THE VANISHING OF ETHAN CARTER

Red Creek Valley. Trouble isn’t a-brewin’, friend — it’s already brewed.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter. It’s walking into a theatre after the intermission, when a whole damn act has already unravelled. It’s starting at a new school, where everyone around you has history and there you are trying to decipher the back story and in-jokes. Our experiences here aren’t so much about in-jokes, it’s about playing catch-up and following the bread crumbs of recent horrors scattered across these deceptively beautiful surrounds. It’s deconstructing scenes that have already played out, so you can discover the fates of the key players.

If you’re already on the bandwagon? Stop reading and play, friend! You won’t regret it!

Here’s where I would usually give a synopsis of whatever game I happen to be rambling about. I like to think I’m a good guy on the spoiler front. I don’t want to give away the major details or the surprises. I enjoy preserving other people’s experiences. For me, an experience is all the better for being a clean slate going in. I want you to have the same goofy grin on your face as I did, I want you to ponder the plot points like I did and I want you to jump out of your seat like I did. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a game that benefits from knowing as little as possible.

I guess there’s a bare minimum of set up I can give that won’t spoil things. You assume the role of a detective specialising in the occult. This man has a bit of a reputation, it seems — well known for being the go to guy in a certain kind of predicament. Ethan Carter has been in correspondence for some time. Seems the kid knows more about the occult than he should and that he just might be needing our detective’s unique skill set. This is literally the first minute of the game. From here, it’s all uncharted territory and up to you to investigate the case further.

It’s a good one. I was captivated throughout the entire experience. The game’s a masterpiece…

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter tells you right from the start that it’s not interested in holding your hand. This is not a game for someone with a short attention span. This is a game that’s about detail and exploration. I’m certain it ain’t for everyone, but if it’s for you? You can’t do better! It plays like a cross between an old school point and click adventure game like Gabriel Knight or Scratches mixed with the well-realised open worlds of what’s affectionately known as the walking simulator. (Gone Home, Dear Esther and the like.) It’s truly unique, friend.

There’s a refreshing complexity to your case and the tools you’re given to investigate further.

You can approach puzzles in any order, there’s an unexpected non-linearity here that you don’t often associate with story focused games. The gameplay doesn’t feel like obstacles or padding either, it’s the key to whittling down theories. Being a detective is fun. Who knew? You get this feeling of being clever when you work things out. You’re asked to use deductive reasoning as well as honing in on subtle detail. Finding the link between all these events unfolding in Red Creek Valley is exciting. I savoured every moment spent in these surrounds.

This world, man. This world. I am not exaggerating when I say it’s the prettiest one I’ve ever experienced in games. This is a medium of many an iconic moment, like seeing Columbia for the first time in BioShock Infinite or traversing the perilous world of The Last of Us. These games have nothing on The Vanishing of Ethan Carter. I appreciate the boldness here and it’s a huge call to make, but one I’m making all the same. There’s so much attention to detail from every building to the smallest blade of grass. The cohesiveness too — not a single load screen.

On a purely superficial level, I was in awe of just how beautiful The Vanishing of Ethan Carter looks on the visual front. There’s no deceptiveness in the screenshots. It’s not a trick. Somehow an indie studio like The Astronauts managed to create something that rivals the most expensive productions. Pretty graphics don’t mean every thing, but they set the scene for an atmospheric experience that demands you keep pressing on no matter how unsettling the case gets. The production values in every element is unfathomably, mind blowingly high.

Then there’s the sound. Our good pals at The Astronauts specifically advise you play with headphones on. It’s clear why from the moment you step into the world. The sheer ambience is a thing of beauty. You will look up at the cracking branches above you. You will hear trickling of water from a river in the distance long before you see it. All this combined with the compelling case and amazing art direction creates a new text book definition for the word immersive. This is their first game and they’ve created something among my favourites.

I felt sad when the case was solved. I missed it in an instant. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is currently my game of the year. It will take a special kind of awesome to steal its place.

Written by Dan Clarke. September 17, 2014.

Originally published at dcpresents.tumblr.com.