EPT+ Show Spoiler +
+The combat is an improvement. You can't kick and knife cheese strat human enemies anymore (which is good) and there's defensive options with the knife like parrying and blocking attacks. Said knife has durability now, which I prefer, as you have to think a little more about using it. There's even some rudimentary stealth elements which I don't hate.
+Fewer one-hit kill enemies and the ones that still preserve them still allow you to block them if you time it right or have the knife for it.
+Pacing is still sublime. The game pushes you forward with something new every time as you progress at an excellent rate, and doesn't wear out its welcome.
+There's more enemy variety, which was sorely needed. It's not just swarms of ganados anymore with the addition of burlier heavy enemies.
+You are incentivized to explore and even backtrack with treasure hunts and side quests. The side quests aren't complex, but they do encourage you to pay more attention to the levels. Even the shooting galley minigame has more going on and more depth.
+I'm playing on hardcore, and I've died a fair amount of times, but the difficulty never feels overbearing. There's been some great tense moments where I have no ammo but just barely squeeze by with item drops, which is exhilarating.
+The crafting system isn't jammed in to chase after trends and made for some clutch moments.
+There's more effort put into adding texture to the world with notes, collectibles, and conversations with some characters. Not going to win a writing award, but the story doesn't feel like a total afterthought this time and doesn't have that layer of cheese that was on the edge of endearing to groan-worthy. It takes itself more seriously this time but also is having some fun.
+You don't have to babysit Ashley as much anymore, thank goodness.
-Could have used maybe one more chapter for village. It ended more abruptly than I hoped for.
+Fewer one-hit kill enemies and the ones that still preserve them still allow you to block them if you time it right or have the knife for it.
+Pacing is still sublime. The game pushes you forward with something new every time as you progress at an excellent rate, and doesn't wear out its welcome.
+There's more enemy variety, which was sorely needed. It's not just swarms of ganados anymore with the addition of burlier heavy enemies.
+You are incentivized to explore and even backtrack with treasure hunts and side quests. The side quests aren't complex, but they do encourage you to pay more attention to the levels. Even the shooting galley minigame has more going on and more depth.
+I'm playing on hardcore, and I've died a fair amount of times, but the difficulty never feels overbearing. There's been some great tense moments where I have no ammo but just barely squeeze by with item drops, which is exhilarating.
+The crafting system isn't jammed in to chase after trends and made for some clutch moments.
+There's more effort put into adding texture to the world with notes, collectibles, and conversations with some characters. Not going to win a writing award, but the story doesn't feel like a total afterthought this time and doesn't have that layer of cheese that was on the edge of endearing to groan-worthy. It takes itself more seriously this time but also is having some fun.
+You don't have to babysit Ashley as much anymore, thank goodness.
-Could have used maybe one more chapter for village. It ended more abruptly than I hoped for.
A worthy successor to an excellent action-horror game.
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/52YtZe6.png)
) and OG back at a Major! Not many surprises!
