REVIEW: Before Your Eyes

He looks up at the character, who introduces himself as The Ferryman. He continues to say that he would like to tell your story to The Gatekeeper. If they consider you worthy, then you will be granted a place in the afterlife. The Ferryman, an anthropomorphized dog-like character, is on a boat at the ocean's edge. Although the colours are bright and cheerful, there is a dreamlike, melancholic feel to the place. You don't need to click anything to make the game move. Instead, you are told to blink. Because you can't blink forever.

This blinking mechanic is the basis of GoodbyeWorld Games' new title, Before Your Eyes. It makes use of the player's internetcam. This allows you to travel backwards in time through the life of Benny. You'll discover his relationships with his family, friends, passions and career and see his lows and highs. Although the game can be played without a webcam, it is infinitely more enjoyable with one. A webcam isn't just a marketing trick, it's also a storyline and theme that revolve around the inevitable of two things: you'll blink and you'll die.

You could skip through scenes if you really wanted to complete the game quickly. The beauty of this game is the desire to be present in every moment as much as possible. Benny's world has lots of detail and is bright. The art style is simple, but you want to see all it has to offer. Everything feels sweet, from Benny's cute cat, who you can watch grow up as a kitten to his family to places like the beach and his classroom to the people in his life, it is all loveable.

Performances are just as important to the game's success. Scenes can last longer or less depending on how long the player is able to keep their eyes open. This means that they should be longer than necessary. The characters in the game, especially Benny's Mom & Dad, needed to be people we care about and want to hear more from. Combining great writing with loveable voices makes any extra we get from these characters feel like winning. Scenes and moments are presented quickly but scenes and moments last for a while. Music and voices can also be heard from other rooms. There is a lot going on that we don’t understand, can’t catch or simply hear as people go about their day. It's impossible to ask for more from the characters that make the world feel alive.

However, even if a scene is beautiful, the game reminds us that you can't stay there forever. You can't stay there forever.HaveTo blink. You can blink in one of two ways. A symbol representing an eye will appear at the bottom of the screen. If you hover over it, you'll be able to move on or interact in some other way with the world. If a metronome ticks away at the bottom, blink and you'll continue moving forward regardless of what. This allows for some flexibility, such as the ability to explore all aspects of a scene in your time. However, it also returns to the important theme of the inevitability and the fact that life moves forward regardless of what.

You will have the opportunity to make choices for Benny at times. While they do not affect the overall game outcome, it can be a great way to blur the lines between the characters and you. The game is not long and can be played in one sitting. This allows you to fully immerse in the world and let your mind wander. Although the game may focus on a number of major themes, it doesn't feel like it's forcing them into the story. The game's themes and messages are based on the experience of one person.

Although I was skeptical that a webcam would add any value to a game, I am glad I was wrong. Before your Eyes is a novel title that makes use of webcam technology to enhance its story. You'll be captivated by a world and characters that will make you feel connected to you.