The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

This review is only about the [b]Redux version[/b], which I personally recommend playing. It just looks cleaner and more polished. [h2]Pros[/h2] [list] [*][b]A tiny storytelling masterpiece[/b]: you play as Paul Prospero, a detective with some supernatural tricks, pulled in by a letter from a kid, Ethan Carter… even if the story isn't linear, it keeps building this creepy vibe until the ending flips everything you thought you knew [*][b]It’s emotional and heartbreaking[/b], Ethan Carter and his family have a tragic story made of imagination, innocence, confusion, and depression [*][b]Free-form gameplay[/b]: as the detective, you can tackle the case in whatever order and pace you feel like [*][b]The autumn landscapes are magical[/b], the whole setting is detailed and beautiful everywhere [*][b]Puzzle design is top-tier[/b], just the right mix of difficulty and orientation [*][b]Great soundtrack[/b] [*][b]Pretty solid voice acting[/b] [*][b]The game length… doesn’t really exist[/b], could be super short or take several hours, depending on how you play (I finished it in about 5 hours) [*][b]Super easy to 100%[/b] [/list] [h2]Neutral[/h2] [list] [*][b]The game has no real set order[/b]: even if the puzzles are placed along the map, you can do them however you want or even leave them halfway and jump to something else… this freedom is cool, but not always super clear, especially because… [*][b]…the map feels like a mix of linear path and open map[/b], you can even walk straight to the end without solving anything, then backtrack all the way whenever you want... I like the design choice, but going back and forth can get a bit tiring [*][b]Textures and polygons look generally good but not amazing[/b], it’s a nice example of photogrammetry done well, a decent balance between visuals and performance [*][b]Character design is okay[/b], could’ve used more personality though, since the characters kinda look all the same (and a bit cartoonish) [*][b]The dialogues are average[/b] [*][b]The UI is nothing special[/b], menus could’ve been a bit nicer [/list] [h2]Cons[/h2] Honestly, nothing comes to mind. [h2]Conclusion[/h2] Perfect for anyone who loves story-driven games that don’t overstay their welcome. [b]Super worth it for the narrative and the way you explore the case[/b]. A little gem you shouldn’t skip. I recommend playing it with a controller.

I really loved this game from start to end. It is very scenic and I don't remember how many times I stopped in between to admire the views and take screenshots. The art style and the colours kind of remind me of Alan Wake, which is great. The soundtrack is quite unnerving and it fits the mysterious tone of the story very well. Now, the story itself is pretty disturbing and eerie at times, and it may seem like there's not much happening, but it pays off really well in the end. This game really nails that weird kind of horror mystery that just makes you think hard once you finish playing it. Definitely recommended!

Неторопливый симулятор ходьбы с элементами охоты за предметами и раскладкой картинок-галлюцинаций по номерам. Внешне - чертовски красивый: видно, что разработчики либо гуглили очаровательные фотки природы, либо подняли жопы и побродили по своим замкадьям, чтобы передать нам прекрасные пейзажи, разглядывать которые одно удовольствие. Внутренне - ну, тут все сложно. Сюжет подается как мистический триллер с лавкрафтианским налетом, но под конец оказывается [spoiler]сном умирающей собаки[/spoiler] и, хотя и вызывает какие-никакие эмоции, в итоге игра оставляет впечатление, будто бы тебя на@#$ли. П.с. Приобретая Исчезновение Итана Картера, ты получаешь в подарок... ВТОРОЕ Исчезновение Итана Картера, с улучшенной графикой! Данное наищедрейшее предложение позволяет найти Итана Картера... АЖ ДВА РАЗА! И получить ДВЕ 100% ИГРЫ В СПИСОК ЗАДРОТСТВА!

[h3]Beautiful Horror[/h3] It really is a pretty looking detective story, with ghosts. And after I spilled my tea one time, it settled down and I found myself walking back to various spots in the game to just take screenshots of the scenery. I did find it at times a bit of a puzzle trying to work out what really happened, because as with all games where you are alone in a landscape, it is hard to find any way to understand the passage of time or verify your assumptions. So although it is scary, the setting just never quite gelled for me and I spent more time just admiring the sound and scene.

Stunning landscapes, but boring af... The ending is the only good thing as it is a nice plot twist.

I really enjoyed playing this game. Very different and kept me guessing. Not too gory. There were a few "jump scares". Good story and the ending made me cry.

Неплохая картинка, но совсем крохотный мир, в котором смертельно мало действия, незатягивающая атмосфера и нелогичный порядок действий. Последнее - хуже всего: почти нет данных для решения головоломок и квестов; поскольку нет магистрального нарратива и можно делать что угодно в любом порядке, непонятно, что делать, а решения, найденные в интернете, вызывают не "аааа, так вот оно что!", а "чё? почему? и как можно было до этого догадаться?".

Walking Simulator, with amazing visuals