Contextually, no impact would be lost by telling the story in chronological order. Unlike the bond between our lead characters, the plot feels disconnected because of it. Even after completing the game – with all individual chapters unlocked – you can not play them chronologically without exiting the following loaded chapter, returning to the main menu and manually entering the next. The purpose of this plot device is unknown… why David Cage chose to tell this tale in such a specific, broken structure baffles me. This is the formula the plot adheres to, as we constantly dart between time periods and ‘Chapters’ in Jodie’s life. Skipping forward to ‘The Embassy’ some 12-odd years later, we see Jodie on her first undercover mission with the CIA alongside agent Ryan Clayton. This is realised fairly quickly by the pair of researchers. Jumping to the ‘First Experiment’, Jodie is under the supervision of DPA (Department of of Paranormal Activity) researchers Nathan Dawkins and Cole Freeman, who conduct tests on her ability to ‘telepathically’ see cards in another room, and move objects with her mind. Of course, we as the audience know that her ‘power’ has nothing to do with telepathy.Īiden – a spectral being – is practically connected to Jodie at the hip and many times does what Jodie asks of him. At least, that’s the simplistic reasoning for the non-linear plot. The ensuing game is her attempt to piece together the events of her life, although because her memory is fractured and failing, we as the player experience them out of order. Beginning with a ‘Prologue’, Jodie appears torn between the living and the dead, her memories jumbled.
But, does the “game” part of the experience hold up, or does the title further fuel the criticisms of simply ‘creating an interactive movie’ levied at the developers?…īEYOND: Two Souls explores 15 years of Jodie Holmes’ life, from the age of 8 to 23.
In starring high calibre Hollywood actors such as Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe, however, you’re guaranteed powerful performances nonetheless. As opposed to Heavy Rain, BEYOND veers away from straight drama and more towards the supernatural action sub-genre.
Creative Director/Writer David Cage has once again attempted to bring us on an emotional journey, this time in following the life of Jodie Holmes – a young girl who is connected to a mysterious entity she calls Aiden. BEYOND: Two Souls is Quantic Dream’s second PlayStation 3 exclusive after the critically acclaimed Heavy Rain.
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