'Beyond: Two Souls' video looks amazing but where is the gameplay?

XMNR: David Cage and Quantic Dreams took Beyond: Two Souls to the Tribeca Film Festival this weekend and released a trailer and 35-minute video of the Playstation 3 game on Sunday. The footage itself looks fantastic and is a showcase for how far the current generation of consoles has come in graphics, animation and performance capture. However, there's a distinct lack of gameplay and what is there appears to only be quicktime events (QTEs).

[MariaHelFutura]

You could say the same thing about Journey (minus QTEs), which ended up being one of the best games of 2012. If you don't understand it, thats your problem. Also, I'm fairly sure the combat isn't QTEs, it more dynamic using the joystick to trigger different reactions during the bullet time effect.

[Queasy]

Journey had far more player interactions than what has been shown for Beyond: Two Souls.

[MariaHelFutura]

Aside from being co-op, not really. Journey, was great but it was more about "THE JOURNEY" than having player interactions.

[Campy da Camper]

I'm not worried. I like the slow pace stuff every once in a while. As with heavy rain, I enjoyed it a lot but I wouldnt want all my games like that. Its like fine wine, sure it nice to sip on summer nights but the day to day I need beer.

[HammadTheBeast]

They haven't shown much of the actual gameplay, because the videos were shown at the Tribeca Film Festival, which focuses on story, characters, and emotion.

[Vames]

I've submitted a similar article about the lack of gameplay and was hammered for it. At one point someone commented about the supernatural things in the game, as if that improves the gameplay. An interactive movie is all Beyond: Two Souls is, you can even call it a casual game that looks core. Sit around and casually tap X, but make sure to have good timing and memory of where the buttons are or your dead.

This is what they call gaming ladies and gentlemen.

[joab777]

All I can say is that I watched that 35 minutes and I was pissed when it ended because I wanted to see more. I think I would be satisfied just watching. But, the gameplay seemed to be similar in using Aiden to get out of situations. I love the kicking ass part too. So, it will ne similar to heavy rain with a better story, better acting and better characters. I am down. I wanna see how she gets out of being beaten in the head with a bat.

[OrbitalBT]

this is the problem with what I have with David Cage's idea of a game; it can be so easily viewed on Youtube. but the problem is it wouldn't be no different if you shared the experience with 7 other guys to see this game. i mean there's no co-op.

It's all good scripting but i see the problems with doing this sort of thing. graphics look good on a focal point of view, everything looks average when your eyes gaze outside of the boundaries.

[ssj27]

True .. the fighting scene is all gameplay.. no GtE's.
the part where you control the objects with the soul's power is all gameplay to, no GTE's .
I don't understand the hate.. plus I be you can also walk from point a to point b to finish the levels, just lile any other game.
This game is a cinematic experience with always fresh and unique gameplay.. and i love it.

Try finishing the game by just watching it, that's right you can't and you need to play the game to finish it.
Is a game, not a shooter, not a plataformer, not etc but a unique experience.

[NukaCola]

Its a piece of visual media where you press buttons and interact with the screen to progress the story. With a "real" game you press buttons and interact with the screen in order to progress the story. So its in fact a game I guess. Weird how that works. :/

[stu888]

The fighting wasn't quick time events? Flip me those animations were good!

[sway_z]

I agree 100% with MariaHelFutura!

Don't you dare try and troll Beyond - Two Souls. It is more than a game, it is a unique experience. The industry didn't have the 'Balls' to invest in these types of games...but Sony had the faith and Heavy Rain paid off!

Where is the gameplay??

Is the article's writer smoking on a glass pipe?? Heavy Rain was different, but very playable..so much so, I completed the darn thing 5 times :)

Beyond - Two Souls is as good for the Gaming Industry as it is for the PS Brand itself. At last, games that treat players like adults, and not gun tooting teens!!

GTF >Out!

[Salooh]

I'm proud of you guys T_T .

Seriously, you don't like it don't buy it. I don't like cars but i can't really bash GT5 because it's a great game and i can't argue with that just because i don't like it.

[_-EDMIX-_]

agreed at this point if somebody ask a question what the gameplay is in this game, they may need to sit back and contemplate being actual game journalist.

I mean it's a cute troll but heavy rains success says otherwise
games like this will inevitably push the medium.

[ATi_Elite]

$60 Movie coming up!

I wish I could remember the person who who bragged about cut scenes in video games.

well my friend you can pay $60 to watch a movie on your system very soon while I actually PLAY my games and not just press X or watch them.

[DragonKnight]

Woooooooooooo, World of Warcraft on MAX settings! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[trouble_bubble]

Pizza hut apps don't count as games.

[Narutone66]

Try playing diablo 3 or Simcity without an internet connection. Another PC elitist doing the beta testing for the console gamers.

[NYC_Gamer]

QD games always played more like movies with player event prompts

[StrongMan]

No one asked that about The Walking Dead.

[Queasy]

Actually, they did. The thing is, The Walking Dead kept the player actively involved whether it was with QTEs, shooting zombies, walking around and talking, solving puzzles, etc. It struck a good balance.

The balance between interacting and watching is way too skewed towards watching with what has been shown for Beyond: Two Souls.

[MariaHelFutura]

Everything you said happened in the 30 min. video. Aside from shooting, She fought, solved problems, walked and talked.

[Queasy]

@MariaHelFutura: In a 35 minute video, approximately only 7 minutes of it involved player interaction. Approximately 28 minutes of it was watching. That's what I mean when I say the balance is way too skewed towards watching.

[MariaHelFutura]

^^^^

I could show you portions of Metal Gear Solid where there is 7 mins of gameplay and 53 mins of actual (basically non interactive) cutscenes. It doesn't stop MGS from being on of the best and longest active franchises in the gaming industry.

[Queasy]

@MariaHelFutura: And this why I didn't like MGS4 either.

[MariaHelFutura]

Great.... I could care less if you enjoyed MGS4 or not. That doesn't stop it from being a greatly produced quality game for a gaming system or Beyond: Two Souls or Journey.

Also, did you write this or just submit this?

[sway_z]

Don't buy, play or even whisper the names of these QTE/Cutscene/Non-interactive games if you don't like them...

S*I*M*P*L*E*S !!

[_-EDMIX-_]

I could not agree anymore with you guys games like journey in the walking dead carried most of last year's Game of the Year awards. the thing most of these gamers don't understand is that this is a type of game play style. ever heard of mist? Ever heard of Monkey Island?

so because you're ignorant enough that you've never heard of these genres there somehow not games?

thing I don't understand is why attack a game for being unique within its genre? there is more than enough call of duty and Halo to go around buddy. games like Metal Gear Solid sole purpose is to not go on a killing fest. games are much more than getting high points we're a little bit past that phase buddy. Too many GOTY awards prove you wrong

[dafegamer]

the walking dead is just like Beyond in gameplay so whats your point. Beyond keeps the player involved as well. You're either Trolling, or havent seen the 30 min gameplay

[poopsack]

"Approximately 28 minutes of it was watching. That's what I mean when I say the balance is way too skewed towards watching."

But, you're not saying anything. You're just repeating yourself. A real argument presents examples to prove a point, and to debate counterarguments. There was plenty of gameplay in the half hour, the entity scenes, possessing, fighting, getting through the debris. Its all playable. Just cause its presented in a heavily cinematic format is no merit for moaning. An equal amount of scenes in TWD might give you the exact same amount of playability, but you seem to believe that it having a more traditional format makes it more of a game. Its ok, I hate new things too.

[francknara6]

Right. Cause it was multiplatform.

[yewles1]

Bingo.

[dafegamer]

Yup that the reason. This article wants to shit on another Playstation exclusive game. Nobody complained about the Walking dead, cause it was on xbox 360 as well. Sigh I hat sensationalism

[ShugaCane]

The author is clearly not familiar with Cage's games nor with the notion of immersion. Take Journey for example. You spend a lot of time simply walking and exploring, without any interactions, and yet it's thrilling and exciting and fascinating all at the same time. That 35 minute video was just astonishing, not only because of the graphics, but because of the way it makes you care about characters in such a small amout of time. It's incredible and I can't wait to "play" it myself.

[Queasy]

Walking and exploring in Journey is a player interaction. And yes, I am familiar with David Cage and Heavy Rain and Indigo Prophecy. However saying, "But it's David Cage!" is not a good excuse for sidelining the player as a viewer the vast majority of the time.

[supraking951]

lol your ignorant. David Cage makes something different and everyone gives him a hard time. Yet everyone judges other games being the same over and over. 360 fanboys must bored since all there exclusives are non existent and there successor system sounds like a flop

[Roccetarius]

David Cage likes to mention emotions and characters a lot, but i just can't take that seriously from him. There are certainly other games, like Bioshock Infinite that does a better job of making you care.

Just like Queasy mentioned, the balance between gameplay and being sidelined is off. Other similar games have done a much better job.

Maybe he should've stayed in the movie business.

[Sniperwithacause]

Well since you are now all out of bubbles trying to defend that beyond didn't have enough interaction gameplay, how did that work out for ya? I on my phone, so in won't rant how wrong I think you are for long. Everything I have seen in the Tribeca showing, and the actors discussion about the game insures me that there is plenty of player involvement. Matter of fact I don't really care to prove you wrong. I'll just say this. If you want more to do while playing the game , how about you choke your chicken? How about you pick your nose? Or you could even shove something up your butt! If you don't like the gameplay then don't play the game. Stop complaining about something that is so much larger than you.

[Hicken]

Seriously, if you don't like the gameplay, DON'T PLAY IT.

It only makes you look like one of the masses when you complain because the game is different.

It's almost like you're specifically trolling this game.

You should stop.

[GribbleGrunger]

They demonstrated Beyond: Two Souls as if a film at a film festival? Shocking!

[byeGollum]

35 minutes of footage is not representative of the full game, compose an article out of that...

[coolmast3r]

Cause it's an INTERACTIVE MOVIE!

[Gamer-40]

Where is the gameplay?
David Cage like a Hollywood, this product not true video game, it is a interactive movie. Cutscene-QTE-cutscene-QTE.

[nugnugs]

You speak like a caveman! "David Cage like a Hollywood"?
Heavy rain kept me involved and i'm sure this will too. you haven't seen enough to make judgements yet.

[Gamer-40]

I never buy interactive movie games, never. Boring. Quantic Dream best game: Omikron.

Heavy Rain not system seller, Beyond: Two Souls not system seller. End.

Who cares Beyond: Two Souls? Next-gen coming this year.

[GraveLord]

The game is about the story, not about you killing waves of enemies. Be greatful.

[evilbart]

I think the game looks amazing but the biggest problem I see is a very large percentage of people watching a walkthrough on YouTube rather than forking out 60 bucks,especially with the new consoles releasing around the same time,which is a shame because it looks like such a unique game compared to the constant stream of first person shooters

[MariaHelFutura]

Heavy Rain sold very well. Especially considering it was a very unique, non casual and not heavily advertised.

[Thatguy-310]

Exactly Heavy Rain like Journey and like Beyond Two Souls is about the experience. One can't get the same experience from simply just watching it on YouTube videos. That's why Heavy Rain was a success. No matter how many people criticize it's gameplay there is obviously a market for it and Heavy Rain laughs at them for being so wrong.

[Williamson]

I remember watching some gameplay a couple of months ago on YouTube that looked really good. I saw the ghostly companion taking over soldiers bodies and making him shooting at his comrades.

[izumo_lee]

I do not get why are some people hating on this game just cause it is different than other games. There is nothing wrong with a game like this & if one does not like these kinds of games than simply do not play it.

I find games like this & Heavy Rain refreshing in an industry overwhelmed with shooters & over excessive violence. Sometimes we need games that are more about the story & the journey the characters take. A game that focuses on the narrative that makes the player think about more than just about the game.

[ssj27]

Why dont you get it?

If we don't like something, we hate it..
Human nature, most will take a MacDonald meal before a new unknown plate.

Look at COD, it sales because it has clasic easy simple basic familiar gameplay, if they change the gameplay a lil, the user's are going to hate on it, we are afraid of different stuff and we want the same stuff always.. when I say "we" I mean most people.. some don't mind and welcome new stuff.
That is why many devs copy COD, so people feel familiarize with the product.

BEYOND TWO SOULS, is for those who don't mind new experiences and are not afraid, for those who want to get a new experience.

Most rather live in their fantasy fake world, they can't accept the beautiful truth, let's go the the basics :

in that what you can a game, do you have to press a bottom to control the character? Yes
Do you feel in control of the game? Yea right.. is a fake illusion, you are jot in control.. you got to press and move from point a to be.. you just have to fallow the gameplay, that that's the reality.

[DigitalRaptor]

Some of you people just have no idea of the scope and reality of the medium we call gaming do you? It's pathetic. These people sound like 15 year olds that have only just discovered gaming and think Quantic Dream's adventure games are movies that are uniquely threatening to"fun" games. absolutely ridiculous.

I'm actually not as old as some of the gaming veterans out there, but at least i can understand and appreciate that there are other genres out there.

Point-and-click adventure games give you more or less the same amount of freedom than Cage's games, yet you don't see anyone going round hating on adventure games or questioning their relevance, unless they're new to gaming or simply ignorant.

I'm going to make a few points:

1. This 35 minute walkthrough was made specifically for the audience of Tribeca, removing as much of the gameplay aspect as possible, yet there was still lots of gameplay. Some of you need to THINK.

I don't know why people have different ideas of what gameplay is, when adventure games have been doing this formula for years, but with less emphasis on cinema. Quantic Dream have a different approach, but the passion and foundations are the same.

2. You people saying Beyond is mostly QTE-based. You're completely wrong. go read about the game instead of spreading lies . Cage has already told us it's not QTE-centric and we've seen an evolution in gameplay ourselves. READ! http://www.vg247.com/2013/0...

3. Most of you are unaware that you've been conditioned into believing gameplay is a certain thing because you find it fun, when in fact it's any kind of interactivity in a game space that is designed to produce an output based on your input. Beyond and every Quantic Dream production is cram packed with gameplay, and you are in control from moment to moment.

So really, the gameplay is right in front of you, you just have to educate yourself about what gameplay is and always has been.

[FreakdoutKid]

so what did we just see?

[rocky047586]

Thank you!

That clip wasn't meant to show off GAMEPLAY it was meant to show off the cinematic qualities of the game, limited gameplay was what they were going for here, "get from point A to point B, cinematic cutscene w/interactivity" but that doesn't mean that's ALL the game is though.

Afterall, you wouldn't really want to show off a video games' GAMEPLAY at a FILM festival now would you? That's like Hollywood going to E3 and showing off all of the cinematics of a game instead of gameplay.

[wantonGamer]

I wonder what would have transpired had she said yes to the guy who offered her some cash to 'go into the alley' with him.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

lol That's the beauty of this type of game. ;)

[FreakdoutKid]

completely agree.i dont own ps3 but u ps fans should really wait for last of us. that game is gonna be damn awesome

[Oh_Yeah]

Um? It's not supposed to have game play.. . It's an interactive movie.

[weirdo]

dragon's lair

[TechnicianTed]

Yeah, I think David Cage got a lot of inspiration from that game.

[cleverusername]

In the words of EA Sports, "It's in the game!!"

[Jagsrock]

It doesn't have gameplay in the traditional sense but who cares? It's engaging and completely immersive. The amount of button clicks might be less but that doesn't make it any less of a game. Not only do the players decisions effect the game but because of the deep character development and storytelling the decisions hold a lot more weight.Thus keeping the player involved and attentive at all times VS just mashing buttons and watching a cutscene. Now It doesn't mean that all games should be like this but it's definitely a nice change of pace.

[NaughtyDream]

i remember one guy on another site was saying that heavy rain was just a press x game that he did not feel any emotion, could not immerse himself into the game that it does not require any effort and that he do not care about the characters. but i remember the scene where ethan mars (that is you the player) had to make the decision to cut his finger or not. it was such a painful moment for me and i was emotionally involved. i think that beyond TS will have even better scene like thus one and will be a beautiful ride. personally i am a gamer that tends to buy every game that innovates and take risk.

[Mr-Dude]

I wonder what people (especially the haters) would have said if this game would have been multiplatform...

[Veneno]

Most of the haters' reactions would be the exact opposite, but I've started to look past those numskulls and realized that Sony, at least with Beyond, is pulling a Nintendo by serving a whole new audience. I'm 100% sure that the p3ople at Tribeca are seriously rethinking what a videogame can be. Before beyond they probably thought games were all Mario, shooters, and sports games. If these more intelligent types get into games because of Beyond then I-'m all for it. We need more intelligent people involved with gaming because im so sick of the immature frat boy, gangsta, adolescent types being the face of gamers. Thats why to this day I hesitate to tell people I play games because I'll get thrown in with the trash that call themselves gamers.

So I hope the "interactive movie" thing blows up big and hopefully Sony keeps up with the demand by finding more genius talent like Quantic Dream and Naughty Dog and be able to come out with narrative driven games regularly. I think one big narrative game per quarter would be enough to sustain this new genre and community. Just like normal movies come out all the time, these games n3ed to come out regularly.
Le

[BitbyDeath]

To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.

That is how these games work. You do something and you get reactions. You control the game and the world reacts.

[yaz288]

WTF do you mean by gamplay?! shooting people?

I feel bad for anyone who didn't enjoy heavy rain or just didn't get it.. I loved and enjoyed every bit of that game. exploring, QTE, choices ... just walking in that game to me was amazing .. the atmosphere, the graphics and what you may find and discover. The QTE I believe are needed to be experienced .. its like GOW but its more sensitive and just feel real! (by that I mean your actually doing it) yeah you can watch it on youtube .. its just ain't the same I tell you.

give this game a chance and take it for what it is.

[sourav93]

I enjoyed Heavy Rain. So I'm not worried about Beyond. In Quantic Dreams I trust.

[baodeus]

It is a different type of genra, but it is still a game. It may not be the type of games for you but it is to others. Just don't play it if you don't like it.

These type of games (indigo profecy, heavy rain, monkey island, quest for glory, the longest journey, king quest etc....) have their own unique charm, something that sadly lost in this action pack fps dominant gen.

With that said, hope you guys open up your mind to other genra of games too like kinect, move, wii, wiiu, indies, mobile, etc...for some reason, these type of games don't get the same recognition that they deserve on n4g (people on here are very selective, rather than being fully open minded).

[Bathyj]

So no one noticed the video was edited and actually had gameplay segments CUT out of it?

Why?

I dont know, maybe because it was at a film festival and they wanted to highlight the film aspects of it, not watch a character walking around searching crates for ten minutes.

And who is anyone to define what gameplay is. This game is different. Yes. But gameplay is not just shooting guns or jumping on platforms. Pardon me for wanting to try something outside the norm.

This is the real reason Quantic Dream sticks to Playstation. Look at the people who are embracing this concept of a game and look at the people who just want to attack it because they think theyve found a thread to tug at. Bottomline is a dev would have never got the freedom to make a game like this on any other platform, and even if they did it never would have sold, thus enabling future likewise ambitious projects.

If you dont like it, just ignore it, and allow the people who do to ignore you.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

it's not a game.

[Buuhan1]

David Cage just needs to stop trying to make "games" and just turn Quantic Dreams into a CGI film company. Cause that's all their games have been, CGI films forced to run in realtime on limited hardware.

Problem is they wouldn't really make for good films, so this way they can get the "it's a video game" passcard. Except it's really not. Imagine if they actually put the time into actually trying to make a film instead of trying to turn a film into a video game.

It's all the more infuriating when David Cage criticizes the video game medium and boasts how his so called "games" are doing things that other games don't.

That's because they're actually video games, David.

[vega275]

agreed. this is the main reason why i won't buy this interactive movie. I was suckered into buying heavy rain before i realized what it really was and the fact that david cage attitude towards real game developers is appalling.

I thought MGS4 was bad with the interactive movie with some gameplay elements. but heavy rain took the whole cake and ran with it. I no doubt this movie will be nothing short if not more of the same from david cage and what his idea (or lack there of) vision of what games should be.

[JeepGamer]

I'll say it again.

Trailers that do not consist of uninterrupted game play are largely useless.

[StreetsofRage]

The ultimate rental.

[AtomicGerbil]

My first thought would be where is your brain? It's a FILM festival.

[kupomogli]

I liked Indigo Prophecy and Heavy Rain with their quicktime based gameplay, but the one gameplay video that we've seen about using the entity and going around killing people just looks like it wouldnn't be any fun. I'm still going to try it out sometime later, but right now that's my opinion by seeing it being played. I just don't think the gameplay will be any good, not like it was with Indigo Prophecy or Heavy Rain, that despite even though I usually dislike quick time events, they made a game full of them fun to play.