The Evil Within 2 E3 trailer analysis

Spoiler warning: If you haven't played The Evil Within, you can read a spoiler free article here.

I think it's safe to say that everyone who loves survival horror, like myself, also knows about its creator, Shinji Mikami. He created Resident Evil, the game that started the genre, and the library for that genre had been growing ever since.

Over time though, the Resident Evil series gradually lost track of what it pioneered, and became more action focused. So fans were overjoyed when Shinji Mikami, now separated from Capcom, returned to survival horror with the creation of The Evil Within.

Released on October 2014, The Evil Within gave the us the original Shinji Mikami horror that we had been starving for. The story followed a detective named Sebatian Castellanos. After losing consciousness during an investigation, he woke up to find himself in a twisted hellscape filled with hideous monsters, all controlled by a twisted, evil man named Ruvik. During the course of the game, Sebastian learned that he was trapped in a mental world made possible through an advanced, mind linking system called STEM. It was created by an evil organization called MOBIUS, based on Ruvik's scientific research. Sebastian eventually defeated Ruvik, and escaped STEM. Fans loved how it carried the spirit of the old Resident Evil games, while still being its own original IP. It took roughly three years, but a sequel was finally announced this year at E3.

The Evil Within 2 trailer played during the Sony conference, and I have to say, it has me excited. Most of it was a cinematic that gave the basic plot. Sebastian is still the main protagonist. It's been three years since his harrowing experience. He learns that his daughter, thought to have died in a fire, is alive. She is being held by MOBIUS, and he has to return to STEM to rescue her. The cinematic shows off some trippy visuals that continues the series' themes of mental insanity. Both the music and the scenes that played during the trailer set the mood for how the story is now more personal and emotional this time around. After the cinematic was done, the trailer showed gameplay that revealed new environments, and new monsters. Combat looks to be more more intense, with faster movement, quick turns, and increased enemy numbers.

Sebastian's return to STEM seems to be more horrific and daunting than his first time. However, he unhesitatingly braves the horrors before him with clear determination. He's on a mission this time, and he won't be daunted. Will he succeed? Why is MOBIUS holding his daughter? What roles will returning characters play?

We can only wait for the game's release on October, Friday the thirteenth this year to find out. Honestly, I can hardly wait.