Get Even

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Get Even are varied, but there are several positive aspects that stand out. Many critics praise the intriguing and complex nature of the story, with elements such as memory manipulation, psychological trickery, and shifting truths. The narrative is described as a tight psychological thriller that deals with heavy subjects and raises philosophical questions about thought, memory, and technology. The story is also commended for its ambition, engaging the player and keeping them interested. Critics such as DarkStation, Game Informer, and Digitally Downloaded highlight the gripping and mysterious nature of the story, with twists and turns that keep the player on edge. TheXboxHub and COGconnected also mention that the story is well-written and interesting, motivating the player to know more. However, there are some criticisms regarding the story of Get Even. Some critics, like ICXM and PlayStation LifeStyle, mention that the narrative fails to bring its story together in a meaningful way, with unsatisfying twists and predictable plot points. PlayStation LifeStyle also criticizes the confusing and incoherent nature of the story, suggesting that it could have been more effective if it provided clearer information to the player. The lack of emotional connection and generic name of the main character are also mentioned as hindrances to the player's investment in the story by PlayStation LifeStyle. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of Get Even is intriguing, engaging, and ambitious. The complex and compelling non-linear narrative, combined with elements of memory manipulation and psychological trickery, is praised by many reviewers. The story is described as a tight psychological thriller that keeps the player interested and guessing. However, there are criticisms regarding the execution of the story, with some reviewers finding it confusing, incoherent, or predictable. Despite these criticisms, the positive aspects of the story, such as its gripping nature and thought-provoking themes, seem to outweigh the negatives, making Get Even a game with a compelling and intriguing story.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Get Even are varied, with some positive aspects highlighted. DarkStation praises the combination of exploration, gunplay, and stealth, with the mind detective part of the game being particularly interesting. Game Informer also commends the gameplay, mentioning that shooting and stealth are fun, with meaty gunplay and a variety of stealth kill animations. They also appreciate the well-placed and consistently inventive puzzle-solving detective bits. Digitally Downloaded describes the gameplay as a thrilling experience, where the player collects evidence in each level to piece together the story, with the investigative process being enjoyable and decision-making having consequences. However, there are also several negative opinions about the gameplay. Destructoid mentions flaws in the shooting mechanics, describing them as competent but not particularly good. They also criticize the stealth, stating that it is often tedious and difficult to navigate. PC PowerPlay criticizes the gameplay for being clunky, slow, and shallow, with shooting and stealth mechanics feeling half-baked. VideoGamer points out glitches, audio bugs, and frustrating loading times, while also mentioning that shooting feels unsatisfying compared to other shooters. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the gameplay of Get Even has its strengths and weaknesses. While some critics appreciate the combination of different gameplay styles, such as exploration, puzzle-solving, and stealth, others find the shooting mechanics and stealth elements to be lacking. The puzzle-solving and detective aspects are generally well-received, with Game Informer and Digitally Downloaded highlighting their enjoyment. However, there are criticisms regarding clunky mechanics, glitches, and unsatisfying shooting. Despite these mixed opinions, the gameplay of Get Even manages to stand out with its unconventional and daring approaches, as noted by TrueAchievements.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Get Even are varied, with some positive and negative aspects highlighted. DarkStation commends the presentation and character models, stating that they create an oppressive and desolate atmosphere. Stevivor praises the distinct and captivating abandoned asylum setting, which contributes to the game's eerie feel. TheXboxHub appreciates the nicely drawn outside spaces and office worlds, as well as the superb design of documents and dreamy/nightmare sequences. COGconnected mentions that the game has realistic environments and slick visuals that pull the player in. Digital Chumps also commends the superb lighting, textures, and shading that enhance the creepy atmosphere. On the other hand, TrueAchievements criticizes the visuals of Get Even, stating that they are not up to par with modern games, with poor lighting and textures lacking detail. Game Informer describes the visuals as noticeably dated, with stiff character animations and repetitive environments. PC Gamer mentions drab and dreary mazes of corridors, but highlights the nice world-building through police reports and other documents. Critical Hit points out the dreary palettes, middling graphics, and poor textures, along with the unsteady framerate and technical issues such as bugs, glitches, and texture pop-in. Overall, the consensus among the critics is mixed. While some critics, such as DarkStation, Stevivor, TheXboxHub, COGconnected, and Digital Chumps, appreciate the visuals and atmosphere created by the game, others, like TrueAchievements, Game Informer, PC Gamer, and Critical Hit, express disappointment with the dated visuals, lack of detail, and technical issues. However, it is worth noting that some critics, such as GameSpew, Impulsegamer, and God is a Geek, find positive aspects in the visual design, highlighting the fantastic virtual asylum, well-designed environments, and immersive elements. Despite the mixed opinions, it seems that the game's visuals manage to create a tense and unsettling atmosphere, but fall short in certain areas, such as character animations and technical performance.

The majority of the critics were highly impressed with the sound design and music of Get Even, praising it for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and immerse players in the game. Critics such as DarkStation, ICXM, Stevivor, TheXboxHub, and ZTGD all commended the game's sound design, with mentions of how it added tension, created suspense, and contributed to the overall creepiness of the experience. The use of breathing sounds, sharp crescendos, occasional chanting, and clever audio cues were highlighted as effective techniques in building unease and keeping players on edge. The soundtrack by Olivier Derivière was also widely praised, with critics like PC PowerPlay and Digitally Downloaded commending its excellence and how it complemented the game's theme and narrative. The voice acting was another aspect that received positive remarks, with critics such as COGconnected and Digital Chumps praising the convincing performances that brought the characters to life. While the overall consensus was overwhelmingly positive, there were a few criticisms regarding the sound design and music of Get Even. GamingTrend mentioned instances of poor sound design and repetitive score changes, which could potentially detract from the overall experience. VideoGamer also pointed out that some audio cues became annoying over time. However, these negative aspects were mentioned by only a small number of critics and did not significantly impact the overall sentiment towards the sound design and music. In conclusion, the sound design and music of Get Even received high praise from the majority of critics. The positive aspects included the use of audio cues, the eerie and immersive soundtrack, and the excellent voice acting. These elements effectively contributed to the tense atmosphere, created suspense, and added to the overall immersion and creepiness of the game. While there were a few criticisms regarding poor sound design and repetitive score changes, these were minor concerns that did not overshadow the overwhelmingly positive reception. Overall, the sound design and music of Get Even were considered to be a standout feature of the game.

The majority of the critics praised the voice acting in Get Even, with many highlighting the strong performances and convincing delivery. TheXboxHub commends the British cast for their ability to sell each line, while TrueAchievements describes the voice acting as "generally excellent" and never distractingly bad. COGconnected adds that the voice acting is well-done and effectively immerses the player in the role of a real MI5 agent. Digital Chumps also mentions the convincing voice acting that adds to the immersion, and Digitally Downloaded believes it is some of the best for this type of game, enhancing the overall quality of the storytelling. Critical Hit goes as far as to say that the voice work is largely superlative, and Impulsegamer mentions how it cements the gritty feel of the game and suits the character of Cole. TheSixthAxis also acknowledges the solid voice acting with a strong British cast. While the majority of the critics had positive opinions about the voice acting, there were a few minor criticisms. PC Gamer states that while Black's voice is great, the reviewer didn't care much about the character. PlayStation Country mentions that Cole's voice may be a bit overbearing, which could potentially detract from the overall experience. NZGamer simply describes the voice acting as passable, suggesting that it may not stand out as much compared to other aspects of the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in Get Even is very good. The strong performances from the British cast are frequently praised, with many critics highlighting how the voice acting adds to the immersion and enhances the storytelling. The positive opinions outweigh the minor criticisms, indicating that the voice acting is a notable strength of the game. Critics such as COGconnected, Critical Hit, and Digitally Downloaded particularly emphasize the high quality of the voice work. While there are a few dissenting opinions, the overall sentiment towards the voice acting in Get Even is overwhelmingly positive.

In terms of the technical performance on different gaming platforms, there are both positive and negative aspects highlighted by the critics. On the positive side, the PC version of Get Even seems to have fewer issues compared to the console versions. Gameplanet mentions that the PC version runs smoothly with no major issues, while Game Informer states that the bugs encountered during the playthrough were minor and did not hinder the enjoyment of the game. However, the console versions, particularly the PS4 version, seem to have more technical problems. Critical Hit mentions an unsteady framerate, bugs, glitches, and instances of texture pop-in on the PS4. NZGamer also points out technical bugs and gaps in the environment, which detract from the atmosphere of the game. TheSixthAxis adds that the game struggles to maintain a solid 30fps on consoles, indicating framerate issues. GamingTrend specifically mentions frame rate dips in outdoor areas on the PS4. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the technical performance of Get Even is not up to par, particularly on the console versions. DarkStation, Gameplanet, Critical Hit, NZGamer, TheSixthAxis, GamingTrend, and Trusted Reviews all highlight various technical issues such as frame rate problems, bugs, glitches, texture pop-in, and issues with collision detection. These technical shortcomings negatively impact the gameplay experience and immersion in the game. While the PC version seems to have fewer issues, there are still reports of ropey optimization, texture streaming problems, and frame rate problems mentioned by PC Invasion and ZTGD.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Get Even are mixed. On the positive side, several critics point out the potential for replay value in the game. Game Informer expresses a desire to revisit the world and collect all the missed clues to see how it would affect the story, suggesting that there is incentive to play the game again. TrueAchievements highlights the need for achievement hunters to play through at least twice to unlock all achievements, indicating that there are different outcomes based on minor choices. Additionally, GameSpew mentions that collecting all the clues and secret clues is necessary for understanding the ending, providing further motivation for replaying the game. However, there are also some negative opinions regarding the replay value of Get Even. TheSixthAxis mentions the lack of variety in gameplay, which may limit the game's replayability for some players. ICXM criticizes the final third of the game, describing it as a mess, which could potentially deter players from wanting to replay it. GamingTrend states that the game demands a second playthrough to grasp the intricacies of its plot, which could be seen as a negative aspect for those who prefer a more straightforward narrative experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Get Even offers some replay value, but it may not be appealing to all players. The potential for different outcomes based on choices, the need to collect all the clues and achievements, and the desire to understand the intricacies of the plot are mentioned as positive factors for replayability. However, the lack of variety in gameplay and the messy final third of the game are seen as potential drawbacks. It is important for players to consider their preferences for narrative complexity and gameplay variety when deciding whether to replay Get Even.