THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE Review

At Film Pulse I’ve always made it my No. 1 priority to talk about the medium of film and have actively avoided writing or discussing other creative outlets, such as music, television and video games. Sure, I’ve reviewed a few books here and there and even a board game, but they’ve always been based around movies. However, after playing a game called The Beginner’s Guide, I felt compelled to share my thoughts on it because, even though it’s not a film in the traditional sense, its compelling narrative evoked the same amount of emotion in me that a great piece of cinema would.

It’s impossible to not feel a certain amount of introspection when it comes to playing, thinking or writing about The Beginner’s Guide. Created by Davey Wreden, who also blew me away with The Stanley Parable, the game acts as more of a visual journey through an artist’s body of work rather than a traditional video game with a set series of goals or objectives.

Now, this is the type of game that is simply not possible to discuss without divulging what would probably be considered by most as spoilers, so I’ll intentionally keep things vague and focus a lot more on my experience with it on a more personal level as opposed to most of my other movie reviews.

There have been a lot of games coming out within the last couple years that straddle the line between the general consensus of what a traditional video game is and an interactive story in which you, the player, progress by simply walking through it. These games have been given the unofficial title of “walking simulator,” and while the connotation is generally regarded negatively, certain entries in this new genre have been incredibly enthralling, and none have felt more personal than The Beginner’s Guide.

Some will undoubtedly and understandably believe this is more of a performance art piece and the subject of the game doesn’t exist at all, but that argument is irrelevant; the themes are still impactful and the content still makes players, or at least me, ponder over it long after the end credits roll.

I’m not a game designer, but I couldn’t help but think about my own need for validation as a content creator, as well as the desire for validation from my family, friends and readers. I truly do enjoy sharing little-known or unknown films with readers, but I also write about movies because I want people to feel the same way I do about cinema. It’s sometimes for selfish reasons; there’s no greater feeling than to have someone tell me they saw a movie based on my recommendation and loved it. Even as I write this, I realize that I’m hoping to achieve with this review exactly that.

If you’re wondering how this personal reflection pertains to the game, you’ll just have to play it (or email me if you don’t mind spoilers). The Beginner’s Guide is not a movie and is not trying to be a movie, but it clocks in at just around 90 minutes and manages to be one of the most thought-provoking experiences I’ve had this year. Even if you’re not a gamer, this one is well worth your time.

The Beginner’s Guide is available on Steam