I’m a Rapture sucker. I love the whole idea of believers leaving all their earthly possessions behind and ascending to the heavens while the rest of us are stuck duking it out during the tribulation.
Yes, I have read the Left Behind books. Well, the first three. Actually, two and a half, because the third one got way too preachy.
But when I hear Rapture, I absolutely get psyched. It’s just such an interesting concept to me, regardless of whether I believe in its actual possibility. I have a friend who’s a scientist and complete atheist. The idea of a hereafter, he simply can’t even go there. It’s fundamentally against his belief system. Whenever I want to get his goat, or try to stop him in his tracks, I ask him what he’d say if the Rapture actually were to occur.
“Well,” he always says. “I’d look for the scientific explanation first.”
“OK, and what happens when no scientific explanation is possible and we’re stuck dealing with the rise of the Anti-Christ and his Four Horseman?”
“Hmmm,” he often pauses. “I guess you’d be right, then.”
All this to say, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of the Playstation 4 exclusive game, Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture.
Created by The Chinese Room, the same group behind the critically acclaimed Dear Esther, Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture is a first person exploration game tha takes place in a British town called Yaughton Valley, which appears to abandoned, void of any life other than your own. To discover what has happened and where the townspeople have gone, you are left to wander around the lush landscape, as you encounter the memories of those that have disappeared.
Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture is one of the more unique games I’ve ever encountered – it succeeds or fails based on the players willingness to explore. If you’re looking for something fast -paced or full of shoot ’em ups, this is absolutely not the right game for you. There’s little in the way of instruction; one is forced to figure out what’s going on simply via exploration. A certain amount of patience is required, but the gorgeous world you’re in makes wandering rewarding, and even a little calming. While you’re in theory alone, you’re not quite – the voice acting of the memories is top notch, and it’s soundtrack is on par with any film score.
With it’s unique, non-linear storytelling, Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture is far from a mainstream gaming experience. It depends on the openmindedness of its audience to go with the flow, rather than be directed from moment to moment. It’s open world in a world that may no longer exist.
What would I do if I survived the Rapture? What will I do as I move through Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture? I’m not sure, but I’m game to find out.
