Why Quantic Dream’s Beyond Means the PS4 Can Wait

Heavy Rain was simply a fantastic game. The wonderfully crafted script mixed with stunning acting performances made for an emotionally moving gaming experience. I felt so much heartbreak for the virtual characters, to the point I shed a tear in sorrow.

Then there was Kara, a short seven minute tech demo that managed to leave you with a real sense of urgency and worry for the robotic Kara. It was mind blowing that even a short script could start off an emotional journey of fear and intrigue. The idea left unanswered questions and it could easily be developed into a fully fledged game.

From then on I fell in love with Quantic Dream. I’ve been dying to know more about their next project, Beyond, and whatever ideas David Cage has planned for the future.

Everything I’ve seen of Beyond: Two Souls has me very excited. A cast lined with Ellen Page and William Dafoe, both performing from a script and idea nurtured by the hailed genius David Cage, is a promising prospect.

[drop]We can also expect a game with the capacity for stunning visuals. Quantic Dream, post Heavy Rain, have upgraded their performance capture devices. As a result they claim that we will be able to see the feelings of the main character just from a single stare in their eyes, something Cage was keen to talk about at the recent PlayStation 4 announcement.

Despite the surface similarities, Beyond: Two Souls isn’t anything like Heavy Rain. This new story offers a supernatural element and a change in direction in terms of gameplay.

You follow the life of Jodie Holmes for fifteen years, from the age of eight until her mid twenties. There’s something strange about Jodie though, she is protected by an entity, named Aiden, giving her supernatural powers. During this time frame we form a relationship, as Jodie, with Aiden. From early footage it is clear this bond doesn’t receive a good reception from the world at large.

You’ll play as both Jodie and Aiden, the latter allowing you to interact with the world in a way no human can. The way these two characters will work together and interact is made visible by the fact that the adventure will more closely resemble modern day action games, with less focus on QTEs.

We haven’t seen a huge amount of the game, but what we have seen is reason enough to get excited. The footage of Jodie’s time in the Sheriff’s office from E3 shows Quantic Dream’s story telling brilliance. The narrative was strong and I was left feeling tense from the strange situation we were witnessing.

As a result Beyond: Two Souls is no doubt my most anticipated title for this year. Forget about the PS4, I need to experience this first, before any next gen upgrades. A promising story, different to anything we’ve seen, and innovations in gameplay and cinematic experience has made me one very excited gamer.

This is what I really love about Quantic Dream – their approach to development sets them apart from other developers. They showcase original and risky ideas. To put it simply, Heavy Rain was a risk. We hardly see quick time event focused gameplay in modern gaming, and its role in Heavy Rain put off many potential players. Quantic Dream knew this before release, they must have, but they went ahead with the game anyway.

Moving on from Heavy Rain, Quantic Dream could have easily developed a sequel with a new cast and new setting. They would probably have seen more copies sell. Instead they’ve focused on something entirely different with Beyond: Two Souls. That change in direction is certainly another risk to take, but the question is whether or not it will pay off? Personally I’m hoping that it will.

Risk aside, this change in IP and story is what draws me in the most. I feel we’ll always be able to rely on Quantic Dream to provide fresh and imaginative cinematic experiences in a gaming world overrun with prequels, sequels and spin offs. We only have to wait until October to see just how many new experiences and ideas they can throw at us in Beyond.