• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

BEYOND: Two Souls (Ellen Page, Willem Dafoe) |OT| Press Triangle to Aiden

G

GroundCombo

Member
ComputerMKII said:
While I've found the stealth scenes in Beyond superfluous/boring, they weren't particularly hard (just make it a habit to use Aiden a lot, to know your surroundings) and you can't really fail. There's no 'Game over'.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks. Shouldn't get my blood pressure too high then.

As an aside, I've actually come to appreciate the "no game over" design in story-driven games. While having a challenge is great, I've raged too often at failing some BS QTE or otherwise getting instakilled in a climactic scene. It's an instant immersion killer and lessens the impact of the scene. That's also why I usually hate stupid end bosses (hello Uncharted 1 and 2).
 
E

EmptySpace

Banned
GroundCombo said:
Ok, thanks. Shouldn't get my blood pressure too high then.

As an aside, I've actually come to appreciate the "no game over" design in story-driven games. While having a challenge is great, I've raged too often at failing some BS QTE or otherwise getting instakilled in a climactic scene. It's an instant immersion killer and lessens the impact of the scene. That's also why I usually hate stupid end bosses (hello Uncharted 1 and 2).
Click to expand...

exactly, especially in the walking dead. immersion killer whenever the player gets a game over and has to listen to the same dialogues and choose the same choices.
 
A

ArkkAngel007

Member
K.Sabot said:
So any news on if there is an uncut version of the game, or was the reports on censorship unfounded?
Click to expand...

For which region? Europe has some violent bits altered, and something in the US version (of a matter of 10 seconds or so I believe) was altered too. So no uncut version I guess.

That was the last I heard anyways.
 
R

Rhindle

Member
DieH@rd said:
What to say.... except that HR and Beyond are two very different game in term of style (dark noir tale vs exploration of one strange life), but Beyond managed to be better in every aspect I can think of... HR was one of my favorite games in PS3 1st party offering, and Beyond is better and way more accessible to non gamers. It has to be played by everyone.
Click to expand...
Can't say I agree with that. The gameplay mechanics in Beyond are consierably more complicated that HR (in particular, all the Aiden mechanics) I got a bunch of my casual/non-gamer friends to try out HR with reaosnable success. I can't see that happening with Beyond.

Beyond is going to suffer from being too complex for casual gamers, and not being enough of a "real game" for "core" types.
 
D

dragonbane

Member
Rhindle said:
Can't say I agree with that. The gameplay mechanics in Beyond are consierably more complicated that HR (in particular, all the Aiden mechanics) I got a bunch of my casual/non-gamer friends to try out HR with reaosnable success. I can't see that happening with Beyond.

Beyond is going to suffer from being too complex for casual gamers, and not being enough of a "real game" for "core" types.
Click to expand...
There is an easy mode that automates Aiden and gives you hints during fights. It makes the game very accessible. Also it supports smartphones as a control device, casual gamers will be just fine.


BlackBanditSho said:
Just finished. This post nails it. if you work through it, the game is better than some of the parts that make up the sum, but it's satisfying. Ambitious, too. I won't say that I love the game, and unlike Heavy Rain, I'm not compelled to play this again for a LONG time. Still, it's worth going through at least once. Reviewers won't like it. It's a hard game to commit to when you're in a score-based, pressure filled environment.
Click to expand...
Thanks. There was definitely a mental barrier I had to overcome before I started loving the game. Before I was like "not another timeline jump". It's even harder when you don't know about this stuff and what Cage tries to convey with this game. Reading interviews before playing definitely helped.

BlackBanditSho said:
Computer and Dragon - would love to share thoughts on the ending in the spoiler thread. Not sure which ending I got, but I'm okay with it.
Click to expand...
I'm about 8 hours in. Will beat it tomorrow and will join the spoiler thread ASAP :D
 
C

cleveridea

Member
Rhindle said:
Can't say I agree with that. The gameplay mechanics in Beyond are consierably more complicated that HR (in particular, all the Aiden mechanics) I got a bunch of my casual/non-gamer friends to try out HR with reaosnable success. I can't see that happening with Beyond.

Beyond is going to suffer from being too complex for casual gamers, and not being enough of a "real game" for "core" types.
Click to expand...

On the flip side, I never finished Heavy Rain and felt it lacked compelling gameplay of the kind I like. I do like some exploration and tolerate some quicktime, but in between want some kind of interesting action mechanics (vs say puzzles, which I hate). So I had no interest in this game.

So I was surprised how much I liked the demo of Beyond, the action gameplay (combat and fast traversal) felt like direct action to me (versus pure QTE in heavy rain, and some of which is still in this game) and I really liked the slow mo effect. I immediately preordered the game and will pick it up first thing tomorrow.
 
D

dragonbane

Member
Y2Kev said:
Why are you all so sure reviewers won't like this? Heavy rain reviewed very well.
Click to expand...
Because:

dragonbane said:
3 main reasons IMO:

1. The game has no real plot for the first 1/3 of the game or even longer. Each scene is an important moment from Jodie's life, like a memory that will always be with you. Shocking moments, sad moments, happy moments, boring moments that somehow stuck with you. They have no real connection at first. So you are pretty much playing vignettes in random order. The plot IS Jodie for the most part. That's hard to grasp at first and even harder to accept. Many will find it boring immediately and quit ("nothing is happening"). Many will say it has no plot or focus on the "main plot", which does exist so the game can eventually end, but is of no real importance till later in the game and shouldn't be focused on. It's not something that should be done often, but I find it highly interesting in this case. It's like Cage said "playing the life of a character". I find it compelling and fascinating to participate in the life of this character. A lot of people won't enjoy that and I don't blame them

2. The subject matter won't appeal to everyone. This is mostly a story about being alone and depressed, to have no friends, no home or no anything pretty much. The game focuses on how to deal with that. It's also about growing and accepting who you are. Much harder stuff to identify with than a father who wants to save his son. I live in a similar situation, or I did a long time ago. Similar to Computer I feel invested in this character, because we align in some ways. Many people will just find it too depressing or boring.

3. The writing still has some issues, although less than Heavy Rain. After TLoU, this is harder to forgive when you are a reviewer and have to score in relation to everything else that came out this year. I don't really care, because most of these problems are related to the main plot I honestly don't care about (yet).
Click to expand...
Many reviewers simply won't "get" this game. Heavy Rain was a simple thing compared to this. Beyond is actually pretty unique in some aspects and definitely Cage's most ambitious work yet. Seems like as soon as reviewers don't find a film or game that they can compare it to they start to struggle. Heavy Rain was like Seven. Seven was good. Nice story. Beyond is like many things, but it does feature a scene where you go to war and have some action. So it is like a bad war game or movie. Bad story.

One reviewer seriously comes across like this on twitter. Wouldn't be too surprised if his review reads like this.


Dynamite Ringo Matsuri said:
Im kind of flabbergasted that Sony greenlit this, because the subject matter definitely doesn't sound like something that the majority of people will enjoy. I know that there are hints at a life of solitude and despair in all the promo material but all the impressions so far make it clear that this game is pretty much steeped in pathos. Pretty damned gutsy of both Cage and Sony to stick to their guns, and I'm more curious than ever of what their PS4 title will embody
Click to expand...
I appreciate they gave Cage free reign, but it was fucking nuts yes. Heavy Rain is the safest thing there is compared to Beyond and HR wasn't safe in the slightest. I love it though, so thanks Sony for having crazy balls.


ComputerMKII said:
Excellent and fair piece of criticism. I agree. Your first point is particularly accurate. That's why the last few hours were very important and could not afford to suck. The first two thirds of the story are almost 'nothing special', they just lay the ground for what happens next so, if the conclusion was bad, the whole game would pretty much fail. However, I think the ending does deliver, it does make sense, therefore it gives meaning to the story as a whole. Your final choices wouldn't have as much weight if you didn't feel as familiar with Jodie.
You have to know the value of life before you can look death in the eye.
Click to expand...
Yup. Thanks for reading.
 
D

DukeBobby

Member
ZRd3YlN.png


One of the few reviews I look forward to reading. His opinion on Heavy Rain closely mirrored my own.
 
R

Replicant

Member
I kind of suspected that this will be more of a vignette, 'slice-of-life' type of game after witnessing the Tribeca Film Festival footages. One of the footages remind me of
"Tokyo Godfather", a Satoshi Kon
film (anime) which I love. I think BEYOND depicted that storyline quite well so I wouldn't mind seeing other vignettes.
 
D

dreamfall

Member
DukeBobby said:
ZRd3YlN.png


One of the few reviews I look forward to reading. His opinion on Heavy Rain closely mirrored my own.
Click to expand...

Amen to this- he said exactly the things I was so frustrated with Heavy Rain, while acknowledging bits and pieces that were great also.

In Sterling, I trust.
 
Psykotik

Psykotik

Member
so i already have the R1 regular edition early. but i also have this R3 version coming in a few days.

HWw.png


Included

  • Exclusive Steelbook Premium Packaging
  • Collector’s Edition Book (32cm x 23cm)
  • Extra 30 minute additional playable scene
  • 4 x Making of Videos
  • Soundtrack
  • Dynamic PS3 Theme
  • PSN Avatar Pack

can't wait!

i actually dreamt about the game last night after playing it.
 
B

beast786

Member
When are the review embargo?

Will be picking this up tomorrow. Very excited. Will put my ps3 away after this. it had a good run
 
Square Triangle

Square Triangle

Member
The wife is excited for this, hoping I can get outta work early tomorrow to grab my copy. I actually avoided the demo completely.

beast786 said:
When are the review embargo?

Will be picking this up tomorrow. Very excited. Will put my ps3 away after this. it had a good run
Click to expand...

What about Batman?
 
D

dragonbane

Member
vehn said:
Is the co-op split screen?
Click to expand...
No. One player controls Aiden, the other Jodie. It's not really traditional co-op, since you are not both playing at the same time. You can decide when to pass over the controls to your partner, afterwards he decides when to give them back to you (only the person playing can pass them over). You have to work together. It makes sense for this type of game, introduces a nice dynamic and can actually create secondary tension, because you might fight over the controls in a already tense moment. Usually also creates some very nice discussions about choices ;)


EmptySpace said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbJPWNme9Ws&feature=youtu.be

sessler's something regarding games like beyond and wolf among us.
Click to expand...
Hope he does the review. The only one I'm interested in besides Sterling.
 
digoutyoursoul

digoutyoursoul

Member
dreamfall said:
Amen to this- he said exactly the things I was so frustrated with Heavy Rain, while acknowledging bits and pieces that were great also.

In Sterling, I trust.
Click to expand...

He would of been great (Sterling) as the star in that Cage PS4 tech demo. Can just see him now with that little goblin thing

"The writing is fucking woeful isn't.it Cage????"
 
A

ArkkAngel007

Member
dragonbane said:
Hope he does the review. The only one I'm interested in besides Sterling.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but Tara is doing the Beyond review. She's actually pretty decent, even if she is subject to being a bit hyperbolic in some instances (ex. Dead Space 3 micro model wasn't anything like she made it out to be).

It is weird that Sessler isn't doing it, given the narrative experiences are sort of his bread and butter. Maybe it turns out that he is reviewing Pokemon instead of Max Scoville.
 
P

Persona7

Banned
I just got the call to pick it up tomorrow after noon...My friend told me they got the game 3 days ago.


I am picking it up in the morning and spend a few hours at the arcade.
 
E

EmptySpace

Banned
dragonbane said:
Hope he does the review. The only one I'm interested in besides Sterling.
Click to expand...

it does not matter who does the review. what matters is that there is none of the "oh it's not a game, it's a movie" and "oh cage is so pretentious therefore the game should be judged based on his opinions" bullcrap.
 
D

DukeBobby

Member
EmptySpace said:
it does not matter who does the review. what matters is that there is none of the "oh it's not a game, it's a movie" and "oh cage is so pretentious therefore the game should be judged based on his opinions" bullcrap.
Click to expand...

You certainly won't get any of that from Rev3Games.
 
N

nib95

Banned
Some of these reviews are going to be frustrating to read. Awaiting the inevitable "is this a game?" "not enough gameplay!" "why are games trying to be movies?" "takes itself too seriously" type complaints.
 
T

timetokill

Banned
Thanks for your clarification on why you think reviewers won't like it, dragonbane. I appreciate it.

Obviously I haven't played it yet so I can't say, but I don't think it'll be the case. I think games like these are still being reviewed on potential and "what it means for the industry" and if the individual performances are good enough I think it'll override pretty much everything else.

I say this as somebody who actually likes what Cage is going for, I just tend to think Cage is particularly bad at it.

Anyway, we'll see soon enough!
 
C

Ce-Lin

Member
Psykotik said:
so i already have the R1 regular edition early. but i also have this R3 version coming in a few days.

HWw.png


Included

  • Exclusive Steelbook Premium Packaging
  • Collector’s Edition Book (32cm x 23cm)
  • Extra 30 minute additional playable scene
  • 4 x Making of Videos
  • Soundtrack
  • Dynamic PS3 Theme
  • PSN Avatar Pack

.
Click to expand...

had this on the mail I thought it would arrive tomorrow (well today in Spain), I'm the biggest Heavy Rain fan I know (lol) so I hope I can post some nice Beyond impressions, I'm going into it completely blind, my embargo was absolute and perfect, I made it too with TLoU and Bioshock Infinite and that paid off big time.
 
R

Replicant

Member
I just realized that I have this old GIF of NomNom Jayden playing Ethan's shower scene. It's hilarious:

iV5ELs2vtS4oa.gif


Wonder if Page plays game.
 
S

Sats

Banned
Getting it from Gamestop in store, but didn't specify I wanted special edition when I preordered. Hope that's the one I get...
 
M

MiketheBSG

Member
Gee, thanks Newegg for canceling my discounted Beyond preorder one day before shipping. I had a $12 discount on a game with no tax or shipping so it would have been a nice $17 discount overall.

:-/
 
X

xenorevlis

Member
Replicant said:
I just realized that I have this old GIF of NomNom Jayden playing Ethan's shower scene. It's hilarious:

iV5ELs2vtS4oa.gif


Wonder if Page plays game.
Click to expand...
During the red-carpet event in Paris, Ellen Page said she was playing through her early copy of the game. Would be interesting to get a clip / gif of her playing as herself too :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

  • Locked
Concord: Accessibility settings detailed
23
2K
Saturn Dragon replied
Sky Cipher Special Edition Xbox Controller Revealed
22
1K
LordBritish replied
Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters Steam patch released for FFI-VI (patch notes + 38% bundle discount)
48
4K
Rran replied
The Steam version of Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster receives new update: First time it's discounted
Platform
2
881
kunonabi replied
reminiscing over our favorite arcade machines.
Retro Hardware 2 3
104
3K
Yerd replied
Top Bottom