It is the depressing reality that it takes a hell of a lot to be able to change the world.
Corporations continue to bleed their corruption onto its people and AI is worming its way into every inch of society, steadily blurring the line between human and machine.
That is the story told in Minds Beneath Us, a brand-new thrilling sci-fi journey set in a futuristic, Cyberpunk-esque Asian city.
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You take on the role of an advanced AI who has found themselves ensnared within the body of Jason, just your average guy living in the city of Wanpei.
Battling your newfound body and the ever-lurking consciousness of the real Jason, the two of you soon find yourselves going shoulder-to-shoulder with the lead corporation that stands at the head of AI technology.
BearBoneStudio
It is this corporation, Vision, that aims to replace the hardware needed to operate the internet with linked human brains and due to the levels of poverty in the city below, citizens have no choice but to sign up, even at the sacrifice of their own bodies.
Minds Beneath Us acts as both a visual novel that delves into corruption, poverty, AI, humanity and morality as well as an epic sci-fi adventure that blends 2D and 3D hand-drawn animation to create a unique cinematic experience.
Gameplay is straightforward with the player simply needing to move Jason from point A to point B whilst stopping to talk or interact with objects.
However, in between getting to know Jason’s colleagues, his girlfriend Fran and later his co-conspirators in taking down Vision, there is combat and despite its simplicity, it is extremely effective.
Combat consists of quick time events, which in itself consists of two buttons, but its animation speaks for itself, especially when a character known as Nin Situ is introduced later on in the story.
If there is one thing I want to be when I’m older, it’s Nin Situ and that’s all I’m going to say about that without giving the story away.
As mentioned, Minds Beneath Us is set in a futuristic, Cyberpunk-inspired Asian city and despite its small scale, it felt like one of the most alive cities I have experienced in an indie title for a while.
Just walking down the street from Jason’s home to the shuttle station made me stop to watch NPCs play on gachapon machines or eat ramen at the nearby outdoor restaurant.
They would have conversations amongst themselves as they ordered bubble tea or waited at the nearby bus stop. The city lights would glint in the distance and the neon lights of nearby stalls spilled onto the bustling streets.
BearBoneStudio
It was almost a way to make you forget about the corruption going on in the backdrop and also a reminder that these were the people you were fighting for.
As well as listening in on nearby conversations, you will also take part in many series of dialogues throughout the game and many options you choose will make an impact on the story.
A dialogue option you picked at the start of the game, however insignificant it felt, will show up later on in the game and you will often have to remember certain conversations to help you during tricky situations.
Although this made me panic if I’d forgotten, it also made every choice feel important and in a game where you are trying to make a difference, this is a small yet important feature.
If you know me, you know that one of the biggest things I look for in a game is how well its characters are written and despite being a relatively short game (clocking in at just over six hours), the majority of the people you meet will stay with you.
From the elusive 23 to the badass Nin, to Jason’s gentle but passionate girlfriend Fran to naïve yet bold Lawrence, each character felt like they had an important part to play in the story and I often found myself taking their feelings into consideration whenever I had to make a big decision.
BearBoneStudio
No character is perfect and each one will have their own beliefs, morals and personalities. They offer enough of themselves without forcing you, as the player, to accept them fully and that makes for an interesting game to say the least.
As a huge Cyberpunk 2077 fan, experiencing this world felt like returning home. Not just because it had the visuals associated with the genre but because facing a corrupt organisation was just part of everyday life.
The stakes felt big in Minds Beneath Us and each decision, whether big or small, felt like it had an impact. However, it also contained the depressing reminder that sometimes no matter what you do, the bad guys will still win as money and power leads the way in this broken world.
As a result, the ambiguous multiple-choice ending felt both satisfying and unsatisfying. Of course I wanted the happy ending the same way the characters did but I also knew it wasn’t possible and I’m glad the developers at BearBoneStudio didn’t sugarcoat this.
Minds Beneath Us remains a realistic reminder of the nature of the people who stand at the top of the food chain. However, it also shows us the importance of humans. Why we are here, why we form connections, why we fight for eachother.
The game also makes us question our morals and beliefs and asks us how far we are willing to go in order to make the world a better place. It keeps you on your toes and creeps under your skin and reminds us that although the future may look bright, corruption will always lurk below.
Pros: Incredible atmosphere, masterful storytelling and a simple yet beautiful artstyle
Cons: Not long enough, beginning was a tad slow
For fans of: Cyberpunk 2077, Detroit: Become Human, Cloudpunk
Score: 8/10: Excellent
Minds Beneath Us will be available on 31 July on PC (version tested) and Nintendo Switch. A code for review was supplied by the publisher. Find a complete guide to GAMINGbible's review scores here.
