The Sinking City 2 Is a Praiseworthy Blend of Lovecraft and Resident Evil

It was impossible for me to play The Sinking City 2 for more than 15 minutes without coming to the obvious realization that this is Resident Evil in a fedora. That might sound dismissive, but I really enjoy the recent Resident Evil games, so comparing Frogwares' Lovecraftian survival horror sequel to some of the best of them – which feels especially similar to 2019's Resident Evil 2 remake – is much more of a compliment than a put-down. What sets it apart begins with its unique, rich, 1920s New England setting flush with loving detail that instills a strong sense of personality over the top of the mechanics it so clearly imitates. You play as Calvin Rafferty, a likeable occultist waking up to an apocalyptic flood set to wipe out the entire city of Arkham, Massachusetts in 1929. He's definitely a little bit of a pulp fiction stock character: hard-chinned, two-fisted, and foolishly brave. But there are layers to him that rise to the surface here and there. Similar to the Resident Evil comparison, likening him to the classic heroes of the genre is not really an insult. The intriguing cosmic horror plot revolves around a half-remembered expedition to Lovecraft's surreal Dreamlands that