The protagonist can't die in 'Beyond: Two Souls (2013)', an interactive movie from the developers of 'Heavy Rain (2010)', but its side characters can. As a choice-driven experience, that's where it finds its suspense: the knowledge that your decisions directly impact the lives of others. This is one of the game's themes, the fact that you're important to people you may only - in the grand scheme of life - pass by, and it's reflected well within the story. The game follows a woman with a psychic link to some sort of spirit, spanning pretty much all her life via non-linear chapters. The thing's non-linearity, a sticking point among some fans, feels almost arbitrary, as it doesn't really lead to any dramatic irony or foreshadowing, but it isn't disengaging, either. Its elusive, lucid-dream vibe actually helps to communicate the plot, which is supposed to seem like a series of pivotal memories belonging to the lead. Surprisingly, it doesn't hamper the impact of player choices, either, which - while undeniably rather subtle - still shape the outcome of the narrative in important ways. It is a shame that the ending is determined almost exclusively by a two-tier choice presented near the piece's climax, as opposed to a natural extension of the way you've been playing thus far. This doesn't hamper the experience, though; it's compelling, entertaining and unique. Its all-star performances are top-notch, captured naturally with a mo-cap system that mimics on-stage acting. One the thing's best aspects is the ability to play as the spirit connected to the main character. These segments play out almost like puzzles and evoke a point-and-click feel. They also allow the player to directly control the relationship between the spirit and the protagonist. The controls for the latter have been changed slightly from 'Heavy Rain (2010)'. There is no more awkward 'push to walk' mechanic and the movements required of the right thumb-stick are decidedly less precise. The piece is still clunky at times, though. In the end, this is an enjoyable and, even, somewhat affecting sci-fi game. Best of all: it stars Willem Dafoe. 9/10
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Pjtaylor-96-13804431 March 2020
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pierresempere28 June 2020Quantic has the tallent to create games that you can judge as movies, that's impressive enough. The story is brilliant and the characters alive (and not lifelike), which makes you immerse a lot. Music and ambiance are both top notch. I removed a star because I found it a little bit too long in the end (I went through it in one go which might explain it), but I had a fantastic time
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tahaaktay28 January 2021Great storyline with a great control. Real actors makes the game better. Game feels like a movie and the dialogues are awesome. With the great graphics, it was an amazing experience that you would like to play again
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gabe-zia12 October 2013From video game developer David Cage, maker of Heavy Rain and Indigo Prophecy, comes one of the most amazing and most entrancing video game experiences I have ever had in my entire life. Without mentioning any spoilers, I'll just say that this game carried me emotionally the whole way through, and gripped me the whole time.
Unlike most video games, this game stars actual actors, Ellen Page & Willem Dafoe. Page plays a girl names Jodie Holmes, a girl linked to a supernatural entity. Dafoe plays a man named Nathan Hawkins, a scientist assigned to study her case. There's not much else I can say without giving away major plot details.
Since the game plays out on a very large scale, it makes sure the player is invested by jumping around to different points of time. If the game followed a linear storytelling method, the segments would drag on. But this system gives the player a lot of flexibility, since no level is similar to the previous one.
I don't usually look at performance by a mo-cap actor or voice overs, but this is a rare exception. Both Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe deliver exceptional performances, both should win some award at the GOTY shows this year. This is also on a large part due to the phenomenal tech team Quantic Dream was working with that allowed the actors to show every facial expression, and every detail of the world around them to further captivate the player.
The gameplay is fluid and rather exciting. Quantic has really stepped it up a notch with the gameplay, allowing for a control scheme that is easy to adapt to, and subtle. In the game, there are segments where you get to play as the entity Jodie is linked to, and these are very fun to play. The entity (which Jodie calls Aiden) can control various things in the world. In some levels, it adds a puzzle game feel to it, giving Jodie a situation where Aidens abilities are used in creative ways.
The soundtrack is beautifully composed, as with Quantics latest venture (Heavy Rain). It's also very emotional, bringing a very powerful reaction out of me.
As to be expected from a Quantic Dream game, the shining quality is the story. This is by far, the best storyline I have ever followed in a video game. You're captivated and involved in the story, and there are no levels I would classify as "filler". Every section serves the story, and the story takes twists in ways I couldn't expect.
Overall, Beyond: Two Souls is a rare game. One that came to me as a large surprise. And while the action oriented fans of the shooter genre will not be impressed by the strange thing called "plot", It's an amazing narrative, one I will easily play again & again. -
SilviuBorz7 November 2013I have to say i did not expect much of it, but I was blown away. The acting was one of a kind, Ellen Page did a fantastic job, and so did the rest of the cast and crew.
I was not a huge fan of Ellen Page, because I didn't pay enough attention to her movies, but she has won me over, I can now say that I am a HUGE fan.
When it ended, I was speechless, and i was compelled with such emotion, I can't even describe it, I had tears in my eyes and I could not believe it ended. I fell in love with the story and character, it really makes you care for "Jodie" and I would recommend it to everyone, gamer or not, it is a Masterpiece.
10 / 10 -
Your mileage may vary, but for me, the game is transcendent.
It transcends both video games and movies to become something greater than either medium would ever be by themselves. I'm an avid gamer (I have 400+ Steam games, 400+ iOS games, and 100+ console games). Yet–to speak for myself–*I* found this game far more moving, thought-provoking, meaningful, and entertaining than many other games (including Super Mario Galaxy 1-2, Grand Theft Auto 4-5, The Last of Us, and others).
I can only compare it to Heavy Rain, The Walking Dead, or the Metal Gear Solid series: deep rich stories that have themes and messages that convey something of lasting meaning; something beyond the mindless (but fun) shooting and platforming of other titles.
I will remember this game for years to come. There are few works of fiction of any medium for which I can say the same.
If you like a rich deep story line and don't care about a lack of "agency" (it's always illusory in video games, anyway–there are always incredibly restrictive rules on game play), then this is *the* game of the seventh generation. The comparably minor errors in execution and direction can be ignored, when viewed in light of the whole.
Indeed, the question of whether this qualifies as a game is, like Dear Ester, a largely irrelevant and pedantic: It entertains. It provokes thought. It is emotionally moving. And it illustrates that games–like cinema or literature–can be taken seriously as a medium to both entertain and enlighten.
It seems to me that most reviewers of this game have profoundly and tragically missed the point.
I've tentatively come to the conclusion that most people who dislike Beyond do so because they cannot (or will not) accept the game on its own terms: They have certain expectations of video games, and deviation from well-established norms vexes them. So, for instance, they demand interactivity, even when accepting passivity allows a far more compelling and moving narrative.
In contrast, other people are, perhaps, more flexible (at least with regards to their expectations of the medium). For instance, the "passivity" of playing Beyond did not bother me in the slightest (except, at times, the second play-through; but I passed it the first time a day ago). I knew what I was getting into.
I believe that many reviewers, given their larger than average exposure to the medium are even less tolerant of certain deviations from game play norms. This, I think, explains the large divergence of opinions on metacritic, and the (to me) inconceivably low average the game currently has (a mere 73!).
Like the criticism that the game strips the player of freedom/agency, I do not think the others have merit:
I consider the script to be impeccable. I have noticed no plot holes, and very few problems with the dialogue. It is telling that David Cage took a year of 12-14-hour days to write it and that it is 2000 pages in length.
I consider Page's acting to be truly and deeply awe-inspiring. I cannot praise her highly enough. She memorized 30-40 pages of dialogue each day. She had very little time to prepare and rehearse. She often had to juggle different emotional responses to the situations (e.g., playing the part one way in a scene and playing it another way in the same scene). Yet, despite these challenges, her acting is consistently of the highest professional quality. I have noticed no flaws in her performance; it is (along with William Dafoe's performance) very much in keeping with her Academy Award for Best Actress. I consider her to be the most talented actress I've seen.
I also think that the myriad ad hominem attacks against David Cage are entirely unwarranted. He does not try to impose his views on others. Rather, he is merely passionate, has a vision he believes in, and is outspoken in his beliefs. He believes that gaming can, like cinema or literature, change the world (or try to). This is not arrogant; it is noble.
Moreover, the game has other strengths that seem to be overlooked by many:- The social commentary is entirely warranted, and appropriately biting. - The graphical quality of the game is the best of any on a console. - The story is incredibly moving and thought-provoking. The narrative was very easy for me to follow, despite the non-chronological presentation. - There is a wide range of different locales and gameplay dynamics employed. Variety is the spice of life.
To put it succinctly (and a little melodramatically):
For me, the game is both a reminder and illustration of the many challenges and the triumphs, the sadnesses and joys that life has to offer. For me, it's life affirming, and I consider it deep, rich and meaningful. There are almost no other games (and few movies and books, for that matter) for which I can say the same.
Take a chance; play this game. -
Polarizing reviews from players for Beyond: Two Souls. I can understand why, as many serious gamers may be disappointed that it's more like a play-through novel than a game. For me and many others however, this is a captivating story that's both unsettling and refreshing. I'm a fan of Choose Your Own Adventure books, so this has enough variability to make it intriguing, yet keeps the story moving along a cohesive direction. A few revelations are predictable, however there are a lot of surprises. The ending has a riveting crescendo followed by very important options for endings. So much of this game is art: directing, action adventure, drama, sci-fi, thriller, music, and a whole lot of heart.
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What happens after death, what is there in the beyond? These are the questions that Quantic Dream's new title tries to ask. Beyond Two Souls is an incredibly beautiful game with a very beautiful and emotional storyline with a few surprising twists thrown into the mix. Is this game really worth your time? Well... it really depends on what your looking for these days in gaming. If you expect some AAA gameplay in this game, its not here (The Last of Us is a great alternative of storyline and gameplay). Also if you hated David Cage's previous title Heavy Rain due to the QTE's and slow gameplay then chances are you won't like this title either, this is stuff you should expect in a Quantic Dream game.
Beyond tells a story of girl named Jodie Holmes through her life ages 8 23. All her life she is attached to an entity named Aiden that protects her throughout the entirety of her life she tries to understand her entity's purpose here and understanding more on what lies beyond. This game is purely made for its story and the story here is exceptional, in addition, the performances by Ellen Page as Jodie Holmes and William Defoe as Nathan Hawkins are both amazing. The storyline here doesn't have as many plot holes like Heavy Rain does so that's relief. The story is very emotional and even more so with Heavy Rain and touches on a lot of sensitive subjects such as death, losing loved ones, and reconnecting with those we have lost (which I'm sure will make many shed some tears, I sure as hell did). It has an awesome plot that will keep you hooked for hours until the very end. However the only problem I had with the story was the way it is told. The game starts out in medias res and from there the story starts to jump around the place. For example, you would start out with Jodie in her childhood then jump into her in the military, then back to a kid, then teen and then suddenly you're wanted by the police. I kind of understand what kind of direction David Cage is going for doing a Tarantino style of direction, but all that does is make the story a little bit inconsistent. The connections between the story line is comprehensive yet I feel that the story being told in a linear format would've been a lot concise.
Beyond Two Souls was meant to be played as an experience and not for its pulse pounding gameplay which I'm not sure why people expect this from someone like David Cage. You have everything you expect from a game like this: linear structure, QTE's and button prompts to do certain thing around you. My favorite addition and mostly everyone else's favorite addition to the gameplay has to be Aiden. You are able to switch between Jodie and Aiden at any time during the game and as Aiden you are free to travel through matter, move objects, possess things and even suffocate people. This leads to test your morales in this game, for example, I was given a choice to get back at some kids that were bullying me. You have the option to get revenge or simply stay out of it. I chose to get revenge, while it was power inducing at first, let's just say there were a couple fatal and unfortunate events that have occurred. Even with Aiden's freedom you can't travel too far or else it hurts Jodie because of the entity connection and all that (I guess everything had its limits, right). Also the quick time events have been changed, everything has been moved to the right stick of the controller. The scheme is that you follow Jodie's movements with the right stick. At times it is hard to tell where Jodie is moving at time and can be frustrating for some but it didn't bother me the least because even if you fail all the QTE's the story still goes on. Since this is a Quantic Dream game, your actions can affect the entire story so there is some replay value within if you're interested in finding out what happens in another way of playing the game. There are also confirmed 12 different ways you can end this game (which is the same amount in Heavy Rain) and if you're a trophy hunter, good luck with a lot of playthroughs and grinding.
If you pre-ordered this game at Gamestop (or wherever you pre-order your games) you were promised to receive extra content, right. Yes we did let's list what we got: Additional gameplay, PS3 Theme, Avatars, and a Soundtrack (containing four songs, umm....) kind of a lackluster pre-order if you ask me and the soundtrack while beautiful and haunting but really...only four songs. I remember in heavy rain there were at least sixteen songs and that's four times the amount than in Beyond. I expected a bit more from my pre-order other than a steelbook case.
Overall, Beyond Two Souls is well polished game with only a few bugs and texture pop-ins that isn't enough to break me out of the experience. Amazing and emotional story, memorable characters and haunting score. If you love games with a rich emotional story, I recommend Beyond Two Souls.
PS: Please provide feedback and like this if this was helpful.
I plan to make it big as an entertainment reviewer / critic, much love would be appreciated. :D -
kyle-domination9 November 2013Beyond: Two Souls is a game like no other. It's simply outstanding in terms of it's individuality and story. It has real actors such as Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe, who prove to be truly great at delivering their roles. The highlight of this game is Page, as Jodie Holmes. You fell connected to the character and you care about her as you struggle to fight contention and danger throughout the game. Quantic Dream know how to make a game with realistic characters and a powerful storyline, I'll tell you that.
Be warned. The gameplay is unique and sometimes enjoyable but don't expect Beyond: Two Souls to raise the bar in the gameplay categories, as it is meant to be played as an interactive tale or movie. The gameplay is very much an acquired taste but most people will enjoy it.
The music to this game is simply one of the best soundtracks in the history of entertainment. An emotional and beautiful, artistic, melodramatic soundtrack composed by Normand Corbeil, Lorne Balfe with help from music mastermind Hans Zimmer. It is so good, the soundtrack. The themes are very strong and quite amazing. This game is better than what most people think.
Beyond: Two Souls might suffer from some critics but trust me, DO NOT listen to them. It really is a unique game that captures your attention.
An essential play. -
Spartan_1_1_71 February 2014Well I was really really looking forward to play this game, mainly because Quantic Dream last game, Heavy Rain, was AMAZING. And I have to say, I am disappointed.
Here's my impression:
Presentation is Awesome. Graphics, WOW. Easily one of the best if not the best facial graphics I have seen in a game. At times it really feels like you are watching a movie/cgi movie, the detail is too damn high, especially of Jodie. And the whole game is presented in 16:9 widescreen which makes it feel even more like a movie. The character animations are really fluid too. Environments vary though, some look awesome, while others look OK.
Voice acting is great, obviously. Ellen page did an awesome job, steals the show. William Dafoe was great too (If only he had more screen time). Many of the side characters had good voice acting too. Soundtrack is pretty good. The main theme is great and whenever it kicks in, gives you an emotional punch. But sound effects on the other hand are not so good. Explosions suck, their sound effects are really lacking. Many other things have lacking sound effects too.
Gameplay wise, the game is a notch above Heavy rain. It should be very familiar to those who played Heavy rain as majority of the things are almost the same. The biggest new addition is controlling Aiden, which can be fun and it is really fluid. Problem is that the game restricts Aiden too much. There could have been tons of ways to use Aiden for more fun stuff like puzzles etc but they completely ignored the opportunity. Another new addition is the slow mo action scenes sequences. Well I like how it blends fluidly during action but it gets really annoying too some times. They should have used it for some scenes, not all. ON some occasions, it would have been really better to just use Heavy rain's style QTE's for tense scenes. Also, the whole cover shooting stuff was lame. There was a full mission where we had to do nothing but find cover, and shoot, was boring.
Now the main thing, THE STORY. Well the story is definitely interesting and it would have been so so much better if it was in chronological order but David cage wanted to deliver it in his own artistic way or whatever and completely screwed it up. The game throws you back and forth throughout Jodie's life from the start. You play some emotional areas early on but have no idea what's going on thanks to mixed timeline story and don't get the emotional touch and you say to your self "Do I actually care?". The young Jodie's chapters weren't that good too, and were very short too. Some were as short as 5-10 mins. On the other hand, Older Jodie's chapters were really good. Some were great even. Funny thing is, the game shows show the chapters in Chronological order but shifts you around the timeline and what I noticed was that the last 8-9 chapters were the best. Now if I were to play all of them in order, it would have been much better. There are times when I was like "Now this is great, exactly what I expect from QD", but those moments weren't that many. David cage is best at delivering small emotional scenes, they are great and he should stick to them instead of gunning towards huge action scenes because those weren't that much good. Choice was one of the key things in Heavy rain BUT here, that is not the case. Almost all of the choices have no dire effects, they are of more subtle things. Except for the ending, there really Isn't a huge choice in the game which will alter the story and whatnot. And that was really disappointing. The game is a mixture of lots of genres, you have Horror, Thriller, Action, Government/CIA stuff, infiltration etc etc, they crammed so much in a game which is not long and nothing is really satisfied. Ending the game will make you wanting way way more, was really unsatisfying because when the credits started rolling, I was like "That's it?". Many of the things in the game weren't explored much.
I will definitely play this game again in chronological order to see how much different the experience is.
TO sum it up, its a flawed experiment, too ambitious for its own good but it did deliver some really good experiences, even if they were few and far between. Still, It is a must play for anyone who played and like Heavy rain.
7.8/10 -
artsycutie9 April 2020Wow I've watched a few different interactive story games before from Markiplier and Pewdiepie but I really enjoyed the storyline of this one the most. What I loved about this game was that it felt more like a movie and it was actually a better movie than most action/sci-fi movies. The whole game covers so many aspects of the girls life, making the gameplay so interesting. The character development is so amazing, and we got to discover her at different stages of her life. From her baby years, to emo teenage years, her hitchhiking through town, joining the army, and finding love, it was really amazing. The interaction with the audience is just spectacular, and I had goosebumps every time there was a twist. I also love the visuals with the entity named Aiden who leaves her head. It really is genius. The only critique I have, besides the kind of confusing timeline it follows, is that the choosing part doesn't lead to different conclusions, but rather the ending is quite fixed. Since the setting changes from future to past back and forth randomly, it was a bit hard to follow and it also made it useless to choose what to do since the ending is already known. However, I did enjoy the twist at the end with her entity and the big decision at the very end. I even cried at the very last scene. What a beautiful story, I felt super empowered by Ellen Page
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etilro18 August 2021I had a pretty good time playing this game because of it's interesting storyline, and the fact that Elliot Page is amazing in it. I did have a few issues with it as in you can clearly tell it's written by some uncomplicated white dude when it comes to race and the way Jodie is treated by the men around. But if you don't care about all that stuff and you like story driven games (with somewhat annoying controls), you'll probably have a great time playing this ;)
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markpoyser-547494 June 2020Having recently played - and thoroughly enjoyed - another of Quantic Dreams' titles, Detroit: Become Human, I had high hopes for this game. Alas, I was to be very disappointed. Big name actors seem to be the only thing going for Beyond: Two Souls. Some sections are so dark it's hard to see what's going on; controls are fiddly and unresponsive; and the story is not interesting enough to mitigate the glaring faults. Ultimately, I didn't have fun playing it.
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mimidicious3 September 2020I usually don't do reviews but this one definitely worthy of one. I'm blown away by the graphics, the gameplay and most of all: the storyline. I love everything about this game. Surely, it has it flaws and buggy moments but that's all forgiven in this unforgettable adventure! 10/10!!! 🖤
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primalcarnagejack0120 October 2013The creaters of this game have done a outstanding job! I love the characters, the story, the plot and everything. It's sometimes sad and makes you fell sorry of them. It's a type of game that makes you don't want it to end. The graphics are well doned. The actors did a great job. It makes you care about the actors. The game gives me the forrest gump feeling where it says stuff happened in the past, in this game its similar, the chapters jump to parts. if this game was so suceessful, why not make a film of it?. I do hope the game released a PC platform and Xbox platform. Its pretty much all I have to say.
its worth it 10/10 -
kosmasp12 May 2021Do not be confused or alienated when you read about Elliot Page starring in this. He was formerly known as a she (Ellen). Hopefully you are not narrow minded and just enjoy a game where he is portraying a she - and that is just that. The game is way too good to get hung up on things like that. Of course when I played it I had no idea about that, as apart from him no one else did either.
You also get the always amazing Willem Dafoe! What a great actor ... great cast overall to tell the truth. And an amazing rich story to boost too! Now if you want to get all the endings ... it will be quite the grind to get there! Not something easy to do and a lot of hours involved! I know because I did it and I had to endure some of the same videos time and time again ... but I did not mind overall because the game is worth it. -
pablo289610 June 2014My Beyond: Two Souls review
Are Jodie and Aiden a monster or a miracle? Is there any happiness to be found for these characters? These questions were very present in the game which focuses on the journey and life of Jodie Holmes, a girl who has had an entity linked to her since she can remember.
These two characters must go through certain phases and challenges in life, be it her difficult teenage years or her constant requirement in the Secret Services. But one of the most difficult questions to take in may be: Are the head pounding cliché chapters haunting enough to put me in a bad mood?? As you may have seen, this game is a mixed bag in my opinion. It definitely leans toward it's good side because of it's memorable characters, creative narrative and emotional situations but sometimes I hated seeing a chapter as amazing as "The mission" and at the same time remembering the hurtful face-palms that chapters like "Navajo" brought upon me.
Them feels I got where mainly caused by Ellen Page's journey as Jodie, Willem Dafoe's character's crucial final moments and the scenes that involved David Coburn as Stan. These three characters have showed the world that noteworthy acting performances can be a major part in the gaming industry. And I am not saying that we haven't been moved by well written Playstation 2 characters without the use of motion capture and talented actors, but if the studio knows how to use them to an advantage it sure does help. In Beyond: Two Souls performances were powerful and you could see every little nudge or movement from the characters face in the dramatic moments. Then you have those instants where the graphics fell to an early PS3 rate and our minds said: "Well, that was off-putting."
But let's not talk about graphics and focus on the writing for a second. David Cage is a great writer and director. He has shown his almost flawless talent in the game Heavy Rain which is a long-time favorite of mine. But in an earlier game called "Indigo Prophecy", we saw that he could sometimes go a little nuts in something I call silliness. And I am not saying that I don't like silly game or movies, but when the writing in some instances is so deep and emotional and is starting to establish the tone of the story, I find it awkward that the next chapter may be about Jodie and an old shaman lady chanting and battling an ancient sand demon. (SPOILER WARNING) The chapter I just mentioned is called "Navajo" and yeah, what I said was in it is totally there. This part of the story, in my point of view, was unoriginal and had nothing to do with the story. But the greatest crime it committed was being inconsistent with the rest of the deep story. Imagine watching the movie "The Pursuit of Happiness" and suddenly in the third act Will Smith's son grows up, is recruited by the FBI and fist fights the Yakuza on top of the Brooklyn Bridge while Will Smith builds an actual time machine and fetches a dinosaur to win the war on crime. Yeah I just went too far.
So David Cage, please be consistent and if you are doing an emotional story do action packed chapters but with actual emotional weight and delicate themes like "The Mission". I already spoiled you the chanting old lady so I won't do you any more harm.
I mentioned previously that David Cage was also a good director and if you are wandering why, for me it's most importantly because of the chapter "Homeless". If you get to play the game you will tear up in some scenes, I guarantee it! And I think the reason behind this, is because they are very subtle and rely only on the expressions and ambiance. A good director can create touching moments with whatever he is working with, in this case motion capture and the power of the player's choices. For instant there is a scene in which Jodie plays guitar and it strikes you because of the subtlety of the performance by Ellen Page and the weight of the situation she is in.
With all this ranting and talking about the director you may have forgotten that Beyond: Two Souls is a game! And a game needs some gameplay and if it has David Cage leading it, some choices! In my point of view the gameplay was pretty good. Like heavy rain it has many quicktime events, but I found these more confusing as, in the action sequences, you have to move the left stick in the direction Jodie's body is moving. Sometimes you could really tell and it was frustrating.
The Aiden (the entity) gameplay however, was fun and empowering, as nobody can see you and you have the power to flip cars and freak people out.
And last but not least, the stealth. I really expected it to be garbage but in my surprise it was simple but fun. using Aiden to distract enemies was cool enough to keep it afloat.
There is a lack of choice-making however that bothered me. In "Heavy Rain" the choices were everything, you were at the edge of your seat because every movement mattered. In "Beyond" the only major choice is in it's ending and that got me a little disappointed.
So I end this review by saying that Beyond: Two souls is a good game with not much of gameplay importance, as you may have seen :P, but more focused on storytelling. This however was it's weak spot as there where many amazingly crafted but some very clichéd and pointless, that a gap between them was created and a full emotional experience was lacking from at the end.
I am giving David Cage's latest, "Beyond: Two Souls" a 7.5/10. -
bencsik-laszlo9125 February 2015Beyond: two souls is an emotional journey with an unique story.
First of all, the graphics were more than amazing but (in my opinion) the game's set design was the main reason of excellence. Everything was so detailed and because of the diversified locations (desert, forest, underwater base, futuristic headquarters etc.) the gameplay does not become monotonous.
The motion capture technology came so far, the eyes were the most impressing for me, they were filled with life, i could watch them for long minutes. Even the tears were incredibly realistic and the face expressions delivered emotions very well. It must be extremely difficult to play a role (especially in a game based on emotions)with motion capture, where strong imagination becomes a basic requirement.
Ellen Page brings an outstanding performance, you could easily tell that she did everything to identify with her character. Willem Dafoe was also great, his character's change was reasonable, only his transformation happened too fast in the end.
The music fits the game perfectly, Lorne Balfe created another masterpiece and I'm pretty sure Hans Zimmer also took a huge part as a producer.
The bond between Jodie and Aiden was imaginative and well portrayed , especially the purple wire between them as a symbol of the umbilical cord (which caused the fatal accident).
The Story from the beginning till the end was exciting,every chapter had an own unique environment which made the gameplay flow like a river.
I've had some minor problems but they did not affect the overall experience. I gave this a 10/10 because only a few movies could deliver emotions so well and even less game achieved this goal successfully.
Highly recommended for every Play Station 3 owner. -
thatsok997919 May 2014It really keeps up with the last non-cannon title "Heavy Rain" which had a great story as well, consisting in a non stopping search for the son of one of the four protagonists. Beyond Two Souls didn't ran short with coming up with a human element-like quality to the gameplay, allowing the player to choose the way he or she wants the story to go on.
Another thing about this game is the chance the player has to control Aiden, Jodie's other "soul" (to avoid spoilers) both in single and multiplayer. This factor really is crucial for the player to decide how is he/she to run the show when it comes to decision making, such as killing people or meddling with Jodie's actions, etc. Meaning that if he isn't controlled in the right way, the player would have to assume the consequences. Turning this as a type of interactive movie, giving the player the control of the story progress. Innovative gameplay.
As for the acting, excellent, Jodie's character, played by Ellen Page is amazing, I wouldn't change a thing at all, and Willem Dafoe's character, Nathan Dawkins, really suited him. Needless to say, the relationship these two develop as adoptive father and daughter really provides that emotional element to the gameplay, as well as for Cole and Ryan.
Last but not least, the story. Very creative plot, lots of decisions to make, alternative endings and a back and forth time-line as you progress through. Jodie's journey to self- discovery and the continuous unraveling of the reason why she's connected with this other soul traps the player until the end and with all the pieces of the puzzle once together it's the turn for the player to make the final choice.
I gave it 9/10 because I found the identity of the other soul a little obvious, removing some of the tension in the last chapters of the story -
Analog_Devotee3 August 2021A visually stunning interactive storytelling experience in the same vein as Heavy Rain, but not quite as captivating. Still, I highly recommend it to fans of these types of games.
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mmuggi23 July 2021You know when you play a David Cage game. It's about choices, quick-time events and consequences. Beyond: Two Souls is a sci-fi game with horror elements, and the whole way the game has been created is something in itself. The action scenes, which do not count the fights, are quite clumsy, and not pleasant to play, but Aiden is a fine game-mechanical invention, which is extremely important for the story. The graphics range from really ugly to fairly, and the story is well told, even if it is broken up into small parts. The game prides itself on the fact that there are so many choices that can be made, yet I do not really feel that they convey this during the gameplay.
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emiliever6 July 2019The gameplay itself isn't always that great, but it's the story that just so exciting. I couldn't put this away once I began playing it, just wanting to know what happens next.
The journey of the main character makes clear that she's just a girl who happens to have a set of supernatural powers. Nobody knows why or how. There are multiple moral choices she has to make. What is good and what is bad? You can make so many decisions in this game, with all sorts of consequences. It's all up to you, but I can assure you this story sticks with you! -
Beyond: Two Souls follows the story of Jodie and her paranormal entity Aiden. When you start the game, you have the option to play Jodie's story chronologically or in the order originally intended by David Cage, which is what I would recommend. It can be confusing when certain events are taking place, but if you pay attention it will all make sense. Some of the chapters are shorter (requiring no more than 15 minutes), while other chapters are on the longer side (close to or over an hour). In the end, they balance themselves out, but there are times where it feels like those longer chapters are pushing it. Overall though, the story was a lot of fun to play and I was genuinely interested in Jodie and figuring out how Aiden is connected to her. My biggest complaint about the game is the mechanics (especially those QTES, which seemed much harder than they should have been), but I suppose it was good back in 2013. Even on the PS5, the graphics are still pretty good too. If you're considering playing this game, I'd recommend at least one playthrough. By the end, you might find yourself wishing it got the sequel it set up.
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parrot00710 November 2019I gave this game a shot after playing the excellent Detroit, but I couldn't even finish it. It felt like I was halfway through the game when I realized I still did not understand what was going on. It's not that I hate the idea that you jump around in time and glance at small bits of the story, but you need to start giving some answers sooner than they did. Some might have had more patience with this one than me, but I couldn't endure any more of Beyond's very basic and unsatisfying gameplay and a story that was failing to intrigue me enough to push through it.
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jamieahooper9 January 2014This game is simple amazing, the best game I have ever played. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you play this game as the story and characters are outstandingly written and the acting and emotion is 10/10 for me.
However you MUST pay close attention to the story as it can be hard to follow at some points.
Almost all the bad reviews I've seen for this are from people that didn't understand the story.
Final the ending is one of the best endings to a game possible, with your choices weighing heavily on your final choice and can even be heart breaking to some as you have come to love the characters.
For my comparison to other games in this genres I would rate heavy rain a 8/10 and this a 10/10