The Evil Within 2: 10 Tricks for surviving the STEM world

The Evil Within 2 has just been released, seeing players fill the shoes of Sebastian Castellanos as he yet again travels into the STEM world, except this time the mind controlling it is his daughter's. That doesn't mean it's any less horrific, though, as there are still plenty of monsters looking to kill you, so that's why we've compiled a list of 10 useful tricks that should help you survive in the harsh environments that the game throws at you.

1) Salvage, Salvage, Salvage

Just like in the first game, resources are incredibly limited in The Evil Within 2, but unlike the first game, now there's much more open world to explore, which means more places to find resources. It might be arduous to explore every room and look on all the shelves for that extra bit of ammunition or crafting resources, but it'll be worth it when things get heated, especially since you might find things like ammo pouches which offer a permanent boost to your ammo capacity.

2) Aim for the head

Us gamers are used to the mantra "aim for the head", especially if you've played zombie games, but it's worth re-emphasising. This will be easier if you enable aim assist, but if you're a purist and want to survive purely by your own talent, then it's going to take a bit more practice to pop that headshot just right. It's worth taking that bit of time to aim, though, because it not only saves bullets but makes sure enemies stay down.

3) Avoid fighting in the open

With the aforementioned open spaces that the sequel has to offer, there come distinct dangers. Starting a fight in the middle of the street, for instance, can alert enemies, and next thing you know you'll be flooded with monsters from every direction you look. Staying out of the open is key so as to not get seen or heard, then, so taking the back allies and the hidden routes will always be the preferred option. There may even be some hidden collectibles to find along the way too...

4) Side quests are your friend

Although Castellanos is looking to save his daughter in the game, there's always time for some side quests, right? Well, you should make time, because they introduce you to more characters and therefore give more narrative for those who want it. It also leads you to weapons, resources, and enemies to kill for that precious green gel. That's why exploring is so important, because these side quests often emerge after you stumble into a point of interest off the beaten path.

5) Take your time

Patience is a virtue, or so they say, and you'd benefit from taking time to make sure you're fully prepared every time you stop. For example, looting safehouses is a must, as is drinking the coffee they have to restore lost health, and you also need to make sure you're aware of what weapons work best for each upcoming scenario. Is your flank covered? Will close-range weapons work? Can I funnel enemies? It pays to think ahead, and take time to consider your options so as to save a nightmare situation.

6) Upgrade smart

Green gel is the currency used by Castellanos to upgrade his abilities back at his 'room', via an RPG-style skill tree, but this stuff doesn't grow on trees. You'll need to think carefully before unlocking each node on the tree, and as much as it might be obvious to go for combat, bear in mind that all five categories (Combat, Stealth, Recovery, Athleticism, and Health) have their distinct advantages. It's even worth holding onto green gel to save for a really expensive upgrade too, so think before you spend.

7) Stack saves

Some people at Gamereactor know all too well that in The Evil Within if you get to a point where you run out of ammunition and resources, this pretty much ends your run, as you can't realistically go on and survive without these things. Stacking saves isn't wholly necessary, but it's advisable to stop this happening, so save regularly in separate slots so you can reload to earlier times when you need to redo a bad move or just need to look around a bit more for materials. It'll save a lot of heart ache, trust us.

8) Keep your distance

Sebastian Castellanos, much like his counterparts in other third-person survival horror games, isn't particularly manoeuvrable, and that counts double when you're up close and personal with enemies. Unlike games like Dark Souls, you can't roll or dodge away when face-to-face with a monster, and considering his turning is pretty slow, it's hard to run away in these close-quarters situations. We'd therefore advise avoiding them as much as you can, either leaving the enemies be or attacking from a distance. There's no shame.

9) Don't run if you don't need to

If you're like us, you'll find yourself pulling your hair out at the start of The Evil Within 2 because Castellanos can't run for more than five seconds before getting worn out (he must have gotten out of shape in his time off), so upgrading is a must. On top of that, though, we'd say try to avoid running entirely, because running is best saved for running away from danger rather than casually running to your next objective. Put it this way: you'd rather get caught off guard and have the ability to run away than run into danger and slowly waddle away with no stamina and a lot of wheezing.

10) Stealth is a must

If you've read this guide up until now, you'll have understood that resources are few and far between, but your trusty knife has unlimited uses, and can be a one-hit kill when used with stealth. Isolating enemies, sneaking up behind them, and hitting them where it hurts can be very effective, then, especially for patient players. Stealth also has its benefits for pacifists too, as you can often use cover to totally avoid a big group of meanies or maybe just one big one. It takes patience to slowly crawl your way around, but your health bar will thank you for it.

Those were our top tips for helping you survive the horrors that the STEM world has to throw at you, and hopefully keep you from running out of resources... and patience. Did we miss anything? Let us know!