Please login to submit a screenshot

Don't ask questions. Just buy this game."

When you look at the cover art for Beyond Good & Evil, how do you feel? "Hmm... a somewhat attractive girl with a camera... doesn't look too exciting. What else is there?" STOP!! I am very angry at Ubisoft's marketing department when it comes to this brilliant game. I think that is the sole reason it didn't sell well. But trust me... don't judge a videogame by its cover. Buy BGaE, and you will not regret it.

STORY:
Hyllis, a beautiful land full of lush greenery, exotic wildlife, and blue water, has been recently undergoing troublesome times. An alien race, the DomZ, have been repeatedly attacking Hillys for reasons unknown. The only defense the Hyllians have is the Alpha Section, a powerful government agency promising the civilians protection. Yet even that is far from enough, as countless citizens are taken away from their homes every time the DomZ attack.

Jade is the pure-hearted main character in BGaE, and is a part-time photographer and full-time orphanage caretaker. Children whose parents have been kidnapped by the DomZ have no choice but to be confident in the protection that Jade provides them. One day, though, the DomZ attack, and the orphanage's shield fails to work. The DomZ reach the children, and Jade and her uncle Pey'j must fight them off. Ironically, right after the area is cleared, the Alpha Section arrives to make sure everything is all right. Pey'j isn't too thrilled about their late arrival, and hints to Jade that he doesn't quite trust them. Later, they are introduced to the IRIS Network, an agency that the Alpha Section has deemed untrustworthy and unfaithful to Hyllis. But as Jade may soon find out, trust in the government is a term that is too often glossed over.

A story full of heart, ambition, controversy, deception, heartbreak, and beauty, all in the most epic presentation some will ever witness, Jade's adventure is one that will not soon be forgotten by anyone who experiences it. It is quite a shame that we may never see its intended sequels, since we are left with such a questionable ending.
STORY: 10/10

GRAPHICS:
One of the prettiest worlds on the Xbox, Hyllis is quite a sight to behold. As I mentioned before, it is full of wildlife, blue water, and spectacular plantlife, all on the grandest of scales. What I haven't mentioned, however, are the spectacular views you will get from the areas you will adventure to and from. During gameplay, you are standing outside the orphanage, looking across all of Hyllis. You see the city, you see Mammago's Garage, you see the Slaughterhouse, etc.... only these aren't pre-rendered backgrounds. You can keep your sights on these places until you are actually in them. And once in them, you will truly appreciate this game's beauty. Vehicles flying by, passersby gossiping, signs lighting up... the locations (particularly the city) seem to be alive in and of themselves.

Not quite as impressive, but still incredibly important are the character models. You will not just see humans walking around--rhinos, goats, sharks, pigs, etc. will all be present, and they all look fantastic. Cartoony, yet very detailed, everyone you see looks and moves perfectly.
GRAPHICS: 9.5/10

SOUNDS:
Equally as impressive as how it looks, BGaE sounds brilliant. The music fits the situations perfectly, and the soundtrack is one of my personal videogame favorites. Whether you're hanging out in a Chinese-inspired building, snooping around an industrial factory, or battling a gigantic centipede, the game's score is excellent (I must mention two of the song titles: the familiar "Don't Fear the Reaper" and its clever counterpart, "Fear the Reaper." I'll let you figure out how those are incorporated into the game).

Additionally, the incredible voice acting is top-notch. Jade sounds great in every scene, and Pey'j's voice perfectly fits him. Other characters, like the cheesy superhero knockoff Double H, also were appropriately fitted to their voice actors. Excellent job.

The sound effects also work well enough, but they just aren't nearly as noticeable as the music or voice acting.
SOUNDS: 9.5/10

GAMEPLAY:
On paper, BGaE sounds like a blend of Zelda and Metal Gear, which is arguably a correct assumption. I'd also like to add some Pokemon Snap into the mix... Hey, don't let that scare you away, fool! Keep reading!

Jade's adventure requires her to travel all across the world (and maybe even out of it?) to accomplish her various missions. In battle, she will usually have a partner--either Pey'j or Double H. Not only do these two men ease the battles Jade must fight, they also are at times required for some of the puzzles she must solve. In battle, though, there are several simple maneuvers. She can attack, dodge, use items, command her sidekick, and perform an area-attack. While it may not sound like much, that's usually not the case. You will love figuring out each enemy's battle tactics and forming a plan of your own on the spot to counter them (and there are a lot of different enemies). If anything disappoints me, it's that all you do to attack is press the A button. While there are many ways she uses that pole (no phallic implications behind that phrase!), they are simply initiated depending on which way you press the control stick. Nevertheless, there are a ton of different moves she uses depending on which ways you do hold the stick, and it all flows together very nicely. As a whole, there is a little improvement to be made, but overall battling is great fun.

Along with battling on foot, you've got your hovercraft battles, which are far more challenging and complex. A bit of a spin off Panzer Dragoon, hovercraft battles require you to aim and shoot, while at the same time keeping up with your enemies. These are some of the most exciting battles you'll fight in the game, and just when you're getting really good at them, a slightly more "technological" vehicle makes an appearance...

Aside from the battles, you've got your camera. Jade must use this for taking pictures and thus collecting data on the remaining species of Hyllis, just in case the DomZ really do accomplish their mission. Along with that, the camera is used to aid Jade and the IRIS Network in their mission to create their mass conspiracy against the government. I won't say how this is utilized because it will give important aspects of the story away, but it is integrated magnificently.

The "Metal Gear" aspect of the game is, obviously, the stealth sections. Though not nearly as emphasized or in-depth as in MG, Jade must sneak around many areas if she wants to succeed in her missions. If you are found, an alarm is set off and you will be under attack. Something I really liked is Jade's version of the sniper rifle--she will get an attachment for her camera that allows her to shoot out a sharp disc that is useful not only for puzzle-solving, but also taking out certain enemy guards. A clever idea that is thankfully used to its full potential. While she's no Solid Snake, stealthy-Jade is still a very satisfying character to play as.

Of course, sometimes there are instances where the guards do just a little bit more than set off an alarm. Some of the most exciting parts of the game (or any game, in my opinion) take place during the chase scenes. Running and jumping across rooftops away from endless bullets and explosions, along with the occasional dramatic slow-motion, make for some of the most insanely edge-of-your-seat fun you'll play.

There are many things that could have potentially brought this game down like many others, but don't. Yes, there is a lot of collecting, but not so much that you will get tired of it. Yes, there are fetch-quests, but they are not so numerous to bring down the gameplay. Yes, the game is difficult, but not so difficult that you will be throwing your controller across the room.

But it doesn't end there! Oh, the places you'll go, the mini-games you'll play. You can race your hovercraft, and though there is a very limited number of tracks, it never really gets old. You can play an air-hockey spin-off game, which is as addicting as it is rewarding. Not to mention the hidden areas you may explore at your leisure. Collecting hidden pearls for illegal use has never been this much fun. Yes, if you want a break from the main game (which you probably won't, but still...), Hyllis is always introducing you to new adventures to go on and new secrets to seek out.

While not exactly a completely original game in its playability, BGaE is still exceptionally fun and addicting, providing players with something new and exciting to do around every corner. Fighting, snooping, racing, gossiping, picture-taking... this game has it all.
GAMEPLAY: 9/10

LASTING APPEAL:
This is where the game's low point is. In no more than 15 short hours, BGaE will reach its end. It's certainly unfortunate that there are no unlockables, no secret missions, no "behind the scenes," or no extra costumes and whatnot, but the worst part about it? In under 15 hours we will grow very attached to Jade, Pey'j, Double H, the orphans, and all the other characters. Even more, we will grow attached to everything about Hyllis--from the hopeful civilians to the spectacular locations. BGaE ends much too soon, and, quite frankly, I never wanted it to end at all. But all good things must come to and end, and unfortunately, BGaE must realize that way too soon.

Still, there are different ways to play through the game, and like any good story, you will most likely have multiple playthrough.
LASTING APPEAL: 6/10

OVERALL:
You need to play this game for four reasons: the impeccable story, the awe-inspiring sights, the beautiful sounds, and the always-fun gameplay. Though it ends before we're ready, and though our desperate pleas for a sequel have yet to be realized, Jade's adventure is one that no one, and I mean no one, should pass up.
OVERALL: 9/10

Thanks for reading =)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/06/07