tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16005803087647523152024-03-19T08:52:25.822+00:00The Best Games You've Never Heard OfHandpicked recommendations and reviews of the best overlooked and indie games, organised by genre and platform, for those times when you just don't know what to play next.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03056804828021136409noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1600580308764752315.post-84312629545004721062017-07-29T16:12:00.000+01:002017-07-29T16:12:56.979+01:00Beyond Good and Evil<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Format: Nintendo Gamecube, Playstation 2, Xbox, Windows (physical disc and Steam), Playstation 3 (remaster), Xbox 360 (remaster), Xbox One (remaster)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Note: The remastered version is only available through the online stores of Playstation Network and Xbox Live respectively</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Additional note: Screenshots are taken from the remastered Xbox 360 version of the game.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Genre: Stealth/Action/RPG</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Length: around 10 hours</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Games Like This: Imagine a Legend of Zelda game with more stealth sections, more plot and more voice acting.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span> </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">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 <i class="">1984</i> and sets them within a sci-fi context. The result is a semi-cyberpunk action-stealth game with a lot of heart and emotion.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSidpZWLu8988xYjfYWiMYmjFQFUPB9Xda1YxmBpJBmZ2l_fnM5MZbSxqqsAcSW4F6SUJkqsZQw7Q2Xkd7H4gjssm5rRIoocHVykCyFpkbtMy5XskOKyacb18J_Et9KYFuUOzmxa9h8Oo/s1600/bgehd06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSidpZWLu8988xYjfYWiMYmjFQFUPB9Xda1YxmBpJBmZ2l_fnM5MZbSxqqsAcSW4F6SUJkqsZQw7Q2Xkd7H4gjssm5rRIoocHVykCyFpkbtMy5XskOKyacb18J_Et9KYFuUOzmxa9h8Oo/s320/bgehd06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The game only really boasts one town/city, <br />but you will find it packed with plenty of things to do.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">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.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The game is set within a reasonably small area</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">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 </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mementos </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">of the characters. This is a game where every area and detail has a purpose and a reason to be there. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6Ps4Ot9FR0rXJLPchBZhsHOaZ9EuOqc1tWhdYdoVIoSyw1fzkISua9FSBEm0T7kMKdgJWmbGKLgQuUpeJfzPuf_P-390H1iyaEyIwpOS-nEHuF3WHjWNPH7VJgFtB-wz9ivcSq9iBmw/s1600/bgehd03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6Ps4Ot9FR0rXJLPchBZhsHOaZ9EuOqc1tWhdYdoVIoSyw1fzkISua9FSBEm0T7kMKdgJWmbGKLgQuUpeJfzPuf_P-390H1iyaEyIwpOS-nEHuF3WHjWNPH7VJgFtB-wz9ivcSq9iBmw/s320/bgehd03.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Combat is simple, but fights like this are reasonably uncommon.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifW6Gz8mpScY258bBnN-ZNEJHy6dD-hWXD68CRpM9ybThHtOytGjL55MfkAbYbDubDYdI__tVgZChPmGSix15OwbrG5fMzB66q0_gXwEtRVKhUAEqqPW-SFPNufqNwyKIaGWb_lQ_ctaI/s1600/bgehd04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifW6Gz8mpScY258bBnN-ZNEJHy6dD-hWXD68CRpM9ybThHtOytGjL55MfkAbYbDubDYdI__tVgZChPmGSix15OwbrG5fMzB66q0_gXwEtRVKhUAEqqPW-SFPNufqNwyKIaGWb_lQ_ctaI/s320/bgehd04.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even this guy is of interest to science! Be sure to snap a picture!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">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.<br /><br />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. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span>
<iframe src="https://rcm-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?o=2&p=26&l=ur1&category=pcvideogames&banner=1EZH10GZG35XXVXEHQ02&f=ifr&linkID=a8cb99d619139cd137f64bf4bfbc74b8&t=amewi01-21&tracking_id=amewi01-21" width="468" height="60" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03056804828021136409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1600580308764752315.post-58651472279796316252017-07-18T22:27:00.000+01:002017-07-29T16:19:21.917+01:00Pony IslandFormat: Windows, Mac, Linux (Steam)<br />
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Genre: Endless runner/Puzzle solving hybrid (yes, really)<br />
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Length: About 3 hours will see you through the storyline, but be prepared to sink in a few more hours to find easter eggs and a second ending<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Publisher's Blurb: Pony Island is a suspense puzzle game in disguise. You are in limbo, trapped in a malevolent and malfunctioning arcade machine devised by the devil himself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The devil detests having his puzzles solved and poor programming exposed; you will need to think outside the box to proceed and you will be insulted when you do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Games Like This: Portal shares a few similarities, being a puzzle-solving game with an antagonist that attempts to control your actions and talks to you throughout, but Pony Island really is very different to anything I've seen or played before.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyxk44vX9Xc5garuFkyKiwQgYjdvx9p_6g_HBKfdFDQmmRWnOXHmhwlYYscp0KmB9AoWsgV4UJmPyt1u23HhNIOrDX0rxRQgyJsTKRwQ4cyhhjTUud2qe4uuUvLJLwCBhOCuSGGsuSVw/s1600/a69bb9_bdee66cf0a2b453693797b4db8752110.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="870" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyxk44vX9Xc5garuFkyKiwQgYjdvx9p_6g_HBKfdFDQmmRWnOXHmhwlYYscp0KmB9AoWsgV4UJmPyt1u23HhNIOrDX0rxRQgyJsTKRwQ4cyhhjTUud2qe4uuUvLJLwCBhOCuSGGsuSVw/s320/a69bb9_bdee66cf0a2b453693797b4db8752110.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many start screens. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pony Island is a little slice of genius. It certainly isn't a long game - I played straight through the main storyline in one evening and returned the day after to complete everything. Yet it's a perfectly paced and surprisingly intricate game with a wealth of hidden extras and details to flesh it out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">I am very conscious of not revealing too much about the plot or some of the cleverer mechanics, as a large part of the game's appeal is the way the story is crafted - often through minor details that the player finds themselves - and gameplay mechanics that take the player by surprise. So, what do you need to know to work out if you want to play this game?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">First: The programming elements are introduced very gently, with only one function at a time, and with symbols instead of words. This makes it incredibly friendly for beginners and makes the programming elements a puzzle to solve. Some of the more complex puzzles do include hints within the screen, too, so don't be put off by the programming elements because of a lack of experience.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUpu2UZ_BIglBd94r-lMlRfBsFeRWbTrotKK5dC74EGYLRiky3rpLt88wJtrB3Ahnei4spZC5EVeZkF3TX4kFswtrLRbQGtV9SgCl36zsHRqJdlhvwyFiiI6KYHAYbmDmX3BBRYq-Lyo/s1600/a69bb9_d9957469593141a387e2bb3913a655ed.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="783" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUpu2UZ_BIglBd94r-lMlRfBsFeRWbTrotKK5dC74EGYLRiky3rpLt88wJtrB3Ahnei4spZC5EVeZkF3TX4kFswtrLRbQGtV9SgCl36zsHRqJdlhvwyFiiI6KYHAYbmDmX3BBRYq-Lyo/s320/a69bb9_d9957469593141a387e2bb3913a655ed.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An early programming puzzle. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Second: The story is incredibly well told and tight - not a single element in the game is thrown in simply to pad out the game or waste your time. From little text documents you can find, seemingly throwaway art details that reveal a secret, every single thing works towards a compelling and complex narrative. It is also well worth pointing out that despite being a reasonably dark game, there are no cheap jumpscares - all the darker themes work to unnerve you as opposed to terrifying you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Third: The game actively rewards you for being curious. It's usually very obvious what the 'correct' thing to do is, but exploring other ways and details will reward you - either by giving you another little crumb of plot or progressing you towards the second ending.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1DtGy87m_nDTIzUHBS6k-yYq8q4DlfIvOdYK_jgHJv79Bn4RRLgvUZlsiSjObQxK0oDRtB1p79RrLkvNyZYGyJnnIkQbXhUW3CZIWkOKETZ_9JMVuuyyLJs55hyphenhyphen4VGYaMahbYSBIiBc/s1600/Kt94Wmw.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1DtGy87m_nDTIzUHBS6k-yYq8q4DlfIvOdYK_jgHJv79Bn4RRLgvUZlsiSjObQxK0oDRtB1p79RrLkvNyZYGyJnnIkQbXhUW3CZIWkOKETZ_9JMVuuyyLJs55hyphenhyphen4VGYaMahbYSBIiBc/s320/Kt94Wmw.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An endless runner segment</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Four: The endless runner segments of Pony Island are occasionally frustrating, but it mitigates the worst of it by giving reasonably short levels and immediately restarting the level when you (inevitably) die. There is a particularly frustrating segment if you are trying to 100% complete the game and see the additional ending but with persistence and trial and error it's possible for even newcomers or people who know they suck at endless runners (i.e. me) to overcome. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Five: The game warns you on startup that a mouse is highly recommended. They really are not kidding. You probably could play this on a trackpad if you really hated yourself, but the aforementioned runner segments do rely on quick, precise movements and left and right mouse clicks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Six: The soundtrack is great, and in places where you might be hearing the same track a lot, they obviously made sure to give that area some of the best music. This really helps mitigate any lingering frustration over failing a level.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> In short, get Pony Island if you want a short game with a great story and you're willing to be surprised by something a little bit different. I highly recommend seeking out all the secrets in order to get the full experience. The additional ending really adds another dimension to the game.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="90" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://rcm-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?o=2&p=48&l=ur1&category=consumerelectronics&f=ifr&linkID=5b1abb8737270a28013b6644d71fcf22&t=amewi01-21&tracking_id=amewi01-21" style="border: none;" width="728"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03056804828021136409noreply@blogger.com0