You are dead. Who were you? How did you end up this way? These are the fundamental questions that Netflix’s Before Your Eyes poses in its opening scene. Within moments of being familiarized with the game’s unique controls, the Ferryman introduces himself to players. One-part spirit lawyer and one-part Charon; this charismatic wolf-like figure explains that players must take him through their life for him to be able to write their case for entering the afterlife.
Where to begin?
How are players supposed to explain an entire life story to the Ferryman? This is where the game’s unique control scheme comes into play. The Ferryman grants the ability to experience memories except every time they blink, time will skip by an unpredictable amount. This ability translates literally to players as the game’s only control is the facial recognition of the player’s blinking.
The game’s gimmick is also its weakest point, as recognizing a player’s blinking can be difficult to calibrate and glitchy. After several attempts, I opted to experience the story in the more traditional point-and-click adventure mode offered in place of blink detection . After selecting this feature, the game’s strengths were able to shine.
Following calibration of the blinking mechanic and experience the introduction to the Ferryman, players leap into the earliest moments of Benjamin’s life. Here they make introductions to the game’s small but compelling cast of characters—Ben’s mother, Elle Brynn, Ben’s father, Richard Brynn, and Neighbor, Chloe.
What is Life?
Before Your Eyes wastes no time throwing players into the various conflicts that populate Benjamin’s life. From the pain of adolescence, to trying to thrive under his parent’s expectations for his budding musical talents, the game consistently uses atmospheric graphics and a combination of classical and original music to create an ethereal atmosphere. Players are flung between quiet moments of infancy to more complex moments of arguments between those surrounding Benny.
The game offers a strong-artistic style of cell-shaded graphics, with scenes being revealed through splotches of paint-like texture and water flows as memories return to the deceased protagonist. revealing truths to both Ferryman and Players as they drift through the mundane and grander moments of the life that has been lived before the games gripping opening.
While atmosphere and music are strengths of Netflix’s Before Your Eyes, its true power lies in the compelling characters and the thoughts that it offers about life and the impact that a person has to those around them. It is hard to discuss without providing spoilers. Still, throughout the game there are hints and glimpses of the reality that it seeks to paint. Before Your Eyes is a touching and thought-provoking mediation on the reality of life and our perceptions of it.
A Successful Experiment
Netflix purchased Before Your Eyes in an effort to bolster its recently unveiled library of games. The streaming service opted to gamble on a completed version of developer Goodbye World Game’s originally crowdfunded demo game: Close Your Eyes. Despite issues with the game’s blinking mechanics, Close Your Eyes carries itself on the strength of its atmosphere, and writing.
You may be dead, but you lived a life. The life of a human being. You chose to live every moment that you had available to you while you were here. Netflix’s Before Your Eyes’ closing moments and answers to its initial questions will ensure that it stays in the player’s mind long after the credits stop rolling.
