Simon Says: Why Beyond: Two Souls Has Been Overshadowed By Another PS3 Exclusive

GameNTrain Author Simon Marshal Writes: These two names alone would have you thinking that the stars of Inception and Spider Man would be co-starring in a new blockbuster movie. Instead, both are appearing in a game entitled “Beyond: Two Souls” developed by Quantum Dream and published by Sony, exclusively for the PS3.

[Thatguy-310]

The reason that it is exclusive will bring comparisons between the two. However I think it can stand it's ground. Heavy Rain was a great game and even though it had flaws it's an experience that will stay in memory. The story in Beyond it's really complicated and really deep so I'm anxious to see how it develops and unravels. None less I'm getting it next week. The last must have PS3 exclusive. I'll like to make a quick note on how ps3 had literally the best gaming experiences this gen from it's exclusives studios. Heavy Rain, LBP, Uncharted, TLou, Journey etc. I honestly appreciate gaming a lot more because of those titles. It was a great Generation to be a gamer.

[DeadManIV]

Yep, it absolutely was, been gaming since the days of ps1, I grew up with playstation and I will die by playstation

[abzdine]

last must hae PS3 exclusive is called GT6!

and no, no point of comparing Beyond to anything else, not even to Heavy Rain.
This game is simply a unique must own experience for real gamers.
i can only applaude the creativity of quanticdream willing to involve feelings in a game.

[minimur12]

Quantic Dream * haha :)

[maniacmayhem]

In all actuality this game just isn't appealing. David Cage keeps harping on about story/characters over gameplay but he needs to find a medium. I found Heavy Rain to be little action and a meh story.

Bioshock managed to deliver a great story and some awesome gameplay without the use of heavy QTE's for everything...even fixing a microwave dinner.

If Quantum Dream could get a good balance of the two it would be great.

[ArchangelMike]

I'm looking forward to Beyond Two Souls, especially after playing the demo. I'm more of a story heavy gamer, so I much prefer games with a captivating story.

[DeadManIV]

Me too!

[abzdine]

same here bro.
the guy finds Heavy Rain action.. LMAO!

[DOMination-]

Put your monacle on. He said little action.

I kind of agree. Cage bangs on about story but the story in heavy rain was poorly written filled with plot holes.

[firelogic]

If it has a little less gameplay than the average game, so what? It's nice to have different experiences. Asura's Wrath is pretty basic with the gameplay mechanics but it was an absolute BLAST to play through. Heavy Rain was great, and hopefully Beyond is just as great, if not better.

There are literally hundreds of games out there that are all about 100% gameplay. What's one "game" that doesn't have a ton of it in it? Where's the harm?

Now if you don't like it, that's fine but it's the blanket statements that HR and games of its ilk shouldn't exist because they aren't games that annoys me.

[Legacy212]

Asura wrath was sooo epic I loved that game hopefully they continue it

[fattyuk]

I'm much more a story driven gamer aswell.

Hell when it comes to bioshock I wish I never even have to pull out a weapon!

[Inception]

Speak to yourself maniacmayhem. There's a lot of people who loved Beyond 2 Souls demo (including me) and can't not wait to play the full game.

"Bioshock managed to deliver a great story and some awesome gameplay bla bla bla"

Zzzzz Bioshock is an FPS. Different genre from HR and Beyond 2 Souls. And i'm glad Quantic Dream doesn't take the easy route.

[maniacmayhem]

A lot of you are missing the point. Bioshock managed to pull off a great story without sacrificing gameplay.

Again, Heavy Rain had little action or point for that matter and was just an okay story. That doesn't justify a great experience in my opinion. Especially when there were a lot of instances of doing a QT action just to watch TV(for example).

These are mundane everyday actions that justify a QTE? That is poor design and not engaging at all for a user's experience.

[despair]

what they do is not "sacrificing gameplay" but giving you something else. Look at all telltale games (especially The waling dead) they are basically point and click adventures but done so well and so engrossing that its truly enjoyable and great to play.

Heavy Rain was the same, the QTEs were very easy to get and a big part of the game was choice and consequence (plus you knew what you were getting before playing the game), seeing how things played out when you messed up and how they did when you chose an alternate path were all factors that didn't "sacrifice gameplay" but chose to present it in a different way. It was a simple concept done well and even though there were problems it was truly enjoyable for many people.

Beyond Two Souls is also looking to be quite engaging, I want to see how the story plays out, I want to see what my decisions and actions lead to. The controls are vastly improved and if you play it expecting Bioshock then you are stuck in one game type and that's pretty sad.

Bioshock was really good but Rapture and the people were truly the story, you were just really a passenger on an amazing ride (as with most story intensive games). This is quite similar in some regards but you get to influence a lot more and don't even get me started on how very very different the games are.

If you don't like it then fine but you comparing it to Bioshock does both games a disservice and done not apply even slightly. I will be enjoying Beyond Two Souls while you continue to bitch about gameplay problems that I don't see.

[Hicken]

It's not sacrificing gameplay. It's DIFFERENT gameplay.

Shall we next start comparing visual novels to platformers?

Controlling mundane, everyday activities was part of the point of Heavy Rain. You're not just playing a character. You're really controlling someone else's life, immersing yourself in that character on a level few other games can ever hope to reach.

I mean, surely Master Chief takes a piss, but when does he do it? What does he do in those rare moments of downtime? No hero can be just that 24/7, unless he's a robot, and even then he'd need maintenance.

You seem to be missing the point: the style of game represented by Heavy Rain and BTS obviously isn't for you, but it's just fine for many others.

[DigitalRaptor]

"In all actuality this game just isn't appealing."

And...? What point are you trying to make? Speaking for everybody are you?

Machinarium or Dear Esther could be called unappealing - doesn't make them games not worthy playing.

@ Hicken and @ despair. Extremely well said guys.

I bet when 'Everybody's Gone to the Rapture' comes out on PS4, we'll get the usual suspects coming out the woodwork telling us what does and doesn't constitute a game let alone an "appealing" one. I mean we're already getting told that indie games are not worthy by default.

[Lykon]

I thought heavy rain was a POS .

1. There were several plot holes.

2. depending how the game turned out for you there were spoilers at the end affecting replay value.

3. how the story branched depended on some confusing button mashing qte's

4 . The gameplay seemed inconsistent and unevenly patched together.

5. it was boring and slow.

bye the end of the game i wanted all the fucking characters to drown not just the boy in the drain.

[Ezz2013]

how so ?!
TLOU is my GOTY and GOTG
yet, i already paid for beyond two sould and in very few hours i will go to the local game store and get my copy today
and will buy GT6 day 1 when it come out

those are very different games from each other

[kratos_TheGoat]

who overshadow beyond 2 soul I'm to lazy to click the page

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

dont bother, its a rubbish article

[kratos_TheGoat]

thankz man hate site who look for hits I'm confident beyond 2 soul is a big hit for sony

[HammadTheBeast]

Well, they say Last of Us overshadows it.

[chrissx]

This guy doesn't rly make any sense in his article. Looking forward to beyond2souls just as is alotta ppl

[TomahawkX]

article reads:
blah blah blah.... judging game off of demo.... blah blah blah

[Omran]

It's Quantic Dream not Quantum
for me this game will be mine
as soon as possible :)

[Studio-YaMi]

They don't even pronounce the name right and yet they are called "journalists".

[InTheLab]

The word you're looking for is "blogger".

[johny5]

Does anyone think the graphics on Beyond Two Souls look much better then The Last of Us? Anyways I think there both very good games I there own right and possibly GOTY contenders.

My vote right now is on The Last of Us!

[Summons75]

Few publishers can make gold with every installment. Platinum Games, irrational, valve and quantic dream. I'll buy whatever they put out without hesitation. Can't wait till Tuesday.

[E2S]

I'm supposed to take an article seriously that doesn't even get the developer's name right? LOL!

[Baka-akaB]

There is always some baffling hypocrisy surrounding QTE heavy games lately . When Heavy Rain did it , some wanted to call it boring or not a game ... mostly because an exclusive

Then when Asura's wrath came in , it was widely ignored , except for its fans . The healthiest reaction so far , at least , since not motivated by console wars allegiances .

Comes along Ryse , and suddenly it's awesome and the best thing , despite a gameplay so far inferior to stuff like Asura and its development growing paisn , according to Xbox fanboys ... or its incredibly crappy according to Sony fanboys .

An now Beyond Two Souls ? It's the Heavy Rain scenario again

There is room for qte heavy games , they dont appeal to you , it's ok , it doesnt have to , move on already .

[Bundi]

People love Ryse QTE? Hahahahaha! Man shut up with those lies. Show me ONE person.

[Baka-akaB]

How about you read the press ? They've been damage control on behalf of the game for while now .

As for people you only need to look around here .

[Bundi]

The press are the ones who informed us that Ryse is a pretty but boring detached game because of the QTE, nobody has even dared say it is enjoyable because of it.

Quit the BS! People on this site have all come down on Ryse like a ton of bricks for its QTE's, there has been absolutely zero people claiming it is the best thing ever like you claim.

Just because this QTE fest is getting it's judgement day doesn't mean you need to pull lies out your rear about people's reactions to Ryse to form some sort f double standard conspiracy.

I dare you to show me one person on this site who claimed QTE's were the best thing ever in Ryse, just ONE.

[Grave]

I would think that if you were a fan of Heavy Rain that the demo of B:TS would have made you even more excited to get your hands on this game. It did for me. Also , I don't think you can compare it to TLOU. They are two completely different types of games.

[LetoAtreides82]

Actually most people who've played the Beyond: Two Souls demo loved it, and this is the first time i've heard anyone comparing this game to TLoU. They're two completely different games.

Those who've played Heavy Rain knew what to expect with Quantic Dream's new project.

I think Beyond: Two Souls's biggest obstacles are the PS4 and GT5 + GTA Online. With PS4 launching in 39 days not many gamers have the money to buy both this game plus the PS4 + a few PS4 games at the PS4 launch. I'm fortunate enough to have just enough to do so but I'm more of the exception rather than the rule.

Regardless can't wan't to get my hands on this game this Tuesday, I've been waiting for it for many years.

[thejigisup]

This review of a demo was really a downer. I'm still excited for the game and i'm definitely Rio purchase it and no doubt in my mind I'll enjoy it. But damn this review kinda made me feel like beyond was the youngest brother in a old world China to tlou

[Brazz]

if there is something puting a shadown in "2 souls", this thing is GTA V! hell, GTA V put a shadown in the hole game industry, it's like "for the next weeks" there is GTAV and "the others".

[Heisenburger]

If the author insists upon comparing the two then I must say: The only thing that could have made TLoU better, is if after I beat it I knew that I could have done things differently. Not simply play a section without being spotted.

But to feel genuinely guilty knowing that things could have been different.

...I swear.

[DigitalRaptor]

"Even before I had played any of the game, the first thing I thought of when I looked at trailers for Beyond was, “Why is Ellie from The Last of Us in this game?” The build-up I remember to this game was the fallout between Ellen Page and The Last of Us after she claimed that Naughty Dog had, “Used her likeness,” when creating Ellie."

http://imgur.com/AprHAIx
Try harder, they look nothing like each other.
--

"At times through the demo, I was reminded of a certain Resident Evil 6 which terribly returned to our consoles a year ago, yesterday. The buttons are constantly coming up on the screen telling you what to press and it feels as though the game is holding your hand through the game, as far as I played anyway. In the times where you do have full control of Jodie, you are allowed to explore certain things and it feels as
though you can play the game as you wish. This feeling doesn’t last as you are constantly watching and interacting with QTE’s."

Did he actually compare the atrociously broken Resident Evil 6 to this game??? RE6 was a bottom of the barrel action game, which was designed for the Call of Duty audience and suffered from an identity crisis. Beyond: Two Souls doesn't suffer from this or any comparable gameplay flaws that game had. There are actually less QTEs than Heavy Rain, but this guy acts like there's more.
--

"After playing through the demo once, I wasn’t eager for more or looking to see what I could do next, I was glad that I could play Grand Theft Auto V once again and play a game how I want to play it instead of constant QTE segments."

Yeah, why play anything that ISN'T an action game? Man, I'm truly sorry that people with a short attention spans are allowed to write articles on games they will never be interested in.
--

"TLOU had both the amazing storyline and great gameplay to make the game the complete package and that is why I think TLOU has stolen some of Beyond’s thunder. TLOU is the complete game and allows the player to play the game as they wish."

No. The Last of Us is also a linear cinematic game. Beyond offers you choices, but they aren't as active, just like points and click adventure games don't offer active gameplay choices in the same manner. Saying that The Last of Us stole Beyond's thunder is like saying GTA V stole Watch_Dogs' thunder. Ridiculous.

[clouds5]

Ah the PS3... Such amazing games coming to it. And it has become really cheap too :)

PS3 is the way better deal this x-mas season than PS4. GranTurismo 6, GTA V, TLOU, Beyond: Two Souls... I think i'm gonna buy a cheap&used ps3 after ps4 has come out :)

Its such a shame there is no backwards compatibility...

[Buuhan1]

Nothing's overshadowing it for me, it's simply the fact Quantic Dreams makes pretenious and shoddy "games" and David Cage is a complete douche who has constantly made his poor opinions on the video game industry and what gaming should be known.

I know exactly what to expect from Beyond: Two Souls, and that's why I don't have much interest in playing it.

[DigitalRaptor]

Anyone who puts the word - game - in inverted commas to describe a Quantic Dream production might as well be saying that ALL adventure games aren't games either. Man get some goddamn outlook on the industry and the scope of genres in gaming before saying what is and isn't a game.

What I'm seeing from this comment section is that, thankfully, there are gamers with diverse tastes.

@ Lykon

It's a shame that Heavy Rain received critical acclaim then isn't it? Nice hyperbole there to try and sell the game as worse than it actually is.

"yawns and the tears of boredom" yep, that's totally believable. You can say that you didn't like it and that the game has flaws, but that doesn't make it bad.

[Buuhan1]

You're giving David Cage too much credit. I didn't quotation it being a video game because of its genre or what you think it is. I did it because the simple fact is Quantic Dreams doesn't make video games, they make interactive movies. They literally try to make films but then add a layer of interactivity onto it. No one who has played Indigo Prophecy or Heavy Rain can deny this. That'd be fine if David Cage wasn't a dingbat saying how innovative his "games" are.

FMV games don't get a pass anymore, so why do these? Heavy Rain had some good things about it, but they were boggled down by bullcrap. As for Indigo Prophecy, that was terrible and it blows my mind that it got reviewed well.

[Lykon]

yeah was gutted. I had some special version with extra content too with a pre order deal. It feels weird being in such a small minority of opinion on a game. It's not like I'm some chavvy xbox fan COD idiot either. I like adventure games. There are worse games ..but I've never been so disappointed by a big well reviewed game before. I think that's why I feel so venomous about it. Some elements of it were good...Jaydens glasses (was it jayden? the younger detective guy) Um what else... some of the locations were atmospheric. But I'd be laying on my side on the sofa and suddenly a fight would break out with really weird QTE's requiring I tilt the bloody controller really fast in combo with some arbitrary button presses. Then the dad in the game had a few missions and the graphics suddenly jumped to PS2 standard and the gameplay changed to ...well...being almost game like. I'm sorry i really thought it was awful even though production standards were high in places.

[Lykon]

well said. 'pretentious' and 'shoddy' describe heavy rain perfectly. It's not that I hate the pacing or idea of heavy rain ..but it's implementation was very poor. I agree about David Cage too. I was very hyped about heavy rain and the thought of some sort of visionary artist producing a game. Then I played it . I forced myself to finish it against the yawns and the tears (of utter boredom) running down my face. Never again.

[solidosito]

im from colombia and i bought the game last week, i played and can say you must have to play, the game have a lot of drama the control its better than of heavy rain, the story is f***ign awsome.

[Destrania]

I'm super stoked for this game. Only two more days. Can't wait for the DLC for The Last Of Us as well. And... PS4!

[_FantasmA_]

I won't be getting this game or any games anymore because I need to save up for my PS4, but I think the graphics in Beyond are amazing. I mean here is the PS4 already coming in a little more than a month, and a 7 year old machine like the PS3 still blows my mind. For those of you who buy this game, enjoy it. Hopefully it turns out good and hopefully once the PS4 launches PS3 game prices can come down so I can buy this and Heavy Rain because I still need to play that.