My OperaE3
Thursday, June 13, 2013 8:37:26 AM
Two Souls could very well be PlayStation 3’s superb swan song, a fitting end to the console’s impressive legacy. But it also has the potential to be something else entirely, something unfocused, confusing, and perhaps too ambitious. Both sides of Quantic Dream’s most recent project showed itself when I sat in on a behind-closed-doors demonstration of a new part of the story, a section of the upcoming PS3-exclusive title that left me both excited to play the full game and concerned that it might be a little too muddled for its own good.
When Beyond: Two Souls was first introduced at last year’s E3, we saw a portion of the game known as Hunted. This time around, we caught a glimpse into an extended section of the game called Somalia, a segment of protagonist Jodie Holmes’ adventure far different than that shown during Two Souls’ debut. When combined with a third sliver of the game – the Homeless chapter revealed at the Tribeca Film Festival – it’s clear that creator David Cage’s new vision is wide-ranging, vast, and complex.
The Somalia chapter gives a fresh glimpse into Holmes’ role as a dangerous and skilled CIA operative, an evolution in her life alluded to in trailers, but one not yet fully understood in the greater context of the story. The chapter takes place somewhere in the last third of the game, though Beyond’s non-chronological slant means it’s hard to say exactly where it lands on Jodie Holmes’ personal timeline. All that’s clear is that she’s on an exceptionally dangerous mission, one that places her in a lawless land as she hunts down a ruthless warlord known as Jamaal.
Early on, a young boy named Salim accompanies Holmes. Salim’s presence is immediately jarring because he’s not just any boy; he’s armed with an assault rifle and he’s willing to lay down fire to protect Jodie. It remains to be seen how the two found each other, but they’ve formed an impromptu friendship, one that relies more on body gestures than language.
When Beyond: Two Souls was first introduced at last year’s E3, we saw a portion of the game known as Hunted. This time around, we caught a glimpse into an extended section of the game called Somalia, a segment of protagonist Jodie Holmes’ adventure far different than that shown during Two Souls’ debut. When combined with a third sliver of the game – the Homeless chapter revealed at the Tribeca Film Festival – it’s clear that creator David Cage’s new vision is wide-ranging, vast, and complex.
The Somalia chapter gives a fresh glimpse into Holmes’ role as a dangerous and skilled CIA operative, an evolution in her life alluded to in trailers, but one not yet fully understood in the greater context of the story. The chapter takes place somewhere in the last third of the game, though Beyond’s non-chronological slant means it’s hard to say exactly where it lands on Jodie Holmes’ personal timeline. All that’s clear is that she’s on an exceptionally dangerous mission, one that places her in a lawless land as she hunts down a ruthless warlord known as Jamaal.
Early on, a young boy named Salim accompanies Holmes. Salim’s presence is immediately jarring because he’s not just any boy; he’s armed with an assault rifle and he’s willing to lay down fire to protect Jodie. It remains to be seen how the two found each other, but they’ve formed an impromptu friendship, one that relies more on body gestures than language.
