Beyond Distortions Review

A Carnival of Distortions in the Autumn

I bought it on Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/857970/Beyond_Distortions__Art_Music_and_Making_Of__DLC

I am aways hesitant about Collector's Editions, mainly when we're talking about digital media. I mean, I don't trust "Collector Edition" even if they are in phisical media. You can check Prince of Persia: Limited Edition out, it is not good. However, when we are talking exclusively about digital media, my trust is even lower. That's because some devs usually sell the soundtrack with the game and decide that this is already worth to call "Collector Edition".

Don't get me wrong. I love soundtracks. Whenever I like a game or film sountrack I will look for it. Maybe I'll buy, maybe I'll listen on YouTube or Spotify). However, I wouldn't call "Collector Edtition" a bonus content that only includes the soundtrack. I want art books, maps, making-of, and as much content as possible.

And it is exactly what Beyond Distortions is about.

PROS (or "the content")

• Soundtrack. Some of the music that plays in cut-scenes and other emotional moments. Includes the theme song.
• Videos. There are some videos that shows the game development over the years. There is also the documentary "Inside Distortions" with captions in English.
• Pictures. Some of the conceptual art and character's studies, including the main character, the land.
• Diary. I would say that the game's highlight is how they develops the story through journals: the are lots of pages that a unknown writer left in some places. When I was playing I was wondering about open the real journal and read those pages. Well. This DLC contains all those journal pages, and if you want to print it for real, there is a files already done to make a pro print (if you want to have a physical copy).

CONS (or "what I missed")

• Soundtrack. Unfortunately this DLC does not contains all the songs. Since some of the soundtrack songs were licenced, the devs couldn't sell them. Therefore I don't mind that it lacks these songs. Anyway you can find the in the albums Kadjwynh and Anatema on Bandcamp: https://labirinto.bandcamp.com/music

FINAL THOUGHTS

Even though the content is small, it has a variety of things and it has virtually everything a curious gamer wants to see. Some things that are rare to find in DLCs.

After all, not every DLCs has making-of and so on. As far as I know Beyond Distortions is one of the best DLC I have ever seen, along with Alan Wake and The Void (which the additional content is gigantic and freeware).