Beyond: Two Souls

Beyond: Two Souls is a cinematic interactive drama that blends supernatural elements with a deeply emotional, nonlinear narrative. Players follow Jodie Holmes, tethered to an invisible entity named Aiden, over fifteen years of her life. The story explores themes of identity, isolation, and the afterlife, supported by compelling performances from Elliot Page and Willem Dafoe. Visually, the game remains impressive with detailed facial capture and diverse environments, reinforcing its film-like presentation.

Gameplay is heavily focused on quick-time events (QTEs) and context-sensitive controls, alternating between controlling Jodie and the supernatural Aiden. While this design enhances immersion, it limits player agency and mechanical depth. The narrative offers branching paths and multiple endings, though choices sometimes feel cosmetic. Despite its ambition and emotional weight, the game is polarizing due to frustrating controls, especially on PC, and a sometimes disjointed story structure. It is best appreciated as an interactive movie experience rather than a traditional game.

Highlights

Players praise the game's strong, emotionally engaging story and well-acted characters, particularly Elliot Page and Willem Dafoe. The cinematic visuals and detailed facial animations remain impressive even years after release. The supernatural gameplay segments controlling Aiden add a unique twist to the narrative-driven experience. The soundtrack, composed by Lorne Balfe with Hans Zimmer's involvement, effectively enhances the atmosphere. Fans of narrative adventures appreciate the branching storylines and replay value offered by multiple endings.

Many recommend playing with a controller for smoother gameplay and highlight the game's ambition in pushing interactive storytelling boundaries.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the game's clunky, frustrating controls, especially on PC with keyboard and mouse. Quick-time events often fail to register inputs, causing player irritation and progression blocks. The camera and movement mechanics are frequently described as awkward and unresponsive. Some players find the nonlinear narrative confusing or emotionally uneven, with the story occasionally feeling contrived or melodramatic. The gameplay is criticized for lacking depth, reducing the experience to a series of QTEs with limited interactivity. Several reviewers advise caution for PC players or recommend purchasing only on sale due to these issues.