The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Review
A story worth experiencing
by Quinn Levandoski
reviewed on PC
Solving Crimes (cntd)
Add in a few puzzles that shake things up, my favorite of which has you piecing together the pieces of an old destroyed house, and there was enough variety to keep things from getting stale. One thing that’s nice about the puzzles is that they aren’t compartmentalized separate from world-building, plot, and characterization. The puzzles themselves further the plot, build the world, and add depth to the numerous characters involved simultaneously, largely removing the dissonance often seemed in games between the story being crafted and what the player actual does with gameplay mechanics. The only flip side to that coin is that being completely reliant on the mystery and crimes, and not really having gameplay that’s engaging beyond its narratives leaves very little, if any, replayability. Not that that’s the worst thing, not every game needs to have 1000 hours of value (I clocked in at around six hours), but it’s worth mentioning for those that value longevity.
Explore Red Creek Valley
A big plus for Ethan Carter, yet also one of its drawbacks, it’s a big open world. Unlike many exploring games, most of Red Creek Valley is open from the get-go. If you so choose you can pretty much run from one end to the other. While there isn’t a terribly wide range of environments within the map, the game is drop dead gorgeous. From the opening moments of the game when you walk out on a railroad bridge high above a pristine river valley, to when you are underground in the local mines, it’s hard not to just stop and look around (and due to the lack of a HUD, the game begs to be screen-grabbed).The open map is very indicative of the game’s general laissez-faire philosophy.
While the main mysteries (which don’t have to be solved in a rigid order) are pretty easy to find, yes, it’s possible to miss objects that flesh out the story if you rush through, and it’s your loss. It is up to you to take your time and find them if you really want the full experience, but that’s okay. It gave me a sense of accomplishment when I’d find something that I could have missed, instead of just making me feel like I followed a quest arrow to a pre-determined spot (which don’t exists in this game). Unfortunately sometimes some direction might have been nice. While the game normally does a pretty good job of telling you where to go, there are times where I’d end up going the complete wrong direction, which totally kills the pacing and mood normally present. Now I do enjoy being able to explore around and have to think about where I’m going, but some indicator when I’m not even close would have made things smoother.
Closing Comments
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, by virtue of its very genre, isn’t for everyone-regardless of how well-crafted it is. It’s not going to give you your twitch adrenaline hit. It isn’t going to make you think particularly hard, as most of the puzzles are pretty straight forward and are more or less a matter of going through the motions. That being said, those that are willing to sit back and enjoy the slow burn will be rewarded with a quality narrative that looks great. The game may be a roller coaster with a pre-determined path to pull you through, but it’s a ride well worth going on.
8.5
fun score
Pros
Looks fantastic, has an engaging story, and mixes its puzzles, characterization, and plot nicely.
Cons
No real longevity after being completed once, and the lack of direction can occasionally kill the pacing and tone.
