Get Even review – good idea ineptly handled

Appreciating art involves applauding experimentation, but when you break new ground you don’t always land on your feet. Case in point: Get Even, a game that tells an old story in a new way, and at times, pays a high price for attempting innovation.

You assume the role of Cole Black, an apt name for a hired gun with a gruff Sean Bean-style northern accent, who regains consciousness in a deserted asylum with almost no recollection of his past, apart from the lasting memory of a young girl, held hostage, who had a bad encounter with a bomb vest. Under the guidance of an anonymous captor, Black embarks on a form of treatment, facilitated by a virtual reality headset that enables the user to relive his memories and experience them again in the present. With the help of the Pandora headset, Black explores the abandoned asylum to piece together his past and search for clues as to his future.

So, the idea is "nothing is quite as it seems" and this mental journey littered with flashbacks and abstract, fragmented visuals allows the narrative to break from the linear tradition. You’ll spend much of your time feeling confused and uncomfortable as you stagger around a dark and dank asylum, which is exactly what the game is trying to achieve. This is a story about regret and in some ways, atonement, and while your actions have over-arching ramifications, you’re often left guessing whether what you’re actually experiencing is real.While the many plot twists are the title’s strong point, the intricacies of a well-considered story are at times let down rather badly by the technical execution. Get Even is not the prettiest of games, and nor is it the smoothest. Chugging along with a plodding frame rate inside a drab environment does little to inspire the player. There are shooting elements to the action, hampered by below-par artificial intelligence and while there’s a clever "corner gun" that allows you to shoot at 90-degree angles, the control is cumbersome and adds little to the action.

Get Even tries hard to deliver something fresh, but it unravels when tackling some of the basics. It's a good and at times mentally challenging game that may well appeal to those looking for something different. Just be prepared to manage expectations regarding some of the more conventional gaming requirements. 

• Get Even is available now on Xbox One, PS4 and PC
• Read more gaming reviews on theartsdesk

@wordsbysteve