New story details and gameplay features for The Evil Within

Today Bethesda officially announced The Evil Within, a new survival horror IP from from legendary developer Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil, Resident Evil 4) and Bethesda's Japanese studio, Tango Gameworks. But while we'll have to wait until Monday for IGN's exclusive coverage of the game to go live, it seems a few story details and key gameplay features have been unearthed a little early.

The first is that The Evil Within begins when Detective Sebastian and his partner rush to a scene of a "gruesome mass murder," and discover a "mysterious, powerful force" waiting for them. Sebastian is soon attacked and loses consciousness, only to awake in a world filled with monsters. Sebastian must "face his fears in order to survive on a journey to discover what lies in the shadows of that mysterious force."

"By setting one foot in this world weaved from lush backdrops, characters with personality, and a polished story, players will be sucked in, willing or unwilling, tension and anxiety rapidly mounting. When that fear is smashed and conquered, you can experience the bliss that can only be found in The Evil Within."

In terms of gameplay, The Evil Within will make use of traditional survival-horror tactics including limited resources and "indescribable terror." The report also mentions "brutal traps and enemies with puzzles." Apparently, the game's scenery — the hallways, walls, doors, rooms, buildings, and nature — will transform in real time based on your actions; theoretically, this should keep you on your toes at all times.

Details are slowly trickling in, but the main question seems to be: Will The Evil Within redefine survival horror? The game is due out for Xbox 360, PS3, PC, and next-gen consoles in 2014.

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[Gematsu]