The Evil Within 2 vs. Resident Evil 7, Who did it Better?

The survival-horror genre hasn't been the most sought-after projects within the triple-a market. However, this year we saw 2 incredible survival-horror games release, The Evil Within 2 and Resident Evil 7. Both games delivered solid single-player adventures full of deadly monsters, near-death situation, and terrifying moments that sent chills down the player's spine. Which is the better survival-horror game, does the reality-bending world of The Evil Within 2 triumph or did exploring the Baker's estate provide a much more frightening experience?

[DarkOcelet]

Both games were amazing but they had their shortcomings as well.

Resi 7 was incredibly short and had no extra modes (Merc or Raid) like every other Resi game since Resi 2. But I will be damned if I don't admit that I had a great time with it. I just wish it was much longer than that and I hated the fact that they locked out every extra mode behind dlc.

TEW 2 on the other hand a very long campaign but sadly chapter 13 had us backtracking to the same area as chapter 7 with different enemies and a morning setting which was a letdown considering how atmospheric the game was at night and considering the fact that TEW 1 had no backtracking and every chapter gave us a unique setting which was entirely different from the last one. This was sorely missed here. And chapter 14 felt rushed and extremely bland but the fight before the end of the chapter made up for it. And the ending was beautiful . And also it's sad the game didn't have an extra mode in it. It would have been awesome to have a Merc like mode here.

I really loved both games and hopefully when Resi 8 happens, it has a bigger campaign and an extra mode shipped with the game itself. And hopefully if TEW 3 happens (which I hope it does) they bring back the unique setting of each location like first game combined with the exploration of the second game.

[PeaSFor]

For me, nothing will beat playing RE7 in VR in two sessions, alone in a dark room.

[Dirty_Lemons]

Funny how you get down voted for your opinion. Oh well, I agree with you man. VR RE7 hasn't been beaten for me this year.

[DarkOcelet]

I haven't tried it on VR yet sadly. And I doubt it will have the same impact on me in VR since I already know every nook and cranny because I have finished it a lot of times already. I would have loved being spooked on VR but couldn't wait to play it so I did.

And like I said, Resi 7 is great but it's just really short with no extra content without the dlc.

[Fearmonkey]

I totally agree, playing it on a regular TV was fun, but playing it in VR really opens up the fear. Its like, "Whaaa, Im in that House!" There were times I had to take off the PSVR and rest for a bit because my heart would pound when jump scares happened. That part, in the early game in the water was amazing.

[-Foxtrot]

Evil Within 2 was sick (I'm guessing you enjoyed it? COURSE YOU DID)

Resident Evil 7 tried to hard and felt nothing like the past games. It felt like a new IP to cash in on the VR experience...sure it works well with VR because of how it works but not everyone had it. I mean look at the comments blow...VR this, VR that. When you need to talk about VR to big up RE7 then maybe the core game without VR wasn't that good.

The Evil Within 2 was a perfect blend of survival horror and action, it's what RE should have evolved into after RE4.

It's funny because Evil Within 2 has a very small First Person part and it felt better done then RE7 XD

[Bobafret]

RE7 still sits on my shelf unfinished, I simply lost interest halfway through.

[DarkOcelet]

Ofc I did lol. It's awesome! Just finished it three times already including Classic mode and already on my fourth playthrough XD.

[Kaze88]

I think that the chapter 13 represented hell, due to the fire and all. i think that the chapter 7 was the weakest since that area had a LOT of bugs. but ofc it was disapointing to go through the same area again on ch13.

I liked the open are hubs, but the linear sections were not that good. they were empty, short and boring. always some 3-5 rooms and corridors and some enemies randomly placed. if they were lying around I always got em surprised. EW1 handled linear sections way better!

Still got my moneys worth on ew2 due to ng+.

[-Foxtrot]

See I felt like that...they went through the trouble of changing things here and there along with the enemies, loot spawns and the like. If it was like exactly the same level then I would have been more disappointed.

The first time you enter that map it's in Stefanos vision of the place - Twisted, sick, dark, gloomy

The second time you enter the map it's in Theodores vision - On fire, burning, torn apart, a new hell

Only thing I wish they would have added is maybe let us travel to Father Theodore's stronghold ourselves so the map could have included a new unexplored part. Instead this part of the game was with Hoffman and the portable stable field emitter where you had to defend her. Could have still had something like that maybe at the strongholds front door or even inside on the ground level.

For the corridors in the linear sections I don't see why they didn't include random enemy spawns so you could never guess where they were going to come from. Like enemies could spawn behind you and you could still hide under beds/hide in cupboards.

[Kaze88]

@-Foxtrot

For example the gasroom section. I thought something would happen in the room where you drain the water, nah nothing. Then when you have the gas mask you have one corridoor with one enemy and then one sewer section with one enemy....plz wtf is that? how lazy and boring that section was.

[PhoenixUp]

I'll enjoy The Resident Evil Within V-II this Halloween

[HeisenbergX]

Lol come on .. RE7 hands down. The Evil Within 2 wasn’t scary at all big disappointment.

[roadkillers]

Resident Evil definitely made the characters as memorable as possible.

[gleepot]

except for Ethan (the main character)

[roadkillers]

Funnily enough I was going to put that, but because I remembered his "crazy" girlfriend so I didn't. The main character definitely took backseat. I wish they would have released the DLC as unlockables after beating the game (making it not dlc). The Daughters DLC is awesome backstory.

[Profchaos]

Resident evil 7 in VR hands down no contest the best experience this gen

[Dixiedevil]

It really was a hell of an experience.

[AntiZeal0t]

I like both games, but The Evil Within 2 felt more satisfying to me. I started out on Nightmare mode and was constantly tense my first playthrough. The best parts of RE7 were, in my opinion, in the first half of the game. With The Evil Within 2, I felt a connection to Sebastian (being a fan of the first game), and was very satisfied to see his journey reach a closure point.

[CrimsonWing69]

Man this is so tough, both games have seriously been a highlight for me this gen.

I'd say on a technical front RE7 is better than TEW2, but if I could only replay one I'd pick TEW2.

I just liked the semi open-world areas, the variety of enemies/creature designs, and the classic boss battles. You also get more weapons. I also like the whole optional side missions you can do as well as the whole messing with your mind aspect in the game to be a lot of fun and it's a pretty beefy game.

That being said there's some serious jank I've ran into within the TEW2 whereas RE7 is super polished.

Let's be real though both are fantastic games so just because I side with the TEW2 it doesn't mean I don't think RE7 is absolutely wonderful.

[gleepot]

Both games had pros and cons. RE7 was more intense and original, but shorter. EW2 was longer, had some cool open-world ideas, but kind of became a slog with all of the mundane backtracking in the 2nd half of the game. Both games lacked in enemy variety (RE7 was basically molded, aside from boss encounters, EW2 was basically those zombie-esque enemies with reskins throughout), and both games had some pretty stupid dialogue and uninteresting protagonists (all Ethan did was curse, lacked any real personality).

Edit: Also, EW2's forced sneaking scenarios with the ice queen were tedious, and not fun.

All in all, good year for survival horror.

[Blu3_Berry]

I am very close to finishing up The Evil Within 2 on Nightmare but I think I can make a good judgement. Both games were incredibly well done, while also having some short comings as well.

TEW 2 is a massive improvement from the first game by actually adding a stealth system that works compared to the first game. The combat otherwise is mostly the same, but with an added cover system which helps tremendously. The story is also so much better too. It still has some of the B-movie dialogue, but it definitely feels toned down a bit in TEW 2. I felt more sympathy for Sebastian in the first 5 minutes then I did with him in the entire campaign of the first game. It just flows so much better. The only thing I think the first game did better was have more diversity of levels. But it makes sense considering the world was constantly shifting and it was gritty as hell. Union feels much more grounded and real, but it still has that evil within vibe. The first game felt more like an action/horror title while TEW 2 feels more like a survival/horror (which is a a huge plus).

RE7 managed to have a great story with interesting characters right up to the end. There were no Michael Bay moments like how it was in 5 or 6 which is a huge plus. The combat shifted to first-person, but I think that's what kept it kinda fresh and unique for RE. Each of the bosses had a meaningful reason behind it and felt so satisfying once they were defeated. I never thought having a boss fight in a garage with a car could be so amazing for a horror title. Bringing back the item management inventory definitely made things intense and didn't make you feel overpowered like past games as well. The game felt very consistent to the end. The main downfall for me is that it was rather a bit short, but I rather have this then Michael Bay RE games.

Overall both games are fantastic to me, but honestly I think I have to go with TEW 2 being a better game, but just slightly, and that due to NewGame+ and classic mode. There are also a crap ton of hidden loot everywhere. It also has a longer campaign and includes a stealth system which diversifies the gameplay. But RE7 isn't far behind, but like I said, in terms of replay-ability and everything, TEW 2 just inches ahead of RE7. I still highly recommend both games though.

[gantarat]

The first game felt more like an action/horror title while TEW 2 feels more like a survival/horror (which is a a huge plus).

i think that because
TEW 1 focus on combat/shooting gameplay (Direct by Shinji Mikami) while TEW 2 more little focus on stealth gameplay (direct by John Johanas who direct 2 kidman dlc)

[mercyblades]

Not far enough into EW2, so can’t say much. RE 7 I absolutely adore, except the DLC - just uninteresting stuff.

[datriax]

RE7 was a garbage RE game, but a decent game in general.

TEW2 was what I expected. Decent, but hardly earth shattering.

Which did it better? Meh.... neither really.

[Kosic]

Re7 was a decent game. But I felt towards the game over stayed it's welcome.
The boat section was really boring. I just wanted it over and done with.

The rest of the game was a cool change to the formula. Doubt I'd go back to a re4 style game.