It's no surprise that we live in a world of video games and virtual reality simulations. We've all had the days where our job has sucked, family has your nerves constantly on end and your best friend has called you passive-aggressively fat yet again. It's times like these that many of us just want to turn on the TV, pop in our favorite new gaming experience and forget that your boss is slowly eating your soul and your grandma won't stop calling about how you never write anymore. For some, those games are swiping at candy on your cellphone screen. For others, it's running and hiding from demonic and possessed creatures that want to wear your face as a diaper. Not so long ago, I had the pleasure of playing The Evil Within for the Xbox One. This time around, I got to check out the first in a series of released DLC called The Assignment, and I wasn't disappointed.

SPOILER ALERT! Before I delve into this review, I would just like to point out that if you have yet to complete The Evil Within's main campaign, you're going to want to do that before you spend any time with The Assignment. Some of my review will be recanting my experience with that, so you've been warned. END SPOILER! This DLC takes place in the same timeframe of the main campaign, filling in the player of the whereabouts of Juli Kidman (who you control) as she becomes “separated” from Sebastian and his partner Joseph. Her mission and purpose are revealed through the story as both parties continue their search for Leslie. Is Kidman your victimized partner who is fighting alongside you, or does she have ulterior motives?

The Assignment, while following the same story as the main game, is a hugely different experience for the player. Moving away from the running for your life and shooting your enemies in the face hole, controlling Kidman relies almost solely on stealth. Armed with only a flashlight, you'll be hiding and luring enemies away from important areas and into traps by yelling “HEY!” a lot. Your flashlight also uncovers hidden areas and lets you see in the dark when you're running away, screaming like a little bitch. There isn't the leveling up dynamic to worry about either. Instead of worrying about collecting points and having enough health syringes to sustain yourself, you can regain health the same way as stamina: just chill and don't be so goddamn fat. It was nice for a change to just play through a story without worrying about whether I'm upgrading the right skills to better blow the brains out of the hellish creatures that await me. Simplifying the mechanics doesn't come without a price though. Crouching against walls and hiding can become repetitive and isn't always smooth. Not being close enough to the surfaces you want to hide behind can make you pop up in front of baddies and that, more likely than not, will get your face rocked off. Sans these few issues, the story will drives the game play and all is good in the world.

The Evil Within: The Assignment is a great companion DLC for those who had fun with the original game. When The Evil Within was first announced, knowing that the creator of the Resident Evil series was making his directorial return to gaming, I became giddy gaming fan boy. The Assignment furthered my love for his newest creation and I look forward to delving into the next DLC installment.