Note: The remastered version is only available through the online stores of Playstation Network and Xbox Live respectively
Additional note: Screenshots are taken from the remastered Xbox 360 version of the game.
Genre: Stealth/Action/RPG
Length: around 10 hours
Publisher's Blurb: For centuries, the planet Hyllis has been bombarded by a relentless alien race. Skeptical of her government's inability to repel the invaders, a rebellious action reporter named Jade sets out to capture the truth.
Games Like This: Imagine a Legend of Zelda game with more stealth sections, more plot and more voice acting.
With Ubisoft recently announcing Beyond Good and Evil 2, now is the perfect time to play the original and discover what all the hype is about (or replay, in many cases, and refresh the plot to get ready for Beyond Good and Evil 2.
Beyond Good and Evil is an interesting game that never really found its core audience, in my opinion. Playing a reporter called Jade, you struggle to make ends meet and provide for the orphaned children you care for, stumbling into a government conspiracy armed predominantly with a fancy stick and your camera. It takes some cues from George Orwell's 1984 and sets them within a sci-fi context. The result is a semi-cyberpunk action-stealth game with a lot of heart and emotion.
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| The game only really boasts one town/city, but you will find it packed with plenty of things to do. |
The narrative is packed with interesting characters, and it's partly the interaction between characters that make this such an entertaining game. While there are some undeniably dark themes at play, Beyond Good and Evil isn't afraid to throw in fart jokes, lovable rogues, and sarcastic commentary and lighten the mood once in a while. You do get genuinely emotionally attached to the characters, which makes a lot of the plot a real sucker punch when the plot twists start coming in. (Speaking of which, players are advised to watch all the way to the end of the credits to discover why the fanbase has been on tenterhooks for a sequel for so long.)
Back when it was first released, I was of the opinion that Beyond Good and Evil was the prettiest game on the Gamecube. I still think it is one of the best-looking games of its era, and the stylized design does help it hold it's own against modern games. Eschewing realism, the game is good at presenting a wide variety of creatures and environments with a look that's wholly unique. Some of the wider environments do look a little sparse in comparison to current titles, but it's worth it for a game that actually has a full range of color and uses it well.
The game is set within a reasonably small area, especially by today's standards, but the restrictions do help to cement the themes of a controlling government in a gameplay sense, instead of being purely mentioned but never seen. This restriction also allows the game to present highly detailed and polished areas. Indeed, it feels like a very 'lived in' world, with posters and character routines, a day and night cycle that affects the wildlife, incidental character lines (which was such a rarity back then), and photographs and mementos of the characters. This is a game where every area and detail has a purpose and a reason to be there.
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| Combat is simple, but fights like this are reasonably uncommon. |
Combat is predominantly limited to button mashing, though a bulk of the game actively discourages getting into combat situations in favor of sneaking your way past enemies. In fact, the few boss fights and combat sections are quite reminiscent of Legend of Zelda - bosses are defeated by exploiting a pattern and attacking their weak point when it is presented, rather than chipping away at a health bar at random. The puzzle solving elements are also reminiscent of Legend of Zelda, whether it's pushing a box to gain access to another level or activating a button to open the path forwards.
The soundtrack, while occasionally sparse, is very atmospheric, and the sound design really helps to immerse you in the world of Hyllis, with bird cries and cicadas, boat horns and lapping water. The world feels more alive for these little touches, and when the music does come into play, the reactions it evokes are all the stronger for the music's rarity.
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| Even this guy is of interest to science! Be sure to snap a picture! |
Beyond Good and Evil boasts an interesting sidequest in the form of photography. Early on, you are tasked with photographing the flora and fauna of Hyllis for science, and in exchange, you receive money. It isn't absolutely vital to do to complete the game - though the rewards on offer certainly help you to achieve some goals - but it does encourage and incentivize you to explore and appreciate the game's design and hidden areas, which is a wonderful touch. It's worth remembering that even the sentient beings can be photographed for the mission, so make sure to get a picture of all the people in town! There are a few other minigames and sidequests woven into the game, though they are designed to be difficult if not impossible to access until relatively late on in the game.
Why should you play (or replay) Beyond Good and Evil? If you want a charming game with immaculate attention to detail, a good story and a cast of memorable characters, this should be the game for you. Come for the conspiracy theory, stay for the photography and hovercraft racing.
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