Everhood is a really special game, despite any roughness around the edges. I came across it via a YouTube video showing off the music years ago, saw it was on sale, and bought it on a whim, and I remember playing it to completion that night, until about 3 in the morning, shaky of breath and blurry-eyed.
the story of this game is so unparalleled in making the player confront the idea of uncomfortable and horrific choices being necessary to achieve happiness. I'll expand later down the line as to not spoil anyone who is happening to read my review prior to purchase. it's narrative is well written, well paced, and despite the ecclesiastic cast of characters and locations, it all works and ties together so well.
the music of Everhood is phenomenal, and what drew me into the game in the first place. there's plenty of incredible synth, metal, and even jazzier songs that compliment each character they belong to well, giving you an understanding of personality that goes beyond dialogue or interactions.
the gameplay is similarly enjoyable, creating a unique rhythm-based form of fighting, where you have to dodge and absorb notes to end each battle... it's hard to word what is great about it other than it's refreshing uniqueness, and rhythmic base.
overall I would heavily recommend playing the game blind, and enjoying the world and story the developers have crafted in this short and memorable experience.
as for spoilers...
Everhood deals with the topic of death in a more nuanced and human way than I have ever seen any piece of media even attempt to. each major character has such a real way of facing their death, via escapism, fighting, acceptance, desire for death, confusion, etc... nearly every character is so heartbreakingly well written in their emotional realism when facing death, and it juxtaposes so well with seeing how they all act in the first half of the game, where everything is still just "play" to them. the process of ending the entire world of the game is so emotionally grueling and leaves you wondering if this is really the right choice, and you're even given option to refuse... but in the end, it's the necessary one, no matter how much they all, and even your own character, fight it... the scene of your character, Pink, confronting death as they walk into an icy, black mire, remarking how it's cold, it hurts... it just hits so badly, as someone who grew up with a deep fear of death. but in the end, it all ends up okay, and the cycle of life can begin anew in an uplifting ending that really resonates. part of me wonders if the game would've been better if the entire question went unresolved, leaving the player to debate if it was really the right option, or if they just eliminated an entire universe and it's inhabitants on a false notion of what's best for them... but I do like the heartwarming ending, in all reality. it's nice, that death, as an inevitability, is also a freedom and refresh of the body and soul... it only makes sense, both contextually, and as a real world philosophy. this game really helped me confront that, and I think even if it doesn't for you, it just is worth playing for the story alone.
