Everybody's Gone To The Rapture - AGE review

The definition of Rapture that best suits this games title is "the carrying of a person to another place or sphere of existence." Now before we delve too deep into my thoughts on this title, I must hold back my instant reaction to call it a game. Simply put this is an experience, not a game. As I realize how most of my thoughts on this title will come across will mostly sound negative, I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I just believe the longer you have to analyse something the more holes you are going to pick in the overall product and trust me I got to spend a whole lot of time with this.

Everybody's Gone To The Rapture (EGTTR) is almost a visually stunning masterpiece with exceptional draw distance, attention to detail and a very desirable colour palette. Where it is brought down graphically is the lack of rendering of the 2D foreground and plant life. We are lead down our path of discovering what the hell is actually going on by a yellow spherical entity that is seemingly aware of your existence and is a constant reminder that you actually have no idea what this is and what it is doing. At times this entity hovers around you as if to gesture you are heading in the right direction, until all of a sudden it flies off at a rate of knots and not only is it hard to follow it is at times also very difficult to determine which direction it has gone in.

While on the subject of things being hard to follow, then there is the plot or the story if you will. While following in the direction of the gold orb, you will come across smaller orbs that are stationary but seem to be drawing some form of energy towards them. The first couple of these orbs you come across you are gestured by an on screen prompt to utilise the Dual Shock 4's motion capabilities to move this orb from left to right until the sweet spot is found. Upon reaching the desired point the orb then manifests itself into a visual memory that most of the time is seemingly not important to what is going on, or is it? I guess that is what this title tries to achieve, the player asking questions subconsciously and then in turn answering them and generating a narrative unique to each specific player.

Here is my opportunity to touch on what is probably my most favourite aspect of this title and that is its soundtrack. Whenever something important is about to happen or is happening the audio is overwhelmingly powerful. With a selection mainly consisting of different multi-faceted biblical style hymns and choir numbers. Once again though with any part of this title consisting of substance is truly just too far in between seemingly nothingness and mindless wondering. The old England shire style surrounding is also littered with multiple radios and tape decks all tuned to what seems to be and emergency frequency consisting of a looped message and a spattering of number sequences, which allude to something greater.

There is a surprising lack of anything really to do in EGTTR other than participate (in a very stalkerish kind of way) in what seems to be a non-chronological recount of interactions between the town folk prior to the 'event'. Coupled with this the extensively slow journey you have to take in order to try and piece together what is happening, it is not uncommon to forget what was said 10 minutes ago let alone 2 hours ago. I think this was taken into consideration during development and this has come to mind due to the fact, rather than doing a numerical chapter style progression it is more a character based chapter progression. Just to add to the somewhat boredom the title delivers is also the interaction with Dual Shock 4. Only 1 button is used along with the Left and Right sticks and the occasional use of the motion control.

So in conclusion if it wasn't for the truly beautiful surroundings and the spattering of engaging audio inclusions, EGTTR would not hold up very well at all for those seeking an engaging experience. As far as experiences go though this is definitely an experience but not one of action or control but more of an emotional narrative with a lot of plot holes to be filled by one's imagination. It is by no means overpriced for what it delivers but is severely found wanting in the area of being an engaging and fulfilled experience. I find it very hard to attempt to give this a rating as I really have nothing to compare it too. EGTTR may very well be a benchmark in it's now defined genre but at best I am lead to believe this to be a niche genre.

If you think I have missed anything during my play through or would like to have your opinions I am easily reached at our Facebook page along with a lot of other like minded gamers. So come share you views and get among our constantly buzzing community drop a like and be part of our Aussie family.

Cheers Red