Developed by Tiger & Squid
Published by Team 17
Released for Xbox One (8/4/2015)
Also on Linux/Mac/PC/PS4
> Beyond Eyes was developed by Netherland-based Tiger & Squid, the company's first and (at the time of this writing) only release. Beyond Eyes hit the Xbox One first, releasing on August 4, 2015. Shortly after, on August 11, the game would release for PC, Mac and Linux. The game's final port (as of August 2019 at least) would be for the PlayStation 4 on September 8, 2015.
Beyond Eyes places the player in the shoes of a 10-year-old girl named Rae. It's revealed in the opening cutscene that Rae lost her vision as a toddler in an accident involving fireworks. As a result of the accident, Rae became a bit reclusive and sensitive to loud noises. Rae did manage to acquire a best friend in the form of a fat cat named Nani. Nani has unfortunately turned up missing and now Rae has to brave the unknown to venture out and search for her. In Beyond Eyes you'll guide Rae out into the mysterious world in an attempt to find Nani.
Beyond Eyes is a walking simulator, meaning that the core gameplay consists of walking around and occasionally interacting with an object. Beyond Eyes sets itself apart from similar games with its unique blind premise, where the environment reveals itself as you approach and also through sounds. While Rae might hear an object and interpret what it is in her imagination, a closer inspection might reveal it to be something completely different. These moments are a nice touch though they serve more as collectibles rather than having much impact on the actual story. The sound design is well-implemented, mostly filled with ambience that helps set the tone of the current location. Graphically, Beyond Eyes is a pretty game, with the default backdrop being bright-white while the environment fills itself in around you as you navigate through it. The colors are bright and vibrant and there's a nice watercolor look that works quite well in portraying how Rae might imagine her surroundings.
The first thing most players will likely notice in regards to the controls is that Rae moves slow. She has only one speed of walking and impatient players will likely put the game down quickly due to this. With Rae being blind it makes sense why she'd want to slowly navigate her environment and areas tend to be small enough that the slow movement speed isn't as big of a deal as you might initially think. While navigating the environments, Rae will occasionally encounter something blocking her way. These sequences act as sort of puzzles, where you'll have to search around to find an object that will help you get by. These help add a little diversity to the gameplay, rather than just having you strictly walk around. Don't be mistaken though, a large majority of the gameplay is slowly walking around.
This will be spoiler-free review, especially since the game is a rather brief experience. but I would like to note that there is a nice tale involving a vulnerable young girl confronting her fears in search of a lost friendship. While there's not really a whole lot of dialogue to hear or read, Beyond Eyes does a good job conveying how Rae feels by her animations. Let's just say that by the end of the game I was a bit involved emotionally, which is an accomplishment considering how short the game is.
As you progress through the game's 6 chapters, you'll walk through several areas in search of your dear friend Nani. Beyond Eyes is a short game and the 6 chapters can be completed in 2-3 hours, depending on how thoroughly you explore and whether or not you get lost along the way. The story is easy to relate to if you've ever had pets (especially cats), the visuals are pretty and the game really makes you contemplate what it would be like without your vision sense. It's definitely not for everybody and due to the short length it's hard to recommend Beyond Eyes at it's suggested $14.99 price, but if you catch it on sale I'd say it's worth a look if you enjoy a good walking simulator.
Final Verdict: Beyond Eyes is a walking simulator where you assume the role a young blind girl as she searches for her cat in a world unknown to her. While on the short side, the pretty visuals and original premise make this one worth checking out if you like walking simulators.
Related Links:
Buy Beyond Eyes - Microsoft Store
Walking Simulators - Xbox Overview
Beyond Eyes Launch Trailer - YouTube
Tiger and Squid - Official Website
Team 17 - Official Website
Beyond Eyes - GameFAQs
Beyond Eyes Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
Beyond Eyes - True Achievements
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