Ether One Critic Reviews

Perhaps most surprising is just how broadly the game appeals. Those looking for a challenge will certainly find one, but lovers of immersive storytelling can be captivated by Pinwheel and the patient’s memories without the puzzles getting in the way.

Ether One would still prove itself a touching story, but it is doubtless that the crux of the game I played was restoring the projectors and learning more about Pinwheel.

Ether One provides a platform to explore dementia - a very common incurable mental illness - for anyone who has had direct experience in the past, whilst delivering a subtle rudimentary level of understanding to those who haven’t.

Ether One might well represent the apex of its particular subgenre. It engages the player at every level they might want to engage it, and rewards them handsomely for plunging into its depths.

Ether One nails its puzzles, atmosphere, and sound (ambient and voice acting). It also nails its story -- whether or not you decide to fully unravel its world and its mysteries -- culminating in a, well, refreshing, smart finale that will stay on my mind for years to come.

As long as we are looking for a cure for Alzheimer's disease, we may still play at war against the cerebral dementia. At least in Ether One it's worthy and highly-exalting gameplay. Both new and charismatic adventure game has undeceived us.

The game is a little too fond of genre conventions like fixing broken machines and conveying storyline through letters and other notes. Other than that Ether One is an excellent adventure title. It's nonlinear, charming and as challenging as you want it to be.

If you enjoy the sort of puzzles found in Myst, then you'll feel right at home in the clever, exploration-focused world of Ether One.

An exceptional collection of puzzles bound by narrative which gets a little ahead of itself.

The world of Ether One is a superbly detailed and well thought-out place. The gameplay hearkens back to an age when you needed three pages of notes to solve a single puzzle. The story is both heartbreaking and horrifying, as well as intriguing and enigmatic.

It might not appeal to everyone, but Ether One is an exceptional example of what can be done with simple game design. It has a quality not commonly seen in smaller indie titles, and the courage to do things a little differently.

Ether One is a sharp, unique game that deals with a tragic subject in an empathetic way, and it’s definitely worth checking out.

The best exploration game yet? Ether One has a great story and a few interesting mechanics that will bring you an unique gaming experience.

As gamers, it’s heartening to see such serious and prevalent issues being treated with the weight they deserve in a medium more inclined to hand you a gun and point you towards the finish line; Ether One is a decent alternative to mainstream mindlessness, a thought-provoking and moving experience for those willing to commit.

It's not a cheery story, but it's one well told and worth at least the three or so hours it takes to appreciate without the sometimes unintuitive puzzles, or as long as they take to solve.

No matter if you want a great story or a complex puzzle game, Ether One won't disappoint you. A great experience that, even though it has some issues, is worth experiencing.

Ether One is an interesting first-person adventure that explores human mind and the causes of dementia in a very original way. Technically surprising, considering the low-budget nature of the title, it deserves to be tried, even if the slow pace could distance action-oriented players.

For an adventure game, Ether One does some pretty interesting things that allow it to break free from the genre’s mold.

Unearthing the story at your own pace is wonderful. However, Ether One goes too far in that direction and puzzles become tedious exercises in trying combinations of different items you acquired in a completely different area.

A fascinating indie adventure about lost memories and dementia, partially ruined by a trembling frame rate.