Evan's Remains Reviews
The narrative of Evan's Remains — if you don't skip any of it — probably takes up half the total playtime, if not even more. The puzzles themselves, of which there are maybe 20-25, take around two hours to complete. So honestly, I can't call the game a bad value at only $6.99, considering the price of a movie ticket these days. But there is just little here to recommend otherwise. The puzzles are fun enough, but the storytelling won't be to everyone's tastes. It definitely never strummed my heartstrings.
Evan's Remains is an example of a very atmospheric story that makes great use of pixel graphics, music, and puzzles for maximum immersion. And although the project is completed in three hours – it is clearly worth it, although the ending may not please everyone because of its final plot twist.
Review in Russian | Read full review
It's a shame to take great graphics and an interesting premise and ultimately squander them, but that doesn't mean Evan's Remains is absolutely horrible. Given a bit of tweaking it could have been great. As it stands, it's an iniquity you can finish in a couple of hours if you're great at puzzles. Just don't expect to get too engrossed.
While it's over a bit too soon, Evan's Remains is a delightful little puzzle game. Its story builds up to some great lengths, and the puzzles are innovative and fun to solve.
The main factor to Evan's Remains' gameplay lies within monolith puzzles. The platforming was something I was really looking forward to watching the trailer, as you're meant to sort out pressure sensitive pads in a certain order to advance along. If you're stumped, you do have the option to skip the puzzles, but I would advise against it--there's a few secrets to find along the way that are actually pretty cleverly done. I will say that they're not terribly difficult in nature, but some will keep you guessing for an extra minute or two, with a nice sense of accomplishment when you finally solve.
Evan's Remains may be a simple puzzle platformer but it's one that requires a lot of careful planning to master its clever stages.
Evan's Remains is certainly an interesting combination of genres and while at times the puzzles feel like they are just there to break the story apart, it all comes together with excellent artwork and a memorable narrative.
Mike: Let’s not waste time here. Evan’s Remains is something special. The difficulty for us, I guess, it is explaining why, without giving anything away. I’m sure you’ll agree that this game sits in that pool of the story-driven experiences, the likes of Gone Home and Undertale, where the player benefits more by knowing less. But, Alicia, let me first ask you this: what made the game first resonate with you?
More than anything, Evan's Remains could be the start of something special, either in a sequel or a future work from this developer.
There is little to fault in Evan's Remains, which can be a three-hour long adventure, depending how fast puzzles are solved, and how long is spent enjoying watching the protagonists hair and clothes move about when she runs and jumps. Multiple saves would be a plus point, although they aren't really needed, since puzzles can be bypassed if they prove too difficult. Learning the truth about everyone on and off the island makes a replay enticing, in order to see the hints about their identities, and the emotional, tugging truth about Evan.
Evan's Remains is fine - at least initially. The mix of visual novel-like cut scenes and platform puzzling is a good combo, and those who aren't too keen on the platforming part can take solace in the fact that they can skip those portions without penalty. However, the predictable nature of the tale lessens the story's impact, and the small number of puzzles doesn't provide much for action-oriented players to chew on. It is a short experience that seems appropriately priced ($7) for what you're getting, but this title won't stick with you after the credits roll.
The skillfully drawn graphics, combined with the engaging (and at times thrilling) story and fun to solve puzzles, make the game an experience everyone should play at least once. Though the ending leaves the player unsatisfied, it is the journey that matters.