Few games launch with the kind of narrative ambition that MindsEye brings to the table. Developed by Build A Rocket Boy—founded by former Rockstar producer Leslie Benzies—the game is positioned as a core single-player experience within the larger “Everywhere” project, a sprawling metaverse platform. In MindsEye, players dive into a near-future world where corporate espionage, memory manipulation, and shadowy alliances pull you through a story packed with twists, betrayals, and philosophical questions about identity and control.
From the very first scene, MindsEye drips with cinematic flair. Its pacing, camera angles, and voice acting echo the polish of a high-budget streaming series. Plot points unfold with intensity, and the lead character’s descent into conspiracies and underground resistance movements is told with real narrative heft. You don’t just watch it—you feel it.
But here’s the catch: when you’re not in a cutscene, you kinda wish that you were... especially during combat. You get geared up for a segue into awesome gameplay to... (wait, you know what, just... just see it for yourself.)
The third-person gameplay frequently undercuts the immersion with awkward camera placement, clunky cover transitions, and animations that sometimes misalign completely... like enemies shooting while holding their guns at baffling angles (like... WTF is that?). I was literally playing, saying "What the heck is that?!" You’d think the characters were aiming curved weapons the way bullets seem to arc in a different direction. I take no joy in any of this, I hate it for the developer because of the massive budget poured into this game that they'll have to eat... and ofcourse the gamers who were looking forward to this game (and bought it day 1). Is all lost though? Not at all!
If Build A Rocket Boy is willing to jump in and fix this multimillion dollar game, it may save the game and the studios long term plans + rep. Sure it will cost them to go back in and set things right, but... it will cost them even more (in my opinion) if they just walk away. We'll reach out to them.
While some of the flaws could be dismissed as polish issues during development, addressing the deeper gameplay problems... and shifting the player’s perspective... could elevate the entire experience. Adopting a first-person view would better align with the game’s cinematic strengths. The current third-person, over-the-shoulder angle may work for other action titles, but in MindsEye, it often feels like you're watching your character struggle rather than stepping directly into their world.
This is why it may be time for Build A Rocket Boy to consider a bold pivot: switching the core perspective from third-person to first-person for all immersive sequences—leaving third-person strictly for necessary traversal moments like improved cover maneuvers, vehicle entry + driving, or platforming. Doing so could dramatically increase immersion and refine the connection between player and protagonist. You’d see the world through the character’s eyes and it would give us the ability to use the character's eye-phone (see what I did there?). You’d feel the tension, the claustrophobia, and the split-second decisions more intimately.
Of course, a camera switch alone won’t correct enemy pathing bugs or bizarre gun animations. But it would realign the gameplay with the game’s biggest strength: its storytelling. The cutscenes are captivating. The voice acting is stellar. If MindsEye were on Netflix, fans would be begging for a second season. As a game, it just needs help crossing the finish line.
So here's the challenge to Build A Rocket Boy: don't let this be another brilliant story dragged down by rough mechanics. Polish what needs polishing. Reconsider the perspective. Tighten the experience. And give this game the mechanical fidelity to match its narrative excellence.
Because story-wise? MindsEye isn’t just a game. It’s a film waiting to happen.
Let the gameplay rise to the occassion. I want to look back and say... that's one of those games that came back better than ever! You wouldn't be alone, don't forget Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man's Sky! I wouldn't say any of this if the game were in Early Access or if I didn't believe the game could be better.
