If you were looking for another video game to add to the list of starters for the debate about whether something actually constitutes a "game," Beyond Eyes can be included. A small game, it is likely one that will be skipped over by many. Indeed, the conversation about what makes something a game will likely stick to walking simulators like Dear Esther or The Stanley Parable, or extend into the kind of experiences produced from thatgamecompany (Flower, Journey), but it will likely be a discussion point here as well. Beyond Eyes doesn't quite hit the same high notes as those games, but if you were a fan of those, it might be one worth checking out.
The game centers around one basic concept: you play as Rae, a young girl, as she sets out to find her lost cat. The catch, however, is that she is blind. Experimenting with this dynamic, players have to navigate an empty, white void. Obstacles unveil themselves at the last possible second, since you cannot see them. The map unfolds very much in a "fog of war" fashion (from RTS games). While there is nothing to do other than walk around - something sure to be boring to many players - it doesn't necessarily feel as passive as it sounds. Maps might not be particularly large, but exploring in search of the proper path is actually more engaging than one might think.
An interesting idea to play with blindness, there were a few moments that stuck out. The frustration occasionally felt when you find a fence blocking your way as you figure you are headed in the right direction sheds some insight into the life of a blind person. There are some well done environmental inclusions as well. Crows scream at you from a distance, and occasionally a stranger makes noise nearby which is a bit startling. At one point, a dog starts barking at you from down the path. That moment is great, as it makes you realize how scary it can be. You hear the dog and know where it is, but you can't tell anything else. Is there a fence there? Is the dog on a leash? What kind of dog is it? Similarly, weather can play a factor. In one chapter, a rainstorm breaks out and reduces the amount around you that you can sense. For most of the game, you retain some memory or sense of the areas you just passed. When it rains, the sound washes all that away. Going backwards is as unknown as going forward. All of these aspects provides some intriguing insight into the life of the blind.
Helping the game is its gorgeous art style. It is legitimately beautiful, opting to go with bright colors to clash against the idea of the darkness stemming from a lack of vision. Visually, it is just nice to look at. When things come out of nowhere to frighten Rae, the colors get a bit more subdued, but even then it is still pretty. Rae looks sufficiently uncomfortable wandering through unknown areas by herself. Her body language goes a long way to indicating her emotional state. The music is calm and peaceful, making this one of those relaxing games that you could potentially play before bed. (Some might consider "games to fall asleep to" a negative, but I happen to really like games like that.)
All that said, it doesn't quite hit any of the substantial notes as one of thatgamecompany's games, or the entertaining meta-narrative of The Stanley Parable. It is a lot less cohesive than the likes of Flower or Journey. With those games, the chill nature of the gameplay matches the story pretty well. In Flower, the "go with the flow" gameplay fits the story - in which players control petals riding the wind. You collect more flower petals, then use that to destroy grimy, polluted areas. Such a story demands such relaxing gameplay. Journey, similarly, sees players do little more than run around and jump. Yet as the title suggests, the story is all about this epic, emotional journey that is told through a very subdued fashion.
Beyond Eyes doesn't exactly have the same kind of resonance. The gameplay of walking around to an unfolding environment matches the character trait of blindness. That is without question the most interesting element of the game. However, that does nothing to match the story - which is all about Rae on a giant fetch quest to bring home her cat. As it happens, the big reveal at the end makes that adventure seem even stranger. During the credits, it kind of hits you that the game might not have been developed to give players a means to somewhat understand the world of the blind, but rather for the creator to deal with the loss of a beloved pet.
As a result, the game could stand to be shorter. It already is pretty quick to beat. Six chapters and a prologue, however, in a game where all you do is walk does wind up feeling a bit dragged out. Chapters two and three ultimately feel like they could be cut out entirely. If so, it would become boring less quickly, as you would be left with only the chapters that do something interesting.
There are things to enjoy about Beyond Eyes. Generally the recipient of bad reviews, a lot will depend on your patience for games like these. Indeed, its central concept of having you play as a blind person is interesting. There is much to explore there, and a truly incredible game awaits from that premise. Still, it doesn't hit anywhere near the emotional highs and lows of Journey, nor does it quite have the charm of Flower. It isn't trying to be those things, of course, but that is the audience a game like this would appeal to.
REDUCTIVE RATING: It's...interesting
Available On: XBox One, PS4, OSX, Windows, Linux
No comments:
Post a Comment