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Event[0]

A tense and atmospheric, albeit brief battle of wits with an AI system will provide you with a solid evening of interactive story entertainment.
Event[0] Game Cover
73%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, grinding
79% User Score Based on 1,810 reviews
Critic Score 68%Based on 15 reviews

Platforms

PCMac OSWindows
Event[0] Game Cover

About

Event[0] is a single player shooter game with horror, mystery and science fiction themes. It was developed by Ocelot Society and was released on September 14, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Event is a unique single-player horror narrative exploration game with a retro-futuristic sci-fi theme. Players build a relationship with an insecure AI entity, Kaizen, by typing messages and solve puzzles to progress through the story. The game boasts impressive visuals, physics-based rendering, and advanced lighting techniques, with an atmospheric soundscape providing an immersive experience."

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79%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,810 reviews
story398 positive mentions
optimization21 negative mentions

  • The game features a beautifully designed space station and a captivating atmosphere that immerses players in the experience.
  • Interacting with the AI, Kaizen, is a unique and engaging mechanic that allows for a variety of responses and adds depth to the gameplay.
  • The story, while short, is intriguing and encourages exploration of the environment and logs to uncover the mystery of the abandoned space station.
  • The game is very short, typically taking only 2-4 hours to complete, which many players feel does not justify the price.
  • The AI's responses can be frustratingly limited, often misunderstanding player inputs and leading to repetitive or irrelevant answers.
  • The gameplay is linear and lacks significant interactivity with the environment, as players can only interact with terminals and not with objects in the world.
  • story
    1,017 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of *Event[0]* is a mixed bag, with many players finding it intriguing yet ultimately underdeveloped. While the premise of interacting with an AI to uncover a mystery aboard a deserted spaceship is compelling, the narrative often feels fragmented and requires significant effort to piece together through logs and conversations. Despite its short length—typically around 2 to 4 hours—players appreciate the atmosphere and the unique storytelling mechanics, though many express a desire for a deeper, more cohesive plot and character development.

    • “The atmosphere is gorgeous, the storyline is eerie and unsettling but so unique, the soundtrack is honestly my favorite out of any game I have ever played.”
    • “The story is engaging, albeit short at 3+ hours for one playthrough.”
    • “The story is beautifully told.”
    • “The main issue is that the story has no substance and comes across as pretentious: all surface, no substance despite some buzzwords being used and an initial backstory that bears absolutely no effect on the story.”
    • “The game, although it has brilliant ideas and a unique setting and atmosphere, has a very underwhelming story.”
    • “The story is lackluster and none of the themes the game is implicitly driving at are ever delivered on, and the narrative lacks logic when analyzed.”
  • gameplay
    327 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of event[0] is characterized by its unique mechanic of interacting with an AI through text input, which offers an innovative twist on traditional narrative-driven experiences. However, many players find the gameplay to be simplistic and short, typically lasting around 2-3 hours, leading to concerns about its value given the $20 price tag. While the atmosphere and storytelling are praised, the overall execution of gameplay mechanics often feels limited and can be frustrating due to the AI's inconsistent responses.

    • “The gameplay itself was simple but engaging.”
    • “It's so unique and innovative in terms of gameplay and mechanics.”
    • “The unique gameplay of actually 'talking' to someone in order to interact with the environment is fascinating!”
    • “By the time you get an understanding of the mechanics and how to easily work with the awful AI, the game ends.”
    • “$20 for a little over two hours of gameplay is weak in my opinion.”
    • “The gameplay was so-so, and the main mechanic was more of an obstacle than an asset.”
  • graphics
    241 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful retro-futuristic aesthetic and atmospheric visuals reminiscent of classic sci-fi films like "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Alien." However, several users note significant performance issues, including poor optimization and high resource demands, which can detract from the overall experience. While the visuals are generally considered good for an indie title, some players feel they are dated and not as impressive compared to modern standards.

    • “The visuals of this game itself are incredible, not including the fact that the story can change based on how you interact with the world.”
    • “The graphics and atmosphere are top notch.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous, very atmospheric and immersive.”
    • “It's ironic that I believe one of the many AI graphics upscalers that are readily available could have helped minimize this while they were making the game.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized - very long loading times, and most other games with similar or better graphics run on my PC much better.”
    • “For some reason, this game seems to have ridiculous graphical requirements... a GTX 970 is the recommended card?!”
  • atmosphere
    200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, often described as eerie, beautiful, and reminiscent of classic sci-fi aesthetics. Players appreciate the detailed visuals, sound design, and the unique interaction with the AI, Kaizen, which enhances the overall experience. However, many reviews note that while the atmosphere is strong, the story often feels underdeveloped or lacking depth, leaving some players wanting more substance to match the game's atmospheric strengths.

    • “The atmosphere is gorgeous, the storyline is eerie and unsettling but so unique, the soundtrack is honestly my favorite out of any game I have ever played.”
    • “The atmosphere is fantastic and the story is great.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game with the mood music creates the intended atmosphere of isolation, forcing the player to really empathize with Kaizen.”
    • “After a while, all the atmosphere that the game built up fades, and you're left with a stupid puzzle in a world that doesn't feel real anymore.”
    • “Event [0]’s tense atmosphere is a smoke-screen for what is a truly dull experience.”
    • “I get the developer tried to create an atmosphere for the player, but with all the silence between things happening, some kind of narrator could have been nice to have.”
  • music
    116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth, with many players highlighting the standout song "Hey Judy" as a particular favorite. While some noted that the soundtrack is limited and can become repetitive, the overall sound design and musical cues are praised for their effectiveness in creating an immersive experience. The combination of haunting melodies and fitting soundscapes contributes significantly to the game's eerie and nostalgic ambiance, making it a memorable aspect for players.

    • “The atmosphere is gorgeous, the storyline is eerie and unsettling but so unique, the soundtrack is honestly my favorite out of any game I have ever played.”
    • “The music makes the experience even more immersive.”
    • “The developers chose the right music and placed it in the perfect moments, and you become extremely attached to the AI.”
    • “The music consists of some extremely cringy amateurish jazz songs.”
    • “Only a little atmospheric music, not enough even for such a short playthrough.”
    • “The music is usually the same song being repeated, so it gets a bit annoying by the end.”
  • replayability
    73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the multiple endings and the potential for different interactions, while others criticize its short length and limited replay value. Although there are opportunities for varied playthroughs, many reviewers feel that the overall experience lacks depth, making it less appealing for those seeking extensive replayability. Overall, while some players find it worth revisiting for its unique mechanics and story variations, others believe the game falls short in providing substantial replay value.

    • “Short but worth it if you like exploring, mysteries, and replayable games with multiple endings.”
    • “The game has 4 official endings, so there is replayability to make up for that price tag.”
    • “The unique mechanic of interacting with Kaizen puts Event[0]'s replay value through the roof.”
    • “I would have been quite disappointed if I'd paid $20 for a 5-hour game with almost no replayability.”
    • “The story's twists are hopelessly predictable, and replayability is non-existent.”
    • “For many, the notion of paying for a sub-3 hour game with little replay value is laughable.”
  • optimization
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, long loading times, and overheating on various systems. While some players managed to achieve stable performance after adjusting settings, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization to run smoothly, even on powerful hardware. Despite its interesting concept and visuals, the poor optimization detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Finally, there are also performance and optimization issues to contend with, but after tweaking the settings you can minimize these issues so that they don't take away from the gameplay all that much.”
    • “The game is hardware hungry due to not being optimized properly, but it works, as far as I've seen.”
    • “From a performance standpoint, I have no faults to point out; there were no loading jitters, texture popping, or framerate drops. I really don't have anything to complain about.”
    • “It is to be noted that the game does suffer from poor optimization, and while it isn't an issue for most of the game, some areas appear a bit more laggy than others, and you might want to lower the graphic settings even if you own a relatively powerful computer.”
    • “The game looks good, but it seems to be very poorly optimized, or maybe my computer just didn't like the game at all.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game suffers from massive technical issues, including very long loading times and rather serious performance problems.”
  • humor
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is largely centered around interactions with the AI character, Kaizen, who delivers witty and sometimes absurd responses that can evoke genuine laughter. While players appreciate the charm and comedic moments, some find the AI's finicky nature and communication challenges can detract from the experience. Overall, the game is noted for its clever writing and humorous dialogue, making it a fun, albeit occasionally frustrating, adventure.

    • “This is a really fun bite-sized story game that involves interacting with a funny little AI computer program to progress through the story.”
    • “The interaction with Kaizen (the AI you're supposed to talk to) is also really nice and at some points actually pretty funny as well.”
    • “Great story, hilarious AI, wonderfully creepy moments of doubt.”
  • emotional
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players feeling deeply connected to the AI and experiencing genuine emotional moments, while others found it lacking in depth and connection. Many praised the game's ability to evoke feelings through intimate interactions and the AI's emotional responses, leading to moments of joy, sadness, and anxiety. However, some reviewers noted that the emotional system felt limited or unnoticeable, leaving them feeling emotionally empty at times.

    • “This game made me cry, and not in a big dramatic scene, but in a small intimate moment.”
    • “I truly believe I will never forget the heartfelt story this game puts you through.”
    • “I was surprised by how clever the writing turned out to be, how evocative and moody the environments were, and how emotionally invested I got in the story!”
  • grinding
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often detracting from the overall experience. While some puzzles are engaging, the process of finding objects and navigating the environment can feel frustrating and monotonous. Despite its short length and potential for replay value, the tedious controls and linear gameplay hinder enjoyment for many users.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding, mate.”
    • “Various different puzzles which aren't tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The game elements are not fun; they're tedious and repetitive.”
    • “The terminal interaction is dull and tedious.”
  • stability
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting solid performance and no major glitches, while others experience frequent freezes, lag, and bugs that hinder gameplay. Although it is generally well-made, optimization issues and occasional glitches detract from the overall experience, leading to a recommendation to avoid it if using older hardware. Overall, while some aspects are stable, the presence of bugs and performance hiccups suggests it lacks polish.

    • “It is a short game (2 hours), however I found two glitches (one where an event is not triggered, and another where an item does not appear); the story is not particularly interesting.”
    • “The only downside is that it seems somewhat poorly optimized since I have a really good PC and it still has some small freezes, so I would keep away if I had a somewhat old PC.”
    • “The content is clearly not so big, but loading time is huge and there are a lot of occasional freezes.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and ads, providing a straightforward experience without additional costs. However, some players feel that the game's promotional materials create a misleading impression about its features, particularly regarding the luxury yacht's capacity. Overall, while the monetization aspect is positively received, there are concerns about the game's marketing and its alignment with actual gameplay.

    • “Normally I wouldn’t mind if it were a little janky, but for all the emphasis the game put on advertising this feature, I never once felt like my text mattered.”
    • “The ship is described as a luxury yacht, and the lobby is full of promotional materials and advertisements for it as such, but it can only carry 2 people?”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that while the character development, particularly of Kaizen, is engaging and well-executed, some players feel that a deeper backstory and additional development for other characters would enhance the overall experience. The use of terminal logs to explore crew member dialogues adds depth, but there is a desire for more comprehensive character arcs.

    • “The engaging storyline and character development of Kaizen and various crew member dialogues found through the terminal logs really enhance the experience.”
    • “I believe the character development of Kaizen is pretty interesting and solid at the same time; it's not easy to achieve this in every game with a character that has no mimics or clear voice to rely upon.”
    • “If there had been a little more character development, a deeper backstory would have made the experience even richer.”
    • “If there had been a little more character development, a deeper backstory.”
    • “The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked any real growth throughout the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way.”
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3h Median play time
3h Average play time
2-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 43 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Event[0] is a shooter game with horror, mystery and science fiction themes.

Event[0] is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing Event[0].

Event[0] was released on September 14, 2016.

Event[0] was developed by Ocelot Society.

Event[0] has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Event[0] is a single player game.

Similar games include The Station, Stories Untold, Observation, Tacoma, CONSORTIUM and others.