Beyond: Two Souls
Release Date: October 8, 2013
Adventure, TPP, science fiction, thriller, arcade elements, PS Plus Premium, PS Plus Extra, singleplayer
Steam
A thriller movie-inspired action adventure game. The game was developed by French studio Quantic Dream, creators of such hits as Heavy Rain and Fahrenheit. The plot of Beyond: Two Souls shows fifteen years of life of Jodie Holmes (who is modeled after and voice acted by Ellen Page, Oscar nominee). Since birth, the woman was connected to Aiden, an incorporeal creature that ventured into our world.
As defined by its creators, Beyond: Two Souls is an interactive drama for PS3 and PS4. The game follows the story of Jodie Holmes, gifted with an ability to contact with the other world. Players observe a 15-year fragment of her life and try to discover the truth about what lies “beyond” this world.
Quantic Dream Studio is well-known for ambitious projects such as Indigo Prophecy (or Fahrenheit) and Heavy Rain. French developer is particularly fond of dark adventure games, with a large dose of paranormal elements, which often force players to make very complex moral choices. The same is true for Beyond: Two Souls.
Story
The game spans over 15 in-game years telling the story of Jodie Holmes, impersonated and voiced by Ellen Page (an actress nominated for an Oscar for her role in Juno). Since early childhood the main character has been aware of things invisible to others - from her birth she is linked with Aiden, a mysterious entity who has penetrated into our world. Aiden turns out to be not only a burden, causing others to treat Jodie as a freak. The mysterious being is also the key to finding an answer to the perennial question of what lies on “the other side”. The main character’s mentor and tutor is Professor Nathan Dawkins (Willem Dafoe) who tries to help the girl understand the reality around her and explore the world from where Aiden came.
Gameplay
In terms of gameplay, Beyond: Two Souls for PS3 and PS4 is described by the game developers as an “interactive drama”, which emphasizes the focus that has been put on the story, its closeness to a movie, as well as in-game moral choices. Still, there are some original solutions in terms of the controls. The player controls both Jodie and Aiden (in pre-arranged moments). Due to the script’s structure, the main character cannot die - when a player has troubles with performing required sequences of buttons on the pad, the game automatically performs some tasks for him. This solution makes the game accessible for those who have no experience with video games.
Technology
As in the case of their previous products, Quantic Dreams Studio took a good care of meticulously executed audio-visual binding. Beyond: Two Souls stands out with its photo-realistic graphics, including animations created using motion-capture technique, as well as excellent audio.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
Last Update: October 23, 2013
Beyond Two Souls Guide
In this guide to Beyond Two Souls you will find a detailed description and walkthrough of all the chapters available in the game.
May 23, 2018
IMHO: David Cage is overrated
A visionary and a masterful storyteller. David Cage, best known for Fahrenheit and Heavy Rain, is sporting a venerable status among us, players. Which really makes me think because has he ever made a game, where the plot would make any sense?
Videos and Screens
[1:33] Beyond: Two Souls PC version launch trailer
[0:42] Beyond: Two Souls Advanced Experiments DLC - trailer
The main pros of the game
- Engaging Storyline: The narrative is frequently praised for its emotional depth, captivating plot, and the unique non-linear storytelling approach that keeps players invested in Jodie's life and experiences.
- Outstanding Performances: The voice acting by Elliot Page and Willem Dafoe is highlighted as exceptional, adding a cinematic quality to the game.
- Visuals and Soundtrack: Many users commend the graphics, motion capture, and overall art design, along with the beautiful soundtrack composed by Hans Zimmer, which enhances the emotional impact of the story.
- Replayability: The game features multiple endings and choices that encourage players to replay it to explore different outcomes and paths.
The main cons of the game
- Controls and Gameplay Mechanics: A significant number of reviews criticize the controls, describing them as clunky, frustrating, and poorly designed, particularly for keyboard and mouse users. Many recommend using a controller for a better experience.
- Limited Impact of Choices: Some players feel that the choices made throughout the game do not significantly affect the overall story or outcomes, leading to a sense of diminished agency.
- Pacing Issues: Certain chapters are noted to drag on or feel disjointed, which can detract from the overall experience.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Improved Control Schemes: Many players express a desire for better-optimized controls and a more intuitive interaction system, especially for action sequences and quick-time events (QTEs).
- More Meaningful Choices: Users would like the choices to have a greater impact on the story and character development, rather than feeling scripted or predetermined.
- Enhanced Replay Options: Some players wish for a clearer way to replay specific chapters or scenes without having to start from the beginning, allowing for exploration of different choices and outcomes.
Summary
- Overall, while "Beyond: Two Souls" is celebrated for its storytelling and emotional weight, it faces criticism primarily related to its controls and the significance of player choices.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 4561 votes. 534 players anticipated the game.
Beyond: Two Souls Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows July 22, 2019
PlayStation 4 November 24, 2015
PlayStation 3 October 8, 2013
Developer: Quantic Dream
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Beyond: Two Souls System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-4430 3.0 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 660 / Radeon HD 7870 or better, Windows 7 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 970 / Radeon R9 390 or better, Windows 7/8/10 64-bit
Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls and Detroit: Become Human Coming to Steam
French studio Quantic Dream has announced that beginning with this June, its last three productions - Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls and Detroit: Become Human - will be available on Steam.
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Bart Swiatek
May 26, 2020
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A page for an unknown application, containing an image from Beyond: Two Souls, has appeared on Steam Database website. It is therefore likely that Quantic Dream's title will soon appear on Valve's platform.
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Agnes Adamus
May 12, 2020
Beyond: Two Souls PC Launches Today
Today Beyond: Two Souls, a cinematic adventure game from Quantic Dream, launches today. The production will be available only on Epic Games Store.
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Milosz Szubert
July 22, 2019
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June 28, 2019
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Konrad Serafinski
May 17, 2019
Heavy Rain, Detroit, Beyond PC Hardware Requirements Revealed
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March 24, 2019