Free Game: Eversion Review

Eversion by Zaratustra can be described in a nutshell as a freeware PC platformer with a twist. You play as a small, flower-like character, going through worlds to save his princess, collecting numerous gems along the way. The graphics and music are very retro, reminiscent of the days of 8-bit games. The controls are simple as well; you use the keyboard: left and right is to move, Z to jump, and X to evert.

This game is different from other platformers because of the eversion mechanic. If you pry open a dictionary, you’ll see the word ‘eversion’ is defined as ‘turning inside-out’. You’ll see that in certain parts of each level, you can evert, making the game world darker with each level of eversion. Certain parts of the scenery change, such as clouds turning solid or blocks breaking as you jump up from under them. The resident goombas change slightly in appearance, but they stay mostly the same until you get to the harder levels. You’ll have to utilize everting to get through the game.

Truth be said, this seemingly cheery PC game is actually difficult. You’ll need pixel-perfect jumping and position to get through some areas, and you’ll have to master how to evert in order to collect all 240 gems.

Eversion is easy and quick to just get through the seven levels, but it is a challenge to complete the game one hundred percent. It takes time to get through the entire game, but after you beat it, a time trial mode unlocks. Despite this addition, replay value is not so great. It can be beaten in a sitting or two and abandoned afterward.

While Eversion is not deep in gameplay, graphics, or length, it has a unique mechanism which brings something new to a player. As the level continue, the game world becomes more and more illusive as you peel back its happy outward appearance; it remains true to eversion’s definition.