Oh, MindsEye… where do I even begin?
Maybe with expectations because that’s where my story really started.
Have you ever been a child, yearning for an attractive device in your preferred shopping center from your parents? It seemed like the epitome of desire, until you brought it home and found out that despite its functionality, it lacked the unique charm you expected. In essence, MindsEye is similar to that experience.
Under the guidance of Leslie Benzies, a previous producer of the acclaimed GTA series, this game generated a significant amount of anticipation. Preliminary previews, however, didn’t quite meet these expectations. They were adorned with stunning graphics, a futuristic backdrop, and a narrative that appeared intriguing at first glance. Yet, there was an unsettling feeling, a lack of substance beneath the attractive exterior.
Initially, gameplay seemed scarcely present in the initial trailers for MindsEye, with only brief glimpses and a later detailed summary. Frankly, none of these previews resonated with me, yet I approached the review with an unbiased perspective. However, after 30 minutes into MindsEye, it became clear that this wasn’t what was promised before its release. Instead, it felt like the early versions of games such as No Man’s Sky and Cyberpunk 2077, where the pre-launch hype didn’t deliver on its promise, leaving a hollow feeling behind.
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but praise the exceptional voice acting in this game. While all performances were commendable, it was Alex Hernandez who truly shone as the protagonist, Jacob Diaz. His portrayal was nothing short of remarkable!
First off, it’s important to acknowledge that MindsEye has its strong points, given that it’s indeed a video game, and Build a Rocket Boy’s debut production.
In this game, the cutscenes truly steal the show, not just “decent for a debut,” but more like “blowing my mind” stunning. It’s as if all the game’s budget was poured into cinematic production instead of gameplay. The camera angles are sharp and intentional, the character designs are intricately detailed, and the facial expressions feel incredibly lifelike.
In addition, the voice acting is commendable throughout, with Alex Hernandez standing out as the lead character Jacob Diaz. Not only does he embody the role, he makes it his own. You may recall him from Mafia 3, and here he delivers the same raw intensity. He significantly enhances every scene he’s in, shouldering the emotional burden of the story. The rest of the supporting cast is competent, even excellent at times, but it’s Hernandez who truly carries the narrative.
Regarding that tale, I must admit it’s not revolutionary, but it certainly piques curiosity. Without giving away too many secrets, Diaz finds himself in a peculiar situation, with an enigmatic device implanted in his skull, no idea how it came to be there, and a challenging path ahead to unravel the mystery. Along the way, he encounters a diverse array of characters, voyages through a visually stunning (albeit superficial) open environment, and uncovers a backstory that was engaging enough to hold my attention. It may not be a contender for Game of the Year (of course!), but it manages to make you empathize with Diaz and keep you engaged until the end.
The strategy in this game is quite simple: hide, emerge, fire, then repeat the cycle.
And then… we get to the actual gameplay. Oh boy.
When assessing MindsEye, I scrolled through several online forums to get a feel for what the larger gaming community thought about it. One comment particularly grabbed my attention: “You’ll likely enjoy MindsEye if you’re fond of games from 2009.” This statement made me take a moment to reflect on the past, specifically 16 years ago. In 2009, we were treated to remarkable third-person shooters like Uncharted 2, The Saboteur, and Ghostbusters: The Video Game. These games, despite being over a decade old, continue to impress with their impactful combat and timeless design that has aged beautifully. To compare MindsEye to these classics feels like it’s doing a disservice, not to MindsEye, but to the enduring legacy of those outstanding titles.
In the action-adventure game MindsEye, fundamental issues are present. While the shooting mechanics work, they lack weight and excitement, providing little feedback or sense of impact to the player. Regardless of whether you’re firing shots or receiving them, it all feels monotonous and devoid of satisfaction, more like background noise than an integral part of gameplay. What’s surprising is that Jacob Diaz doesn’t seem to have any melee combat options at all, which seems odd for a game with such an emphasis on action. Unless there’s a hidden tutorial I’ve overlooked, it appears that he can’t even throw a punch or engage in close-quarters combat, making this absence feel like a puzzling oversight.
This game lacks depth when it comes to strategic elements. Essentially, you hide, pop out to shoot, then repeat the process over again. There’s no mechanism for picking up weapons and no intricate combat strategies to employ. Compared to games like The Division 2, which has a similar cover-based shooting style but incorporates various tactics, this game feels simplistic.
The AI enemies in this game are limited in their actions, mainly hiding, peeking, or shooting, with occasional charges that resemble zombies. It’s either amusing, if not annoying, to encounter such basic AI behavior.
“Graphically, there is no denying the game’s world, Redrock City, is undeniably stunning.”
Let’s discuss the game’s vast, explorable environment, which the developers referred to as a “semi-open world” in an interview with Eurogamer. Earlier I mentioned how visually stunning the surroundings were but felt lackluster? That wasn’t just casual commentary; it highlights the core issue.
Visually, there’s no arguing that Redrock City in the game appears breathtakingly beautiful. The texturing is meticulous, the nighttime lighting can be genuinely awe-inspiring, and the distance at which objects are drawn is impressive (though slightly affected by an unusual depth of field effect). Occasionally, there may be some pop-in, but the art style and careful detailing enhance the graphical impact. At first sight, it seems like a vibrant, living world. However, upon closer inspection or interaction, certain flaws become apparent.
Although labeled as a “pseudo” open-world game, Build a Rocket Boy impressively strives to create a vast and expansive environment, yet seems remarkably empty of significant content. This raises the intriguing question: why invest so much time and energy into constructing such an exquisitely designed city, only for it to appear devoid of life? Beyond a few repetitive holographic events that amount to trivial activities like destroying cars or disposing of NPCs, there’s little incentive to delve deeper. The game lacks story-driven quests, historical context, and meaningful interactions, leaving players without a compelling reason to explore.
In addition to other issues, the disjointed open world of this game seems detached from its primary play experience. Surprisingly, there’s no comprehensive map included, only a simple mini-map. This choice feels quite unusual for a game aiming to convey grandeur in 2025, especially given its ambitious scale.
“Certain missions go a step further, occasionally locking you inside a vehicle.”
At times, I’d pause, gaze at the breathtaking views, and find myself pondering what is the purpose behind all this? The game offers a standalone free roam mode apart from the campaign, yet it’s filled with superficial tasks, ones that many players would grow weary of within mere minutes.
As a dedicated fan, I found myself disappointed by MindsEye as it showcased a solid foundation for an extraordinary experience. The exceptional visual fidelity and immersive environmental design hinted at a world ripe for additional narratives, environmental storytelling, or even some engaging emergent gameplay. Frankly, I’m not asking for the next Grand Theft Auto or Elder Scrolls, but considering MindsEye’s unique setting, it barely scratches the surface and seems to rely on the player not noticing.
I acknowledge that the developers aimed to concentrate on a focused, linear narrative, but in their pursuit, they seemingly overlooked what appears to be an enormous, untapped opportunity.
As a gamer, I’ve found myself scratching my head at the peculiar design decisions littered throughout MindsEye. For instance, when I try to run over or shoot non-player characters (NPCs), there seems to be no response whatsoever. The lack of reaction from these characters makes me feel detached and it’s quite noticeable, especially in a game like MindsEye that aims to fully immerse you in its narrative and world.
Some tasks take things a level up, sometimes even confining you within a vehicle. However, the soundtrack and score, unfortunately, don’t leave much of an impact – they’re as unmemorable as can be. In a game that seems to strive for cinematic experiences, the audio aspect appears to have been overlooked or added as an afterthought. The music seldom amplifies a moment, fails to set the tone, doesn’t build tension, and at best, merely lingers in the periphery, as though it was randomly selected from a music library.
The in-game construction tool proves surprisingly versatile, enabling players to position adversaries, adjust atmospheric elements, and establish game rules.
One point that left me ambivalent is the user-generated content. In my assessment, I experimented with several pre-made missions, primarily simple tasks such as battling waves of opponents or navigating checkpoint rings. These functions are suitable for brief distractions, and I can certainly comprehend their attraction for players who relish quick challenges or arcade-style objectives. However, it’s hard not to ponder if many users will remain engaged with these offerings.
It’s worth noting that the depth in these creation tools is quite remarkable. The built-in editor within the game is more comprehensive than one might expect, enabling users to position enemies, adjust visual effects, and establish game rules. This setup offers a wealth of creative possibilities for those who enjoy tweaking things, although it might be a bit complex for the casual player.
To make MindsEye successful, it’s crucial to establish and maintain an engaged community around this specific feature. Unfortunately, with a rather lackluster main campaign, it’s uncertain if there is enough goodwill remaining in the player base to foster ongoing creative efforts.
I tried out MindsEye on a system featuring an RTX 3080 Ti GPU and a Ryzen 5950X processor, and the performance was satisfactory overall. When playing at a resolution of 1440p with DLSS enabled and all graphics settings set to high, I generally enjoyed a smooth gaming experience throughout most of the campaign. However, it’s important to note that there were occasional dips in performance during more challenging scenes, particularly during intense chase sequences where the visual clutter was heavy.
To be frank, the journey that was supposedly a decade-long for MindsEye didn’t seem more promising from its initial steps.
In summary, my experience with MindsEye was more disheartening than astonishing. Red flags were evident from the start – the scarcity of gameplay during early previews and an emphasis on cutscenes. Despite these warnings, I had harbored hopes that it would ultimately coalesce into something impressive. Unfortunately, MindsEye seems to be a classic example of prioritizing style over substance.
Absolutely, the game’s graphics are breathtaking, yet there seems to be a lack of depth beneath the surface. The underlying structure appears functional at best and in some areas, it feels unfinished. The core gameplay mechanics are rather dull, the open world lacks substance, performance could use refinement, and while the creation tools show promise, they’re still in developmental stages, leaving me uncertain about their future support.
Previously, we’ve witnessed instances where games initially launched in poor condition, such as Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man’s Sky. It’s yet to be determined if Build a Rocket Boy can achieve a similar comeback. However, the foundation for the ten-year journey they claimed about MindsEye appears to have begun on rather unstable ground at present.
This game was reviewed on PC.
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2025-06-12 13:42