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Comparison of versions

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 14
Date: December 19, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I'm a big fan of this game, but most of the reviews have already done justice to its quality (let's say that if Roger Ebert played it, he would understand that games CAN be an entirely valid and socially relevant art form). What they haven't covered, at least that I've seen, is a comparison between the PS2, Xbox, GCN, and PC versions of the game. If you only have one of those platforms, then obviously, buy it for that one - but if you have a choice, which one is better?

First I tried the Xbox version in a store, but initially passed on it. When I went back again to buy it, it was gone. So I bought the PS2 version and played it through, then sold it. Today I found a brand-new copy of the GC game (yes, they ARE out there), and now I'm playing through it again. I haven't played the PC version - it is by far the most popular, which leads me to believe they know something I don't, but I don't have a system that's suitable for trying it out.

- They pretty much all look and play the same - that is, above average, with a lot of fine and unique detail, but occasionally muddy textures (still better than, say, Morrowind). There is an unevenness when turning the environment that sometimes feels like slowdown, sometimes like a framerate drop. Of the three, the Xbox version looks the cleanest, followed closely by the GCN. The PS2 has noticeably inferior texture work and more slowdown. Where the GCN version shines, in my opinion, is in the water effects, which are smooth and lovely, especially out in the open.

- Load times are roughly equal for the Xbox (which has the advantage of a hard drive) and the GCN (which has the advantage of a smaller disk). The PS2 version lags behind, but it isn't game-breaking.

- Controls are equally fluid on all three consoles, and your preference is probably going to lie with which controller you like best. For this game, I like the GCN controller layout, with its intuitive Z-control for the camera, the best of the three.

- The quality of the sound is similar for all three in the standard modes, but only the GCN version supports Dolby Surround Pro Logic II, a feature which does its part in enhancing the cinematic experience.

Of course, the biggest difference, at least currently, is the price. The PS2 and PC versions were over-produced, so they're easily obtained and dirt cheap. The Xbox and GCN versions are considerably harder to find, and the GCN version in particular is almost a collector's item. (I certainly prize my copy.) But as I said, this game is definitely out there. And if you really can't find it anywhere.. then buy it here and save yourself the hassle. BG&E is one of the standout games of the entire generation.

Buy it so Ubisoft will make a sequel.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 16 / 20
Date: January 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If a game has the Ubisoft logo on it its usually going to be good. But this game wasn't, It was beyond fantastic. An incredible story with many plot-twists, and amazingly fun gameplay. And a world that is really brought to life. Now, I have one or two bones to pick here though. First off, the world that you play the whole game through isn't quite as large as the ads make is sound. And the game isn't quite as open-ended as the ads make is sound. Also, you don't get the spaceship till the end of the game. Now normaly those would be bad complantes, but Beyond Good & Evil is an incredible game anyway. If you're wonder if its worth the money? Let's just say I would pay $80 dollars for this game. It is unbelevibly fantastic.
Anyway, now for a rundown of what the game consists of. Mostly the exploration is simple puzzles in incredible environments, and in battle you have first off, your normal Dai-jo stick attacks, and then there's the charge-up energyattack special. And finaly the complicated Gyrodisk launcher, which isn't really a weapon...
In exploring Hyllis(sp?) bay, you drive you jet powered hovercraft around the water. And later on, the spaceship allthe way up and to the moon. Also, large bosses usually don't attack you right away, because its one of the major side-quests to take pictures of all the species on the planet. So, its more realistic that way, infact it is a very very very realistcly rendered game.
And the many stealth segments are unsusually fun, or more interesting than fun really. It is still fun.
The story: The planet of hyllis is being attacked by the aliens known as the DomZ(that's not pernounced dom-Zee incase you were wondering). It starts out with Jade meditating at the base of the lighthouse where she lives, when a DomZ meteor attack starts.
After a lot happens including a few DomZ spectors trying to kidnap some of the other residents. Jade is sen't on a mission, unaware that it is a situation test for joining the Iris Network, the group of "terroists" that battle the Alpha Sections, a group of elite soldiers that supposedly "protect" the population. After that a long and engaging story unfolds, culminating in a huge battle with the DomZ lord, on the moon, and a huge space battle with the Alpha Section's leader. I don't want to give anything away. But I will give one thing away, so if you don't want to read it skip the next line.
[Jade is actually half DomZ by the name of Shauni, but dosn't know it, and unlocks a great hidden power in fighting them.]
Anyway, this is an incredible game that everyone should get.

Graphics - 5/5
Sound - 5/5
Control - 4.5/5
FunFactor - 5/5
Overall - 5/5

One of those hard to find games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: October 01, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I don't mean by my title that this game is hard to find. More that a game as well done as this only comes around once and a while. I spent about 20 hours exploring the world of Hylis. 20 hours which seemed to be only 10-15 hours. Time passes much faster outside the little bubble of blissful ignorance that will form around you while playing this game because, frankly, the outside world will seem to fade as you almost become Jade, becoming increasingly immersed in the beautiful yet dark world of Beyond Good and Evil.

The game opens with an alien attack by creatures known as the Domz. After a simple battle, you recieve your camera and can begin exploring your small island home, which also happens to be a lighthouse. When you first get the camera, you'll recieve one of the game's main side quests: photographing all the world's animals. This quest continues throught the game and takes a bit of work to complete, although you won't regret it. It is one of the most entertaining mini-games I have ever seen, keeping you entertained durring and between misions. After you've finished photographing the animals and exploring the environment, you begin you're adventure by recieving a speedboat from your best friend and companion, Pay'j.

Before I go on to mention anything else, I should probably go into detail about the environment. Although the game's graphics are often very cartoony, the cartoon world of Hylis comes alive in the form of the teeming life you see everywhere around you. There are the small things, such as the detailed rock walls of caverns, to the way the water moves, to all the people walking out on the streets. Everything just seems so alive that it will seem almost magical. The game also has a wonderful distance engine, which allows the player to see things from a very large distance, such as a whale leaping from the water, or other boats, or even the larger details of the game's several islands.

While running around taking pictures and fighting evil is fun, it is just as much fun to cruise around on the speed boat and the rocket ship, once you get it. While there is some fighting and picture taking to be had aboard the ship, it was not quite frequent enough for me, and I had to just make due with the 3 boat race courses and the four smugglers caverns, with the occasional Domz attack.

The main collectible in this game is the pearl, and pearls are required to progress through the game, with some additional pearls added in to give you more choice as to what quests to perform to progress in the game. The games quests vary. While you will get pearls automatically for progression in the game's rich plot, you will also have to take pictures of animals, fight some hidden Domz, win boat races, defeat smugglers, infiltrate government buildings in which pearls are held, and other little quests, many involving the perchase of pearls. Also, to avoid all the annoying serching that most games have to get the last collectibles, you can buy an item that will label pearl and animal locations on your map so that you have an idea of where to look, although it won't tell you how to get them.

The puzzles in the game are very well done, and, for the most part, simple. There is one puzzle later on that is quite well done because it is hard without being contrived or ridiculously pointless or anything else that can be complained about. Other puzzles involve finding clever ways of sneaking past guards or getting over a wall. It's one of those games where solving puzzles isn't extremely difficult as long as you look for the game's hints, yet still give a very rewarding feeling after their completion.

Almost done... This game isn't exactly an action game. Like in most RPGs, you can't fall of edges into bottomless pits, although enemies can kill you. Jade will do most jumping and action oriented moves by herself, leaving you to fight monsters and solve puzzles. The controls are very responsive and should never frustrate the player, especially with the fantastic camera, which places itself in basically the best position almost automatically, although there are sometimes when it would be nice to be able to move it. This makes doing battle simple, although it's not to hard to begin with. Most enemies are slow to attack and give you plenty of time to prepare a good strategy to dealing with them.

To wrap up, I need to mention the two most surprising things about this game. First off, it had almost no bugs that I could find. I found one spot where I fell through a floor, but I can only blame myself for that one, and it was easy to avoid the spot once I knew what I did to get into it. Did I mention that there are save points EVERYWHERE, so you never have to worry about getting really far and then getting stuck having to turn it off and losing 30 minutes of playing. Also, being killed only places you back at the entrance of a room, making some of the more frustrating sneaking bits much less so. The other bug was simply a quest desription bug on Salene which described the Pay'j quest as the "escaping the Slaughterhouse" quest. Other than that, I had no problems with the game's mechanics. Another surprise in this game was the increadible music, which had a great Latin feel and really got your feet moving and sometimes your head moving from side to side.

This game's story line never lets up and keeps you on the edge of your seat right up till the fantastic final battle. There were even several spots (especially the lighthouse bit near the end), when I almost cried because of the game's extremely emotional presentation. The only irritating thing is that the game seems to have one of those 'prepare for a sequal' endings, with some little loose ends to tie up, yet I have heard no plans for one as of yet. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled, I guess.

Anyway, if you're still reading this (I didn't realize I had this much to say about BG&E, sorry), this game goes beyond good and bad and reaches a level which few games attain of utter perfection. Every little thing in this game is thrown at you in just the right amount to entertain you, yet keep you begging for more. If you can find this game used, it makes a great addition to anyone's collection, but even new it's still a great deal for a great game.

A vast and amazing game!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 18, 2003
Author: Amazon User

ok, "pokemon snap" for the N64 used snapping pictures as a new idea for a video game. This game pushes that envelope even farther.

You are Jade, a journalist on a planet that is being bombarded by alien atacks. The ALPHA group protect and serve the public, or so they are assumed to. Your mission is to infiltrate the ALPHA group, uncover the goverment secrets and bring back photographic proof to the public that a major conspiracy is underway.

Day and Night pass quickly though they don't have much effect on your playing. One of the side missions is to photograph every speicies of alien life on the planet. Since there are over 500, you're gonna be doing alot of snapping between missions.

the play controle is excelent, and the graphics are amazing. This world that UBiSoft has create is massive and ever changing. Many of the things you can interact with easily. There are lots of people to talk to, and you are given more than just 1 thing to ask for each one, giving you much more control over how you want to gather information. The picture taking aspect is really nifty and setup so that it's easy to switch back and fourth between the camera and stealth.

There is a very nicely cast group of actors doing the voices and you never get bored with them (they very rarely repeat themselves, instead they are more action oriented: giving you advice and talking to you as you go through the levels).

I give this game a 4 because of the picture ratings. unlike Pkemon Snap which graded you on the ability you had in taking pictures, this game just requires you to have the character centered. They don't even have to be pointing at the camera (something i've noticed when i've taken pictures of the back of people's heads and yet the pictures are accepted!)

all in all, this game is very detailed. Their use of cinematic scenes are exceptionally well done and the modeling of the characters is top-notch. If you're looking for something different, i'd stronly recommend this game.

Rated T for comic mischief and violence

Outstanding Addicting Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I'm hooked. Just about 50% through and the game just keeps getting better and better. The world just pulls you in - almost as much as Zelda: Ocarina of Time. You feel as if you can go anywhere and do anything. The storyline is mature and well-realized, giving weight to all of your actions and the world around you. On top of that, the photography aspect gives you a whole new perspective, as you are truly looking at the world around you in a different way.

No spoilers here - but I will tell you that this is one of the first games I've played in a long time where I actually cared about what happens to the characters. They have heart and personality, a terrific blend of amazing voice acting, writing, and character design. I particularly loved the Jamaican Mammago Garage Rhinos ("yea mon!").

The music in the game is terrific as well, completely fitting to each locale. In the bar you hear heavy metal, during the races you hear high speed latin hip hop, at the aforementioned garage you get treated to some island riddims. And of course, in the "dungeon" levels the music turns very tense and atmospheric.

Gameplay-wise, the controls are top notch and levels are well-designed. You always have a good idea of where to go next, but it's not spelled out for you. You have to think your way through the various puzzles and traps.

Get this game. And join the rebellion.

Beyond Good and Evil is beyond good... its great

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: October 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Ubisoft has done really good in building my consumer trust this game console generation and it is due to titles like this one. It is a brand new franchise yet it has the kind of production values in terms of graphics, voice acting, soundtrack, etc that you would expect from a well established game franchise.

This game is often compared to Zelda. The comparision is viable but not totally accurate. While Zelda is about free-roaming exploration this one has a more linear discovery. BG&E game world is much smaller than what you get in a Zelda game and it is a sci-fi alien invasion setting rather than the sword & soccery fantasy setting the Zelda games have.

In this game you a reporter that goes on different jobs to take pictures and submit the evidence of the alien activities. Expose goverment involvement and the works. The game will provide around 15-20 hrs of gametime. It is worth playing through for anybody that enjoys the Zelda games... some things are even done better (like the photography) than Zelda games but just don't expect the same size of world to explore, or the same type of combat/gameplay, or the same variety of diverse enemies and boss battles as a Zelda game.

A very good, if short action-adventure in the vein of Zelda

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 9
Date: January 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I start with this: Can a less than 20 hour game be worth $50? I didn't expect it but I have actually found one that is: Beyond Good & Evil. Feel free to say "I told you so." And now, my review.

Time to finish: 12 hours, 15 minutes

Beyond Good & Evil is an outstanding game. It may be a little short, and many of you may be wondering "Is this game worth $50?" I am going to say, that depends. If you are one to rush through a game, find everything there is to find, do everything there is to do, and then shelve it then the answer is no. If you like to take your time and explore, and re-experience a fine story once you've already beaten the game, then the answer is yes. However, you can already find this game for $20 or in many places (sad really, but good for you).

This game has an absolutely top notch-story. It's got suitable twists and turns and should keep you hooked until the end. Even though the game is less than 15 hours long, it doesn't feel rushed and it most certainly doesn't overstay it's welcome. It is just about the right length to tell the story that the game tells.

The graphics are excellent, but the framerate is a little consistent. The music is dramatic and appropriate. I absolutely loved the various combat battle music tracks. The game is pure fun from the moment you start.

My only real complaint is that the ending leaves much open for a sequel which likely won't appear because I have doubts about this game selling well since it isn't a pre-established franchise, nor the baby of a company with the money and/or desire to heavily market it (Sony, Microsoft) (but you can change that! Go buy it, it's worth it!).

Presentation -- 9.0
The game has a lot of polish and stylistic cohesion. There are great cutscenes.

Graphics -- 9.0
This game has some of the most vibrant, colorful, and detailed graphics of this generation. The only thing that gives it some marks off is the insonsistent framerate, but it didn't bother me much.

Sound -- 9.0
Voice-work is above average. The music in the game is outstanding. Sound effects are well done.

Gameplay -- 9.5
This is how Starfox Adventures wanted to play. Combat is always a blast and your companions actually do something to help in combat (although in that regard they are pretty much one trick pony's). The vehicles handle exactly like you'd want them to.

Lasting Appeal -- 7.0
The game is fairly short, but it's so fun that you'll likely want to play it again!

Overall (Not an Average) -- 9.0

Go buy it please! At $20 or less you have no reason not to.

Beautifully charming- mostly.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: April 08, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The game starts off pretty ordinarily - people are getting kidnapped, sidekicks introduce themselves. You may start yawning at the start, thinking it's just Starfox Adventures Part 2. But there is much more of a purpose to everything you do in this and you actually start to care about the characters. The world is thankfully compact yet full of things to do. You will need to solve puzzles (some quite clever) but the solution is never too hard to work out. This game includes ideas that have been seen elsewhere but does it with humour, style at a great sense of atmosphere. In some ways, it reminded me of the Monkey Island series, with the old town on an island full of characters. You could imagine pirates rather than robots roaming around. Ubisoft are a French company and the town has a distinct Gallic look to it. It's very well drawn and a welcoming place to go if you want a bit of time out from the adventure. You can play games in the bar, for instance.

The voice acting is great - I particularly like the announcer on the races (that are a bit like Star Wars Episode 1.) A sizeable section of the game is taken up with stealth sections. Now, I'm not a stealth fan generally but Beyond Good and Evil manages to make it very fun without losing the tense atmosphere necessary. The guards are both very threatening, wearing spotlights, heavy armour and with the power to command a hovering guncraft to shoot you or to send lasers in your general area. And, yet, when you manage to overpower them, they stumble around bewildered in a comical way. I don't want to spoil things but there are some very funny ways of finishing off the guards.
The sound is great, ranging from dark and moody to Jamaican and a bit of French pop/hip hop.
The graphics were specially designed (the 'JADE' engine) and the same engine was used on Prince of Persia. It's difficult to tell it was because both games are distinctly different.
Jade appropriately wears a lot of green, has green lipstick and green features as a recurring colour throughout. The main characters have been really well drawn. You almost forget that Jade isn't real- she's like a young French film star and her expression can change from wryly amused to fearful within a second.
One part of the game is particularly cinematic- a chase across the rooftops. It's like a throwback to a Hitchcock film like North by North West and, though short, it's really well done. The designers obviously had aspirations to make this game film-like and they have succeeded. The scenes at the lighthouse towards the end are beautiful.

One of the few disppointing parts was the last level. Not only is it small but it performs the unforgivable error of having un-necessarily long corridors and a virtual absence of puzzles- an otherwise entertaining game pretty much fizzles out amid a cliched alien enivronment.

Also- and Zelda is the worst offender though it is also seen in this game and Starfox Adventures- why does a game that is based upon the traditional fairytales of good versus evil and swordfights and magic resort to something as stupid as making the character levitate upwards on certain warp points? This idea is pure Star Trek awfulness that is at odds with the simple core of adventure that these stories should be trying to convey. Even Prince of Persia does it.

Everyone should buy this game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: February 24, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is seriously one of the best games I've ever played. UbiSoft and Michel Ancel (who also created the first two Rayman games) should be commended for this startlingly fun and imaginative game.

Graphically, the game is superb. The artistic design of the world is fabulous, and the water (of which there is a great deal) is beautifully rendered. The creatures that inhabit the world (and that you regularly photograph) are excellent designs: familiar enough to be believable creatures, but strange enough to be believably alien. The environments are also a feast for the eyes, and range from lichen-encrusted caverns to wide beaches to hideous industrial mazes. Character designs are also excellent, and feature an array of anthropomorphic animals -- including your sidekick Pey'j, who looks like a blend between a trucker and a giant pig.

Character control is almost effortless, though some of Jade's special moves are difficult to induce. I've particularly had trouble getting her to backflip at times. However, except for the charging maneuver, none of the special moves are absolutely necessary for the game, and I never had any trouble with that one. You may get frustrated in some areas, but in my experience the fault has always been with myself or my approach, not with the game or controller.

The real strength of this game, however, is the variety of play. Classic adventure-game problem solving is supplemented by stealth/infiltration, martial-arts combat, vehicle-based fights, and even kart-style racing. And that's just what you HAVE to do to finish the game -- if you desire, you can follow the game into a number of other directions. You can even choose to take none at all... there's a lot to be said for just sitting back and enjoying the scenery.

Much is made of the plot, and it's certainly more substantial than some I've seen. Still, don't expect _War_and_Peace_. This is still in the realm of plots that are "very good for a video game", which is a bit of a disappointment, because a few more (or more believable) twists to the plot would have made this into a really interesting story. Nonetheless, the progression will be more than enough to keep you engrossed. The character interactions are also quite believable (some scenes between Jade and Pey'j are truly touching).

Voice acting is solid, and the music is really lovely. I found myself wishing I could buy the soundtrack, just so I could hear the music which plays on the water in early sections of the game (and also in the final credits).

The game's only real weakness is its length (I was able to play through in ~15h my first time, while seriously trying to go EVERYWHERE). However, the gaming experience itself is quite varied, and most puzzles admit of multiple solutions (there will only be a few occasions when you're absolutely locked into a single course of action). Add to this the gorgeous visuals and music, and this becomes a game you'll be able to replay without regret.

To summarize--
Gameplay: Superb
Story: Excellent (for a video game... >sigh<)
Visuals: Superb
Audio: Superb
Replayability: Moderate

Overall: Superb (91%)

At [this price], you'd be foolish not to buy it.

Short but sweet

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 19, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Like most reviews, I'm going to have to say this game was short but good. The style and originality of this game makes up for its short storyline.

The Characters - excellent detail on the characters and a wide range of different species, Jade, the woman you control is a human but most of the other characters are animals such as Pey'J the Pig.

The Storyline - though short, this is a very original and creative game. Basically, Jade and Pey'J are in the middle of a war against the so-called heros The Alpha Sections and the Domz. But the twist is the Alpha Sections are actually with the Domz and the Iris is the good team, who get Jade on their side. Jade must save the victims before it's too late.

The Graphics - amazing design and beautiful landscape. It may seem quite simple but it's actually quite brilliant. The water seems lifelike and the crystals and such as "pretty".

The Gameplay - Smooth moving. Jade jumps, runs and walks with ease. Very easy to get used to but you can get frustrated at times when you want Pey'J to do something and he's not coming, etc.

The Enemies - Pretty simple, until the final battle. The final battle shows you, Jade, fighting against some strange being. At first it's not too hard but after the controls get reversed, it's actually quite hard. Make sure you have lots of food to refill your health!

Overall - this game is great, I only rented it and I beat it within days but it's still good. I would consider buying it if I found it at a cheap price just so I could play over and over again. The downside is if you save while on the moon, you will never get to go back. I would suggest saving though because most likely you will die somewhere on the moon and then you'll have to redo the whole thing. Make sure you've done everything you've wanted to do before going to the moon. Have fun!

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