Although it comes with a hefty price tag, the PS VR2 is an excellent headset that provides a truly next-gen virtual reality gaming experience. Already, games have been taking advantage of the PS VR2's features, including the haptics which can be felt on the controllers and headset. Before Your Eyes is one of the most exciting titles on the PS VR2 right now, as it uses the headset's eye tracking, and players control the game by blinking. For gamers who are looking for a unique VR experience, and are fans of the Life Is Strange series, this is a game that is not to be missed.
Before Your Eyes was developed by Skybound Games and originally released in 2021, though it has truly found its home in the world of VR. Its touching, sentimental story will strike a chord with fans of Life Is Strange, and any other gamers who enjoy emotional narratives and minimal gameplay. The game is roughly two hours long, making it possible to experience it all in one sitting.
Before Your Eyes' Story of Life
Before Your Eyes puts gamers into the shoes of Benjamin Brynn, who discovers he has died and is being ferried to the afterlife. Much like Spiritfarer, there is a psychopomp. However, this time, Ferryman is a wolfish character with an animated personality, and he is tasked with narrating Benjamin's life to the Gatekeeper. If the Gatekeeper is pleased with what they hear, Benjamin gets to enter paradise.
Benjamin recounts his life to the psychopomp, and players experience it as a series of scenes that flash by when players blink. This is an ingenious interaction method that utilizes the headset's eye tracking to mimic the experience of having one's life flash before their eyes. The game is best played without knowing too much about Benjamin's story. However, Before Your Eyes is an eye-wetting tale that stresses the importance of family and friends over grander pursuits such as fame and fortune. It also forces players to think deeply about the transience of life, and what qualifies as a meaningful existence.
Though the game isn't the most visually stunning, it doesn't need to be, as it is carried entirely by its powerful narrative and clever interaction methods. Players won't be defeating any monsters or climbing great heights, but the simple interactions that are present, such as playing the piano or closing one's eyes, are applied in the most meaningful ways.
Before Your Eyes Will Appeal to Life Is Strange Fans
Although Life Is Strange isn't the only graphic adventure game that places greater emphasis on narrative than gameplay, the franchise is one of the most popular examples, and for good reasons. With its blend of nostalgia-inducing music and its brutally honest depiction of interpersonal relationships, the series managed to strike an emotional chord with a lot of gamers. The franchise isn't available in VR, though Before Your Eyes provides a similar narrative-based experience that will stay in the player's mind long after the credits roll. Thanks to its simple control method, it is the perfect title to show newcomers the potential of the medium as an expressive art form.
With the variety of games available, PS VR2 gamers will be occupied for a while. For those that need action-packed experiences, Resident Evil Village and Horizon Call of the Mountain will not disappoint. However, for players who prefer a seated experience more focused on narrative, Before Your Eyes is a unique title with a surprising amount of heart.
Life is Strange is available on Mobile, PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.