Getting good and evil

"The Evil Within" (Bethesda, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, $60) marries "Resident Evil 4's" gameplay with a much darker, unpredictable world that takes its scares seriously. The game features a top-notch demonstration of this generation's visual potential, despite occasional texture pop-in. The attention to every gory detail helps sell the unsettling tone. The sounds of an enemy's raspy breath or a butcher hacking his victim will chill you. The save room music is a masterful exercise in Pavlovian reactions. The core third-person gunplay feels great, and the stealth mechanics are handled gracefully. But be warned, this game is hard as hell in the best way. In other words: Is feeling completely unnerved for 15-plus hours your idea of a good time? Then you're in for a treat.

game informer magazine