The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a veritable feast for the senses, featuring the most gorgeous videogame environment I’ve seen since Far Cry 3. Every frame is a pure delight. In this game, as if by magic, you can practically feel the warmth of the sun against your skin, the breeze through the trees, and even catch a hint of the smell of the woods. It’s absolutely intoxicating, and an incredible achievement upon which to begin the legacy of the newly founded studio, The Astronauts.
Playing Ethan Carter is like the first time you load up the newest, most demanding game possible on a freshly built computer. It offers an irresistible glimpse into the powerful life and beauty of the medium.
But despite all the wondrous sequences in the game, my particular favorite being the astronaut chase, I really wish that there had been more to this game. The environments are so full of life, it makes me wish that the rest of the human cast still were too. We’ll see, as the young studio grows, if they’re up for the challenge. I certainly hope so.
★★★★
