Since the homie and poor Sonic fan Xtortionist said everything I would've said with
THIS POST which
stemmed from our discussion about TEW1 vs. TEW2, all I can really add is that I still don't know which game is actually better. The Evil Within 1 is much more memorable IMO, and features a lot more interesting gameplay scripting than most anything that happens in The Evil Within 2. On the other hand, the game is terribly uneven in quality, and the most terrifying thing about TEW are all the technical issues, which almost completely douse the brilliance that occasionally does pops up throughout the campaign (more so in the first half).
The Evil Within 2 is a more consistent campaign with a much better handle on its engine, lighting, and presentation, but it's just not as interesting. Sure the lows are never as low as the worst stuff from the first game, but the highs are nowhere close either. The shift to a more methodical, stealth focused, patrol based, emergent gameplay style has made the tense, forever escalating action sequences from the first game a minority here. With the change to psychological moments acting as the engine to most of the chapters, it's simply less thrilling, and weapon/combat tactics take a back seat to scavenging and crafting management. Basic enemy combat has taken a hit, boss battles have taken a hit, traps are basically nonexistent, and no single sequence- not even the final stretch of chapters which is the high point of the game- matches up to the Chapter 3 to 10 stretch from the first game, ESPECIALLY Chapter 10 in TEW which is the most intense 60-90 minute sequence in either game.
BUT I have a soft spot for these kinds of game so I still enjoyed myself. Like I said, it's a more consistent experience which makes for less headaches (sometimes literally considering the awful console framerate in the first game), but after it was all said and done, I don't have as many moments I'll be able to point to in 3 years and say "THAT is why The Evil Within 2 is worth playing." I enjoyed my 20 hours with it, but it won't stick with me. Truthfully, I just wanted an ultra polished version of the first game. I will never shy away from my love for clever scenario design, exhaustive combat sequences, and propulsive pacing. What we got was definitely more polished (though still not exactly fluid or tight), but at its core a different kind of experience for at least 2/3 of the game. The reliance on hubs, story clarity, and a more grounded, interconnected world structure do bring their own nuances (a better sense of place [not necessarily more atmosphere], a more clear narrative through line, a horror theme park vibe), but I'm not sure if it was worth sacrificing the sense of urgency and onslaught of scenarios found in the first game.