System: Valve Index, HTC Vive & Oculus Rift
Price at Time Of Review: Free
Comfort Rating: Yellow
Genre: Interactive Experience
Input: Tracked Motion Controllers
Best Playing Position: Sitting
Multi-Player: No
Age Rating: 15+
VR Shop Score 1/100: 35
Description: Step into war-torn enemy territory in this immersive VR game experience based on the Oscar-shortlisted documentary MY ENEMY, MY BROTHER (2015). EYE OF THE BEHOLDER is a 20 beta minute experience that subverts the wargame genre as players must choose to combat or collaborate with others.
As a documentarian, I am inspired by real-life situations and stories and in 2014, I was lucky enough to meet two men whose story changed my life and that of many others. Zahed and Najah are former enemy soldiers who have become blood brothers for life. Zahed was an Iranian child soldier during the Iran-Iraq War when he found Najah, an enemy soldier, injured in a bunker. Zahed made a split-second decision in the heat of the battlefield and instead of shooting Najah, he risked his own life to save him. I was deeply inspired by Zahed’s ability to recognize the humanity in his enemy. His act of bravery has had lasting ramifications in both their lives and those of their families.
Review: I have to be honest I found ‘Eye of the Beholder’ to be pretty controversial. There are things said and done in this war-story app that I was very comfortable with and it is not something I personally enjoyed. The app itself is a mostly cinematic experience with some mild interactions, but it is a little miles away from being called a game. From a very objective point of view it’s not bad and someone might find it interesting. It is at least free so you can take a look if you want. Just be aware that it tells ONE side of the story and it might not be the side of the story you agree with.
