Beyond: Two Souls is somewhat of a dramatic psychological thriller interactive movie, if you will. The game is developed and produced by Quantic Dream, makers of 2010’s Heavy Rain. This is a Playstation 3 exclusive. If you’ve played the unique Heavy Rain, then you’ll be in familiar territory here. This time, things are even more movie-like with Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe as the main stars, but your decisions are nowhere near as important. The theme is dark and the story is emotionally and psychologically profound. The writing and story are its best features and really pushes it forward. David Cage is at the helm of course, who has always been someone to think outside of the box. Beyond is indeed a fresh and one of a kind experience in video games. Even if you’re not a fan of this type of game I advise all gamers to give it a shot at least once.
The story is different and thought provoking. Jodi is a girl that houses another being inside of her named Aiden. You play as both, throughout the course of different stages of her life, not in order. The acting is top-notch, the best in gaming. The dialogue is often funny, smart and engaging. Willem Dafoe plays Dr. Nathan Dawkins, who cares for her in the early stages of her life after her parents decide to hand her over for scientific research. Ellen Page gives a breathtaking performance, just as she would in any feature film. She’s always full of emotion and determination. You will quickly become emotionally attached to Jodi, I assure you. My personal favorite character is Cole Freeman, Nathan’s research partner, who is played by Kadeem Hardison. He is the most level-headed and boasts a great personality and heart. It’s a great cast that brings the story to life. You’ll meet many other supporting characters along the journey who are also respectable in their own right. As the story progresses, things begin to become more clear, but towards the end, it kind of loses momentum a bit and gets pretty weird to say the least. Wait until you have to make that final decision, sheesh! I was also disappointed in some story choices that were made by Cage, but that is subjective.
The visuals in Beyond: Two Souls are some of the best I have ever seen. In some sections you can even see flashes of the Playstation 4. The game engine was indeed built around the PS4 architecture. I can’t imagine what Quantic Dream’s next-gen project will look like. It really takes advtage of the PS3’s power, pushing it to its very limits, especially when you think about how PS3 games looked back in 2006. You will be awed at nearly every corner. However, some environments such as indoor ones are bland, which is unfortunate. A big plus in the game is that you’ll see tons of varied environments that are mostly beautiful and come as refreshing, consistent changes.
Don’t expect to do much shooting or well, anything that involves lots of action. This game feels like an interactive movie, with many quick time events and button mashing. You’ll also have to make snappy decisions throughout, but there aren’t many consequences, making things feel dry and kind of pointless at times. There is a lot of talking, so be prepared. Controlling Jodi can be frustrating at times, but doesn’t happen often enough to be a major issue. Controlling Aiden is usually fun because you can be somewhat of a fly on the wall, so you’re practically invisible. You can also mess with things in the environment which can aid in your advancement in each level. If you’re a Call of Duty fan, just keep doing what you’re doing. However, it would be to your advantage in trying this game out because it’s not the same thing over and over again. This game can be used as a tool to get the typical shooter fan to think outside the box and become engaged in a great story. Even though the controls are limited, it makes fantastic and inventive use of the Dualshock 3.
Overall, Beyond: Two Souls is a solid gaming experience. If you ask David Cage what he is, he’ll tell you he’s a video game creator, not a director (what most people call him). Regardless, the guy thinks in a unique way and comes up with games that are vastly different and extremely refreshing to play. Don’t let the movie-like interactivity scare you away from this game. You’re almost guaranteed to appreciate it for what it is, as long as you’re not comparing it to something else. Take a leap of faith and give Beyond: Two Souls a try. The game isn’t perfect by any means, as it has several flaws, but it is different. It’s a polarizing title (Have you seen the incredibly mixed reviews!?) that could change your mind about video games. In the end, no one will be able to deny that Beyond is an emotionally charged and unforgettable experience.