The much-anticipated release of MindsEye’s mission, Blacklisted, has arrived, bringing with it the long-promised disclosure of alleged sabotage purportedly orchestrated against Build a Rocket Boy (BARB) by its co-CEOs, Leslie Benzies and Mark Gerhard. As an avid follower of MindsEye, I approached the game with high hopes, but my experience was far from what I had envisioned.
Upon diving into Blacklisted, it quickly became apparent that the game falls short on multiple fronts. The narrative, dialogue, and gameplay lack any semblance of intrigue, leaving players with a sense of disappointment. The overall execution feels remarkably low-effort, failing to engage or entertain.
Background and Development
Originally conceived as a crossover with the iconic Hitman franchise, Blacklisted underwent significant changes after IO Interactive terminated its publishing agreement with MindsEye in March. The project was reimagined, replacing Agent 47 with Julia Black, an elite assassin tasked by an agency named Meridian to eliminate a notorious drug dealer and arms dealer. However, the game’s brevity is striking; players can complete it in under an hour, unless they find themselves distracted by its many shortcomings.
One peculiar design choice is the game’s checkpoint system, which fails to save progress upon exiting. This oversight raises questions about the development team’s priorities, as it seems feasible to allow players to resume their progress seamlessly.
Gameplay and Experience
Even the promotional material for Blacklisted lacks polish, featuring royalty-free music that detracts from the overall experience. The gameplay is riddled with inconsistencies, such as the sudden appearance of police in Redrock City, which feels jarring amidst the chaos of the game’s mechanics.
Perhaps the most significant letdown is the failure to substantiate the claims of sabotage against MindsEye and BARB. Players encounter a masked DJ during a chase sequence, seemingly a nod to Cyber Boi, a YouTuber embroiled in controversy with BARB. While the narrative hints at a larger conspiracy, it ultimately delivers little in terms of clarity or engagement. The supposed evidence of sabotage, presented through vague references and unconvincing plot points, does little to bolster the game’s credibility.
Despite the potential for a gripping storyline, Blacklisted feels like a hollow experience. The mission’s core objective—to retrieve stolen data—remains shrouded in ambiguity, leaving players with more questions than answers. The robotic voice of the Meridian handler offers little in the way of meaningful context, further diminishing the impact of the narrative.
In an ironic twist, Blacklisted may inadvertently cast doubt on the very claims of sabotage it seeks to address. The game’s lackluster execution raises concerns about its quality, overshadowing any allegations of foul play. Ultimately, the only redeeming quality of Blacklisted is its price point; it is free for existing MindsEye owners. However, even at no cost, the experience may not be worth the investment of time.
