MindsEye: A Disappointing and Confusing Experience
▼ Summary
– MindsEye is a disappointing semi-open-world action game with a dull plot, numerous bugs, and tedious gameplay mechanics like excessive phone calls.
– The game’s combat is unremarkable, borrowing heavily from GTA V, while its open world lacks interactivity and purpose despite detailed visuals.
– Players spend most of their time driving and listening to exposition, with limited freedom to engage in typical open-world activities like car theft.
– The ending is unsatisfying, leaving major plot threads unresolved, and the post-campaign open-world mode feels rushed and uninspired.
– Despite high-quality graphics, MindsEye fails to deliver a memorable experience, feeling bland and forgettable with little appeal to any specific audience.
MindsEye promised an ambitious open-world experience but delivers little more than frustration and monotony. After spending over a dozen hours with the game, it’s clear this title struggles to define its identity, blending lackluster mechanics with a story that fails to engage. Developed by former GTA producer Leslie Benzies’ studio, the game somehow manages to squander its potential at nearly every turn.
Players step into the shoes of Jacob Diaz, a cybernetically enhanced ex-soldier entangled in a conspiracy involving AI, shadowy corporations, and interdimensional threats. On paper, it sounds thrilling, but MindsEye’s execution turns what should be a gripping narrative into a slog. Instead of high-octane action, much of the gameplay revolves around driving from one location to another while enduring endless phone calls that drag the pacing to a halt.
The combat system, borrowed from familiar cover-based shooters, feels uninspired. Chases and shootouts lack excitement, and the open world—though visually impressive—offers little reason to explore. Redrock City, a neon-drenched stand-in for Las Vegas, looks stunning but plays like a lifeless backdrop. Unlike GTA’s dynamic sandbox, interactions here are severely limited—stealing cars mid-mission is often impossible, and police chases barely function.
Performance issues plague the experience, with frame drops and bugs disrupting immersion. Even after completing the campaign, players are rewarded with an uninspired open-world mode featuring repetitive missions and a protagonist who inexplicably mimics Diaz’s voice. The lack of polish extends to post-launch content plans, where user-generated missions—currently just developer-made filler—fail to salvage the experience.
MindsEye’s biggest sin isn’t just that it’s bad—it’s forgettable. The story ends abruptly, leaving major plot threads unresolved, while the post-credits tease for future content feels laughably optimistic. Without meaningful updates, this game risks fading into obscurity, remembered only as a cautionary tale of wasted ambition. For now, it’s hard to recommend to anyone—even those desperate for a GTA alternative.
(Source: KOTAKU)
