Game Review: The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a game set in the fictional town of Red Creek Valley, Wisconsin. Detective Paul Prospero receives a letter from Ethan Carter and knows he is in trouble, so he goes to investigate. Upon arriving at the town, Prospero uses clues to stimulate visions that play out what could have happened to Ethan Carter and solve the mystery of his disappearance.
The Game’s Main Objective
The main objective of the game is for players (playing as Paul Prospero) to find out what exactly led to the disappearance of Ethan Carter in order to find where Ethan currently is.
Gameplay
The story is told entirely through notes, letters, documents, and newspapers that can be found throughout the game’s areas. Players play as Paul Prospero, keeping to a first person perspective from his point of view throughout the entire game. The game also features a “supernatural sense” ability, which allows players to see the essence of certain objects in order to solve puzzles. Visions provide clues to these objects’ whereabouts.
There are no enemies in this game — as it is based on mystery, investigation, and puzzle-solving. It has a very slow-paced and slow-burn story line, and once you’ve got the hang of how to go about solving each “crime scene”, you’ve…
