2. Perspective
Theres nothing worse than the ardent "artsy" guy sticking up for something that is genuinely turgid (anyone who's had the pleasure of Metallica and Lou Reed's collaboration knows that pain). Yet depending on your subjectivity and openness to new ideas that contrast the established tropes of gaming, the very idea of Beyond was always going to be one that would have more turn-offs than turn-ons. The fact remains that Beyond is still a memorable gaming experience (take that for what you will), and like that of a progressive metal album, a complex book, or a particularly hyperactive independent film, if youre willing to grapple with the source material outside of initial knee-jerk reactions, youll be able to get far more out of it. Even saying that it doesn't excuse the notion as the game progresses that David Cage had a wealth of ideas, none of which he surrendered to any form of scrutiny, instead content on launching as many scenes at the wall as possible with his own never-ending packet of blu-tack, determined to make them all stick. It makes for a very interesting and action-packed narrative overall, but not one that is very cohesive or well-told, at least through virgin eyes, and even with the fanboy-lights turned on, Cage's disregard for conventional narrative or storytelling flies in the face of every other title that has had this much money behind it. Although as always, you could argue that's entirely the point.