Sep 1, 2026 · 5 min · 6 segments
Lovingly crafted survival horror action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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, flushed with loving detail that instills a strong sense of personality over the top of its mechanics it so clearly imitates.
You play as Calvin Rafferty, a likable 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-chin, 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 centerpiece is the town of Arkham itself, which presents a gorgeously damp and decrepit backdrop for exploration and combat.
Excellent texture work and sound design come together to create an atmosphere that made my skin feel clammy even in the dry heat of a Colorado summer.
The density of little details crammed into every corner of every area is truly inspiring.
Every dilapidated hotel room or terrifying hospital ward feels both lived in and ravaged by the ongoing disaster.
The cutscenes and facial animations aren't always to the same level of quality, but pretty strong voice acting across the board helps carry them past their production limitations.
Each chapter takes you to a new locale in Arkham, and each feels distinct in both vibes and layout.
You start out in the flooded city streets, navigating by boat to various ruins and culminating in a creepy haunted hotel.
Chapter 2, which I found to be the scariest, is set in an abandoned hospital that features its own version of the unkillable stalker in the spirit of Mr. X and Nemesis.
And Chapter 3 takes you to the Arkham Fish Market, which goes about exactly how you'd expect if you're familiar with the works of Lovecraft.
That is to say, very poorly for our boy Calvin in some unpleasantly fish-themed ways.
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, flushed with loving detail that instills a strong sense of personality over the top of its mechanics it so clearly imitates.
You play as Calvin Rafferty, a likable 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-chin, 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 centerpiece is the town of Arkham itself, which presents a gorgeously damp and decrepit backdrop for exploration and combat.
Excellent texture work and sound design come together to create an atmosphere that made my skin feel clammy even in the dry heat of a Colorado summer.
The density of little details crammed into every corner of every area is truly inspiring.
Every dilapidated hotel room or terrifying hospital ward feels both lived in and ravaged by the ongoing disaster.
The cutscenes and facial animations aren't always to the same level of quality, but pretty strong voice acting across the board helps carry them past their production limitations.
Each chapter takes you to a new locale in Arkham, and each feels distinct in both vibes and layout.
You start out in the flooded city streets, navigating by boat to various ruins and culminating in a creepy haunted hotel.
Chapter 2, which I found to be the scariest, is set in an abandoned hospital that features its own version of the unkillable stalker in the spirit of Mr. X and Nemesis.
And Chapter 3 takes you to the Arkham Fish Market, which goes about exactly how you'd expect if you're familiar with the works of Lovecraft.
That is to say, very poorly for our boy Calvin in some unpleasantly fish-themed ways.
The rest of this transcript — segmented and speaker-labeled, so you land on the exact moment something was said
Search every transcript — by keyword, by phrase, or by meaning, across every show Radar indexes
Trends — what is surging across podcasts, measured against its own baseline
Alerts — when a name you follow appears in a newly indexed episode
No account is needed to search Radar.
