A deft remastering of what was a technical marvel on the PS3, Beyond: Two Souls is a fascinating experiment that pushes the boundaries of what video games can be. The combination of motion capture, acting, writing, and story design is a testament to the medium, and, despite some flaws, it will leave you impressed with what can be accomplished artistically when developers dare to push the envelope.

Beyond Two Rings is the tale of Jodie and her ghost pal Aiden, told in a series of non-chronological vignettes. While the acting by Ellen Page and Willem Defoe is excellent, the fact that the game relies so heavily on these narrative modules can leave the gameplay feeling disconnected. Jodie’s movement mechanics are a bit more intuitive than those of Heavy Rain, but they are still hard to master, and contextual clues don’t always make it clear which direction she should be moving.

Beyond Two Rings: Exploring Timeless Wedding Bands

Meanwhile, the first-person control of Aiden feels a little more sloppy. Players can throw him around the world and hit or kill people, but he sometimes seems to be stuck in the middle of nowhere, and his spooky antics can become irritating after awhile.

While a few minor issues mar an otherwise intriguing piece of digital storytelling, this remaster of a groundbreaking game is well worth the time. If you’re willing to forgo challenging gameplay and immerse yourself in the narrative, then you’ll find yourself thrust into a macabre battleground of angels, demons, saints, and the risen dead as Jodie fights to save her own soul.…