Everybody's Gone to the Rapture

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics praise the game for its compelling and well-written narrative, with deep and realistic characters. PC Gamer, Gameplanet, and Push Square specifically highlight the strong storytelling, emphasizing the heartfelt and emotional aspects of the end-of-the-world theme. CGMagazine and GameCrate also commend the game for its interesting and compelling narrative, which combines themes of religion, the supernatural, and science. They appreciate how the slow-paced interactive experience reveals the inner workings of a tightly knit community. TheSixthAxis and Twinfinite mention the natural and compelling nature of the story, with a combination of village politics and supernatural elements. However, there are some critics who express negative opinions about the storytelling in Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. Destructoid criticizes the storytelling for being unclear and disconnected, while Game Informer mentions a pretentious monologue in the final stretch that detracts from the overall experience. GameCritics finds the personal conflicts uninteresting and believes the game lacks a narrative thrust of its own. Hardcore Gamer appreciates the poignant and tenebrously beautiful story but criticizes the execution of borrowed elements from other works. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is very good. The majority of the critics appreciate the game's narrative, finding it intriguing, compelling, and deeply affecting. They highlight its exploration of themes such as love, loss, loneliness, forgiveness, community, and the human ability to weather catastrophe. The game's ability to evoke a sense of mystery and surprise is also praised. While there are some criticisms about certain aspects of the storytelling, the positive opinions far outweigh the negative ones, making Everybody's Gone to the Rapture a highly recommended experience for those seeking a captivating and emotional narrative.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture are varied. Some critics, such as Impulsegamer and CGMagazine, appreciate the minimalistic gameplay that focuses on exploration and discovery. They find satisfaction in uncovering the story through short conversations and ghostly scenes, comparing it to the simple pleasure of an idle stroll and the satisfaction of uncovering a mystery. GameCrate also finds gratification in seeking out clues and story tidbits, likening it to a well-designed hidden object game. Worth Playing appreciates the refreshingly minimal gameplay, where immersion into the sights and sounds of the game is key. However, there are several criticisms regarding the gameplay. Many critics mention the slow pace of the game, which can be too ponderous and a test of patience for some players. The lack of a formal introduction to the mechanics and the slow movement speed are mentioned as drawbacks by ActionTrip and Guardian. EGM and Hardcore Gamer express frustration with the slow walking speed, hindering engagement and making exploration discouraging. Slant Magazine and TheSixthAxis also highlight the slow movement speed and backtracking required for mandatory flashback sequences as frustrating aspects. Game Informer criticizes the gameplay for being restrictive and not allowing for freestyle exploration, while GameCritics mentions that the limitations in gameplay highlight the shortcomings in world and narrative design. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Everybody's Gone to the Rapture offers a minimalistic gameplay experience centered around exploration and discovery. The game's slow pace and lack of traditional game mechanics like puzzles or combat divide opinions. Some critics appreciate the immersive and satisfying nature of the gameplay, while others find it dull, methodical, and repetitious. The lack of interactivity and limited interactions with the environment are also mentioned as drawbacks. While there are positive aspects to the gameplay, such as the satisfaction of uncovering the story and the immersive experience, the slow pace and limited gameplay mechanics are the main points of contention among the critics.

The majority of the critics praised the graphics and visual design of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, with many describing it as stunning, beautiful, and visually immersive. The CryEngine was commended for its ability to bring the countryside, buildings, vehicles, and wildlife to life, with Impulsegamer mentioning the "wonderful replay events" that are created. PC Gamer also highlighted the game's attention to detail and ability to capture the ambience of rural England perfectly. CGMagazine and Game Informer both mentioned the changing weather conditions and little visual cues that contribute to the eerie and unsettling atmosphere of the abandoned environment. GameCrate and Gameplanet praised the game's well-designed and exquisitely detailed world, with Gameplanet specifically mentioning the beautifully realized village in Shropshire, England. However, there were some criticisms regarding the graphics and visual design. COGconnected mentioned frame rate drops during day-night cycles, while EGM pointed out issues with the framerate and standard movement hangups. GameCritics criticized the game for focusing too much on the material world instead of exploring spiritual themes. Gamestyle mentioned some issues with texture detail and framerate, and PSNStores mentioned a lack of interactivity in the environment, with some buildings being locked. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Everybody's Gone to the Rapture has impressive graphics and visual design. The game's ability to create a visually striking and immersive world was widely praised, with critics like Guardian, Hardcore Gamer, and Twinfinite emphasizing the stunning visuals and attention to detail. The beautiful and detailed environments, the ability to capture the mood and tone of the game, and the realistic portrayal of the village were also mentioned positively by several critics, such as Game Rant, NZGamer, and Worth Playing. Despite some minor issues and criticisms, the overall sentiment towards the graphics and visual design of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is overwhelmingly positive.

The opinions of the critics regarding the sound design and music of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics praised the game's soundtrack, describing it as powerful, sublime, and stupendous. The score, composed by Jessica Curry, is highlighted for its emotional effect and ability to enhance the atmosphere and tone of the game. Critics such as PC Gamer, ActionTrip, CGMagazine, and Gameplanet specifically mention the use of orchestral arrangements, choirs, and vocals to create a captivating and immersive experience. The voice acting is also commended, with critics like Worth Playing and ZTGD mentioning that it contributes to heavy emotional scenes and makes the characters feel like real people. The sound design, including ambient sounds and eerie signals, is well done and creates an amazing and believable atmosphere, as noted by COGconnected. While the majority of critics praised the sound design and music, there were a few minor criticisms. Hardcore Gamer mentions technical issues such as audio stuttering and cutting out, which could potentially detract from the overall experience. Destructoid's review does not provide a clear opinion on the sound design or music, leaving room for interpretation. However, these negative points are outweighed by the overwhelmingly positive sentiment expressed by the majority of critics. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the sound design and music of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture are exceptional. The score is described as achingly beautiful, haunting, and magnificent, with critics like Gamestyle and TheSixthAxis emphasizing its ability to set the tone and enhance the emotional impact of the game. The combination of the ethereal choir singing, orchestral arrangements, and dynamic triggers of the music creates a captivating and immersive experience. The sound design, including ambient sounds and voice acting, further contributes to the atmospheric experience and draws players into the game's world. The positive opinions of multiple critics, including Impulsegamer, Game Rant, Guardian, and Push Square, reinforce the overall sentiment that the sound design and music of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture are of high quality and greatly enhance the overall experience of the game.

The voice acting in Everybody's Gone to the Rapture received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the majority of critics. Many praised the performances for their ability to bring the characters to life and enhance the emotional impact of the game. Critics such as Impulsegamer and DarkStation commended the fantastic quality of the voice acting, with unique and easily distinguishable voices for each character. This allowed players to understand and empathize with the characters without the need for visual cues. CGMagazine also highlighted the fittingly natural-sounding voice acting, reminiscent of a radio drama, which added to the immersive experience. The voice work was described as superbly performed by the cast, painting vivid portraits in the player's mind's eye (Gamestyle). The voice acting was seen as a commendable achievement, considering the lack of visual elements (GameCrate). While the majority of critics praised the voice acting, there were a few minor criticisms. Game Informer mentioned that remembering characters by their names and accents could be confusing, which slightly detracted from the overall experience. However, this criticism did not overshadow the positive reception of the voice performances. Slant Magazine noted that the fully voiced cast of villagers could be initially overwhelming, but the little details discovered throughout the game helped players make intimate connections with them. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in Everybody's Gone to the Rapture was exceptional. The performances were described as fantastic, impressive, and strong, contributing to the realism and human experiences portrayed in the game (Hardcore Gamer, NZGamer, PSNStores). The impeccable voicework helped create mental images of the central characters and conveyed a range of emotions, including concern, terror, and pain (Worth Playing). The voice acting was seen as a crucial element that added depth and engagement to the narrative, making the five-hour experience memorable (games(TM), ZTGD). The positive reception from the majority of critics solidifies the notion that the voice acting in Everybody's Gone to the Rapture was a standout aspect of the game.

In terms of the technical performance on the PS4, several critics highlighted both positive and negative aspects. The game was praised for its detailed interactive media and impressive technical prowess, as mentioned by TheSixthAxis. This indicates that the game successfully showcases its visual and technical capabilities, creating an immersive experience for players. Additionally, COGconnected mentioned no other technical issues, suggesting that the game generally runs smoothly without any major problems. However, there were also several negative aspects mentioned by the critics. Frame rate drops during day-night cycles and exploration were mentioned by COGconnected, which can be a significant drawback as it affects the overall gameplay experience. The slow walking speed and hangups in standard movement, as noted by EGM, also contribute to a less smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience. Furthermore, Gamestyle mentioned a range of technical issues including low-res textures, noticeable pop-in, framerate issues, game crashes, and getting stuck in scenery. These technical problems can significantly impact the immersion and enjoyment of the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Everybody's Gone to the Rapture on the PS4 has some technical shortcomings. The game suffers from frame rate issues, crashes, and various other technical problems, as mentioned by several critics such as GameTrailers, Gameplanet, and Hardcore Gamer. While the game does showcase impressive technical prowess and detailed interactive media, these positive aspects are overshadowed by the negative technical issues, ultimately affecting the overall experience of the game. It is important for potential players to consider these technical limitations before deciding to play the game on the PS4.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture are varied. Some critics, such as PC Gamer and Gameplanet, highlight the captivating world and heartfelt story as reasons to revisit the game. PC Gamer specifically mentions that despite its passive nature and slow pace, the game's world and story make it worth revisiting. This positive aspect suggests that players may find enjoyment in experiencing the game again, even if it lacks traditional replay value elements. On the other hand, critics like GameCrate and Washington Post express concerns about the lack of immediate incentive to replay the game. GameCrate mentions the absence of branching narratives or critical choices, which are often seen as factors that enhance replayability. Washington Post also notes that the characters' backstories lean more towards melodrama than drama, which could potentially diminish the desire to replay the game for some players. These negative aspects suggest that the game may not offer enough variety or meaningful choices to entice players to replay it immediately after completion. Overall, the critics' opinions on the replay value of Everybody's Gone to the Rapture fall into two main categories. Some critics, such as COGconnected and DarkStation, mention the presence of hidden recordings, conversations, and missed plot points as reasons to replay the game. This suggests that there are elements of discovery and uncovering additional story content that can enhance the replay value for those interested in exploring every aspect of the game. On the other hand, critics like GameCrate and Washington Post express concerns about the lack of immediate incentive or meaningful choices to replay the game. However, the consensus among the critics seems to lean towards the positive side, with several critics highlighting the non-linear narrative and the rewards of thorough exploration as factors that contribute to the game's replay value.