Strange Scaffold has released a free demo for its upcoming title, El Paso, Elsewhere 2, offering players a chance to experience the sequel to the critically praised 2023 shooter ahead of its planned 2027 launch. The demo is available now on Steam and arrives in anticipation of Steam Next Fest.
El Paso, Elsewhere 2 continues the story of James Savage, a vampire hunter who grapples with his past while facing a new, otherworldly threat. Set a few years after the original game, Savage's struggle with addiction has subsided, but he finds himself betrayed and buried alive, sent to a monster-infested dimension known as the Void. The narrative sees Savage facing an Eldritch God, a departure from the more personal conflicts of the first game.
Director Xalavier Nelson Jr. detailed that the sequel retains the original's low-poly aesthetic, a deliberate homage to the PlayStation 2 era's iterative design philosophy. A notable change from the first game is the removal of Savage's trench coat, a decision made due to technical issues in its previous implementation. The core gameplay loop of shooting monsters and utilizing slow-motion bullet time for diving kills remains, but the environment and combat mechanics have evolved.
Unlike the first game's confined motel setting, El Paso, Elsewhere 2 introduces more dynamic combat arenas with increased verticality, facilitated by Savage's new vampire double-jump ability. Nelson described this shift as analogous to the difference between Doom and Quake, emphasizing faster, more expansive engagements. The game draws further inspiration from titles like Castlevania for its expanded bestiary, which now includes zombies and other mythical creatures, and Resident Evil 4 for its tense combat scenarios.
Players will have access to a larger arsenal, including a stake-modified Tommy gun. Healing mechanics have also been overhauled, with Savage now able to turn defeated monsters into a resource, described as "Capri Suns." The studio has reduced the number of levels from 50 in the original to 20 in the sequel, focusing on introducing novel gameplay ideas in each stage rather than simply increasing quantity.
Strange Scaffold is approaching the sequel with a focus on studio sustainability, a contrast to the first game's development, which was nearly the studio's last project. A partnership with publisher Frosty Pop was instrumental in making El Paso, Elsewhere 2 a reality. The sequel will also continue the satirical in-game radio program, Pill Cop, which parodies noir tropes.
El Paso, Elsewhere 2 is scheduled for release in 2027 for Windows PC and Xbox Series X. The free demo is currently available on Steam.