Beyond: Two Souls is a story driven game, not an exercise in forced experiences. As such, even if you let the protagonist die, you won’t see a ‘Game Over’ screen. The story doesn’t come to a complete stop, but rather, new doors open.
Beyond: Two Souls creator, David Cage, told Joystiq that a ‘Game Over’ screen is more a state of failure for the designer than the player:
It’s like creating an artificial loop saying, ‘You didn’t play the game the way I wanted you to play, so now you’re punished and you’re going to come back and play it again until you do what I want you to do.’ In an action game, I can get that – why not? It’s all about skills. But in a story-driven experience it doesn’t make any sense.
For example, Cage discussed a scene where Jodi, the protagonist, is being hunted down by two police officers on a moving train. If you are successful, it leads to an intense standoff on the roof of the train. However, ‘failing’ means that you are captured and leads to an escape scenario. Those who ‘beat’ the train scene would miss the escape, while those who ‘fail’ will miss the standoff. Nice way to work around forcing players down a particular path!
Of course, Jodi can also die. However, Cage explains:
It’s a game about death, so you can imagine that death plays a role in all of this. Actually, it’s one of the big discoveries – one of the big mysteries in the game is to discover what’s on the other side. And it’s definitely not a black screen.
I really like this idea. I’m more often than not just frustrated by a ‘Game Over’ screen – sometimes I’m just not good at getting through a stage in the way that the developers imagined it. This opens up a whole bunch of new opportunities and also means that each player will get a unique experience. I definitely think this game is sounding cool – looking forward to its release!
Last Updated: August 23, 2013
TiMsTeR1033
August 23, 2013 at 13:36
no game over…..but but what happen when da lady die? den doe he have game over??
OVG
August 23, 2013 at 13:38
That goes beyond normal gaming convention…
No? I need a beer, that was bad.
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
August 23, 2013 at 13:41
Where art thou? Self-imposed internet exile?
OVG
August 23, 2013 at 13:49
I was on leave for 3 weeks. But I must admit, being totally cut off from all social media was GREAT. Taking 2 steps back you suddenly realise how serious one becomes when fully involved in a certain interest especially when one is behind a computer 10hours a day because of work.
It has only been 2 days back and Im already getting into the hard drive of passion that is gaming opinions.
I have no idea how the game reviewers like Jim Sterling do it considering their life is on Twitter all day. Or Gareth Cliff and the like.
One needs to cut off once in a while or one just becomes brainwashed.
ONE, tee hee hee 😛
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
August 23, 2013 at 13:52
Good to see OVG back. Social media is starting to become the bane of our lives. Look at what it’s doing to MS from their original statements. They’ve gone soft but more like a soft cookie that nobody wants a piece of.
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 23, 2013 at 14:17
I once asked a friend how she was doing & she told me to read her facebook page.
Devourer of Small Bunnies
August 23, 2013 at 14:22
wow
Her Highness the Hipster
August 23, 2013 at 14:40
wow… that’s so sad
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
August 23, 2013 at 14:04
Good to have you back J.
I too believe that one has become TOO reliant on social media, updates, emails etc.
RinceThisandbeAbsurd
August 23, 2013 at 14:30
News UPDATE: BOOM!
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
August 23, 2013 at 14:33
FINALLY, you are ONE OF US
RinceThisandbeAbsurd
August 23, 2013 at 14:38
YAY! http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121214105157/glee/images/b/b7/Happy14uythjm.gif
OVG
August 23, 2013 at 14:45
We need the dots going across the chest then when it gets to the middle the dots go down to the groin. But with Mrs Pacman 😉
RinceThisandbeAbsurd
August 23, 2013 at 14:41
And, he’s back. Welcome hommie. Thought we’d lost you there for a while. You can smile though, confirmation the The Las Guardian is still in development… You know, like it has been since 2009! Trololo! http://24.media.tumblr.com/5d4e4078e2da9e416a838c4701f5e5db/tumblr_mm52ozDYiU1qkoec9o1_500.gif
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 23, 2013 at 14:42
Only 4 years? That means it’ll be twice as good as DNF!
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
August 23, 2013 at 13:40
The game ends when you break the disc.
Hammersteyn
August 23, 2013 at 13:41
If she has an annoying voice or any teenage swag or any Bieber references I will smother her with a pillow and play the game without her.
DarthofZA
August 23, 2013 at 13:43
You sir just made my day 😀
Devourer of Small Bunnies
August 23, 2013 at 14:22
Why downvote? We got beliebers up in this bitch now? Fuck you internet
Hammersteyn
August 23, 2013 at 14:36
Hahahaha
RinceThisandbeAbsurd
August 23, 2013 at 14:43
Beiber FTW!
WernerE
August 23, 2013 at 13:50
So it will be similar as with Heavy Rain? My wife really enjoyed that. It brings a more “realistic” element to the game. You don’t die and respawn, just do the part over. You have to deal with the situation that you have put the character in.
Zubayr Bhyat
August 23, 2013 at 14:15
Sort of an extension of Indigo Prophecy’s modus operandi. I like that too.
Vampyre Squirrel
August 23, 2013 at 14:01
so when you finish the game, does it not say “Game Over”?
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 23, 2013 at 14:19
Tomb Raider thanks you for finishing the game. It seemed so heart-felt I wanted to say, “You’re welcome!”
Vampyre Squirrel
August 23, 2013 at 14:28
Spoiler alert!! thanks Trev… still haven’t got a copy of Tomb Raider and now I know how it “ends”… *cries in a corner*
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 23, 2013 at 14:31
Oh come now, it’s not like I told you it turns out that the island is actually alive & possessed by the spirit of Bles Bridges & the only way to defeat him is to destroy all the roses he’s given to women.
Vampyre Squirrel
August 23, 2013 at 14:46
Worst game ending ever!!!
And if it turns out like that… I’ll have to find you and destroy you with my new found Vampyre Sith powers…
Kromas
August 23, 2013 at 15:38
Liefling … kan jy nie maar vergeet en vergewe!
Rock789
August 23, 2013 at 16:14
LOL! 🙂 That is awesome! Best ending EVER!
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
August 23, 2013 at 14:02
Very cool idea indeed
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
August 23, 2013 at 14:05
Also adds a crapload of replayability
Zubayr Bhyat
August 23, 2013 at 14:11
So it’s not Permadeath but permalife now? 😛
OVG
August 23, 2013 at 14:14
Soon one will have to purchase death via DLC. 3 lives for $1
Zubayr Bhyat
August 23, 2013 at 14:14
1600MS…I mean $160 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 23, 2013 at 14:13
Heh I own that tshirt. I was wearing it the other day & a woman passing me on the escalator had a double take then burst out laughing.
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
August 23, 2013 at 14:14
A friend of mine has one like that, but the text is UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
Her Highness the Hipster
August 23, 2013 at 14:25
bwhaha! love that!
Her Highness the Hipster
August 23, 2013 at 14:25
this pic is actually from my wedding pics – it’s what i bought for my husband to wear on the day! 🙂
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 23, 2013 at 14:27
WINNING!
Vampyre Squirrel
August 23, 2013 at 14:29
My wife bought me a shirt that states “I don’t need the internet, my wife knows everything”
Rock789
August 23, 2013 at 14:22
Been interested in this game from day 1 since it was announced! Can’t wait to get stuck in and be a part of the experience – I have a feeling it is gonna be EPIC!
Kromas
August 23, 2013 at 14:31
This right here is the exclusive reason I hate QTE’s. That bloody “bodily assault” QTE in tomb raider had me failing about 10 times. I almost nearly did not finish RE5 cause my co-op partner could not get his QTE sequence right at the end boss fight and even BF3 recently did the same thing to me.
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 23, 2013 at 14:35
I remember trying to escape the cave & getting killed quite a bit before getting the hang of the QTEs.
What’s that?… dead… oh it was a QTE. try again. QTE PRESS BUTTON…dead.. oh I have to time it not just press as soon as it pops up… damn it. try again…
Kromas
August 23, 2013 at 15:07
I know right and how about the damn parachute part. It looks super awesome in game play vids but when you kill yourself by touching the leaf of a nearby tree 20 times in a row it gets fairly annoying.
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 23, 2013 at 15:10
YES!
Tarisma
August 23, 2013 at 14:57
Sounds interesting