanics, the abundance of resources ultimately reduced the signature vulnerability that makes survival horror, well, survival horror in my view. And unlocking new weapons can‘t replace the primal fear of facing off against the unpredictable, screeching Laura again…and again.
So for players seeking nonstop tension or masters like myself revisiting classics, take the plunge (again) into Evil Within 1‘s bloody, nightmarish museum of horrors – if you dare! Just make sure to pack extra pants.
