Orwellian snoop ’em up Beholder is an uncomfortable game to play, and I really feel this official live-action quick from Kinodom Films captures a few of its uneasy rigidity. Produced by the identical crew that gave us the live-action Papers, Please movie, this one goes the near-silent route, steadily escalating music apart. As within the game, a landlord turned snoop spies on his tenants, and tries to resolve whether or not he ought to use his data to win favour with the federal government, extort cash by way of blackmail or assist his family instantly. Give it a watch, as we’ve handily embedded it under.
The Beholder quick is an intriguing one. It’s stranger and extra high-concept than what Kinodom did with Papers, Please, and I really feel it doesn’t solely stick the touchdown. Still, credit score the place due, I love their try to duplicate the mostly-monochrome look of the game. What have been beforehand summary figures with white highlights grow to be starkly silhouetted actual individuals lurking within the shadows, ties, suspenders and buttons piercing white towards the murky shades of gray behind them. It’s impressively nicely lit and produced, however feels a bit extra self-indulgent than its predecessor.
Still, it’s nice to even see well-produced shorts for games which can be arguably gone being in vogue. I do surprise what different games would profit from this therapy. I can’t assist however giggle questioning what Gunpoint‘s world of improvised slapstick espionage would look like with real people. Personally, I’d like to see what a very good movie crew might do with first-person unsettler Paratopic. The game itself makes some nods to Cronenberg, however that doesn’t essentially need to be the method taken. What do you lot reckon deserves the quick movie therapy subsequent?
You also can discover the Beholder movie on Steam here. The game itself is at present 75% off there for £1.74/€2.49/$2.49, or in a bundle with its growth and sequel for £10.16/€15.02/$15.02. The game is by Warm Lamp Games and printed by Alawar Premium.
