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Beyond Good & Evil

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: September 21, 2004
Author: Amazon User

A mix of the gameplay of Zelda, the dreamy and nightmarish atmospheres of Rayman, touched off with science-fiction and fantasy.

Plot:

You are Jade, a woman who makes a living as a photo-journalist. Your home is the wondrous world of Hyllis, and you just happen to live at a harbor town surrounded by military facilties. If it wasn't for the Alpha Sections, the invading Domz would certainly have wiped out the city already and captured all of its inhabitants...however, a chance job offer gives Jade an opportunity to discover the truth behind the Alpha Sections and the Domz, and a story of military conspiracy unfolds.

Graphics:

Everything natural is depicted with a sense of fantasy and wonder...the sight of glowing foliage is simply enchanting. Everything mechanical is depicted in all of its rusting, polluting, oil-dripping horror. The harbor town gives both a feeling of a southern, tropical, coastal town, but also of a cold, northern shanty.

You can't help convincing yourself of the smell of salt water and fish. In many instances, you feel like you are in the game; in a chase scene, nearby objects explode as you run by them, since you are being shot at by your pursuers.

Sound:

The music is excellently composed...too bad you do not hear it more often, as it often doesn't cue where and when it's supposed to. The musical style is ambient, that is, what you would hear in that kind of environment, composed mostly of sound effects working together to sound like music. The compositions that are indeed supposed to be musical range in a variety of different styles, from Reggae, Latin, and Asian in some locales, to rock and techno for battle and chase scenes.

The movie-like plot of the game is told through cinematic scenes accompanied by voice-overs of cinematic quality. Each character has their own passionate personality, colloquialisms, and catch phrases.

Gameplay:

Said above, the gameplay is a lot like Zelda. The functions of certain buttons are clearly defined, and are identified when you can interact with an object. Near a person, the display across the "X" button says "Talk." Near a mine cart that you can push, it says "Push." Near an enemy, it says "Attack." Gameplay focuses more around puzzles than fighting though, as there are no levels or experience points to be gained, Jade's strength only changes with a few power-ups. When you do have to fight your way out, you often have to use a specific strategy to take care of even simple enemies. Having to throw your enemy in the air, and then hit them while they're airborne and immobile certainly adds a good deal of strategy. There are still enemies that you can brutally put down, however.

Lastly, as a photo-journalist, you can make a photo archive of the Hyllian animal species for a scientific institution to earn money.

Overall:

Everything in the game is executed rather well...the only problem is, it's too short! The main quest will probably only take you from ten to fourteen hours to complete. It took me about thirty hours to complete, but I did about every side mission possible, and took my time to enjoy the game. Of course, if you don't have much time to play a long game through entirely, this is a game not too long or two short simply for one or two hours of enjoyment every night or every other night.

A Rare Gem Indeed!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: January 21, 2004
Author: Amazon User

There are certain games that manage to slide in under the radar and go unoticed by the gaming public. Ubi Soft's Beyond Good and Evil is one of those rare games that does so many things right it's hard to imagine why more people aren't playing it.

The main character, Jade, is a freelance reporter on a planet named Hyllis. It's a bit of an odd world, with unusual life forms such as talking pigs, cat people, and walrus like men. Hyllis is under attack by an alien race called the DomZ. The para-military units known as the Alpha Sections are defending Hyllis from the attacking aliens. But all is not what it seems. People are disappering from Hyllis. And the Alpha Sections are suspected of collaborating with the DomZ. Jade, our heroine, is recruited by the underground IRIS Network to uncover the conspiracy.

The games graphics are outstanding. Hyllis is a huge, living breathing world complete with wild life, oceans, and even a moon. Water effects are rendered extrememly well, especially since Hyllis is mostly a water world. The game is also presented in widescreen through it's entirety. This makes it possible for seemless transitions from the action to cutscenes. This is really a nice looking game in all areas.

Alot of people have mischaracterized this game as a "platformer". This game is actually an adventure with quite a bit of stealth elements included. Some of the stealth elements are very reminscent of games such as Metal Gear Solid, Tenchu and Splinter Cell. The action varys quite a bit from stealth to martial arts action. There's even a mini-game thrown in for good measure. Though stealth plays a big part of this game, it doesn't seem tedious. There is also a unique power up system. Throughout Hyllis there are vending machines where you purchase meal packs called K-Bups and Starkos. Other items can also be purchased from these machines. One of the more interesting features is that throughout the game you get updates in the form of Emails from the IRIS Network, and you can subscribe to publications that can be emailed to you.

The controls take some getting used to. The learning curve is about thirty minutes. But once the controls are down the game flows very nicely.

Unfortunatley there's not alot of replay value here. Once you complete the game there's not much reason to go back and play it again. That's the one criticism you can lay on it.

This game is great buy for the new reduced price. In an age where the gaming world is flooded with sequel after sequel, it's great to see a new origial game that really gives you something different for your time and money. I HIGHLY recomend this game.

Another great game lost to the mainstream audience

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 01, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game. It should be hailed by the masses, have giant strategy chatrooms, and be priced at 49.99. But it isn't. The reason it isn't is because people havent played it yet. This is perhaps the best game I have played all year, and I didnt have to shoot a pedestrian(True Crime: Streets of LA), shove a grenade in a zombie's mouth(Resident Evil), or strangle someone with a plastic bag(Manhunt). All I did was hit people with a stick, or perhaps take their picture, and maybe solve a few puzzles. It was still the best game I played all year. I also bought it for $20.00. This is a classic example of a game that has fallen victim to a lack of violence, and because it is more tasteful, it has lacked sales, which in the business world has deemed this wonderful game a "failure." In this game you are Jade, an action reporter who is hired by an outside group to expose some of the horrible things your government is doing to your people, the Hillyans. You will have several goofy partners along the way that lighten the mood, but there are also some intense moments. In general, despite its shortness it is worth is for 20 dollars. So instead of picking up a game like True Crime or Manhunt, which are quick cash ins on a fad, pick up a worthwhile game in the bargain bin. Not only is is truly artful and worth playing, it may also soon be extinct if gamers only want to shoot things up. Do yourself and the gaming community a favor and give this one a rental, or for 15 dollars more a purchase. It will be one of your best decisions this year.

Waaayyyyy beyond good...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: August 16, 2004
Author: Amazon User

One of the recurring questions in most of the game reviews I've written is "Why on Earth are people actually buying this garbage??" But today I'm here to ask exactly the opposite. Why haven't more people discovered this game?

In a market that's over-saturated with typically I.Q. reducing sports, racing and shoot-em-up games, Beyond Good & Evil completely caught me off guard. How do you classify this game?

Hmm... it certainly has some platforming elements... but I've never been a fan of platformers. And it also has some sections where you're required to race... but, hmmm... never been much of a racing fan either. So what exactly is it that makes me love this game so much?

As you may have gathered, Beyond Good & Evil genre-hops like few games before it have ever done before but never once does it come off as being forcibly derivative of anything in particular. While the land of Hyllis is a small one, you actually feel like you're in the middle of a bustling metropolis that somehow manages to be as gorgeous as it is foreboding at the same time. You encounter an abundance of multi-cultural animals and humans throughout the story, and somehow this game succeeds in filling each one of them with more personality, wit and heart than ever seen before.

The story itself is at times touching, sad and a little dark, which is certainly another appealing factor for me anyway, but it never feels contrived or ridiculous in the least. I for one am really hoping to see a sequel to this brilliant and moving little game that everyone overlooked.

Great game from Ubisoft

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: August 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Beyond Good and Evil is one of those highly underrated games like Iko that that no one is playing. The excellent game play, art direction, and storyline developed by Michel Ansel really makes me wonder why Ubisoft didn't choose to promote this game as much as they did with Prince of Persia.

This game features game play that uses a mixture of stealth, platform, adventure along with some minor rpg elements. There are also alot of interactive features from use of an ingame email system and mdisks to acquire information on what to do next on your missions and further elaboration on various storyline elements. Also this game isn't with out it's side quests and minigames, but isn't over saturated with them to the point where it feels like doing them all is a chore.

I think one of the best features of this game is the taking pictures and cataloguing of all the animal species that you find in the world Hillys that the game takes place. This really allows you to experience the world fully this game takes place in and appreciate what went into making this game.

This game also has another element that I think is essential to a good video game. A difficult last boss! I think alot of video games as of late have been lacking that. It also has a fair amount of replay value if you missed any pearls, animals, or mdisks your first time through.

Whilst being short, this game is definitely worth buying considering how much fun it is and the price it is going for.

Beyond addictive!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: December 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I think that Michael Ansel (the creator) is a genius. This game is awesome on so many levels, it nearly defys description. Not quite a platformer, not quite an RPG, dont call it a cinematic game, not a stealth game- it really belongs in a class by itself. Yeah! I suppose you could call it an "art house game" if that can even come close enough.
Beyond Good and Evil will consume you with its quirky sense of humor, towering intrigue and likable characters. Hillys is a world that is fleshed out so completely that I want someone to send me a travel brochure so that I can book a trip on the next plane. That is after the whole alien-invasion thing can be cleared up.
This game is more suited to more mature players- not because of its subject matter- just based on its gameplay mechanics. While not a true platformer, you are required to find objects and collect pearls and take pictures in order to advance the story. Unlike a platformer you must sneak around, avoid detection, infiltrate government compounds and expose dirty little secrets about the Alpha Sections- the supposed protectors of Hillys.
Oh, and you have to do all this whilst taking pictures of EVERY species of organism that inhabits your wonderful planet. See, you dont get paid unless you take the pictures and send them to the science center.
Without the money, how will you ever be able to customize your hovercraft and buy life restoring snacks and upgrades to your special attack and sensors to help you find even more goodies and animals? See, photography really is profitable.
And that camera of yours comes in handy to expose said government lies and provide proof that the Alpha sections really are up to no good...just shoot the photo, send it back to the IRIS network (secret underground association) and then the govenor will help you out as well...man! More plot twists than a James Bond movie...
This game is a wonderful addition to any library, but be prepared to spend some quality time with this bad boy...the story gets pretty deep and convoluded quite early on, and it only gets more twisty as you progress. While the difficulty level is not off the scale, younger players will become frustrated quite quickly by the learning curve and objectives required...no hop-n-boping allowed through this game.
I would suggest that anyone who liked Metal Gear Solid, Ico, and Jak II should pick up this game. Like the above mentioned titles, this game spans many genres and does a wonderful job at holding its own. Great game and definatley worth the money spent for it!

best game I have ever seen or heard of.!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I have about 15teen games and this is the best.!

;-) The story is wonderful and the characters are great it is fun silly and worth your time this is the best game I have and when it was over I said to myself ". that was fun so ware is beyond good and evil 2 ." this game is the best I'd buy it at any price they ask for. and the next best thing is playing it again and again. until you are sick of the TV screen which with me is very hard.

buy at any price you can high or low. :)

AWSOME!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 08, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game is awsome. I was excpecting a dippy platformer like,Haven or Vexx, but what I get is a platformer that top's, Jak and Daxter 1, but not quite Jak 2. Buy this now!!! If it sells good enough they {UBISOFT} will make a sequel {I HOPE}.

Pro's.
Grand Graphic's
Grand Gameplay.
Grand Sound.
Grand art.
Grand, everything else in the game.

Con's.
Ummm... That it aint selling well.

very enjoyable

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is a very cool game that anyone should own if they enjoy the exploring kind of adventure games. If you are familiar with the Rayman games you will get the same kind of colorful fun graphics here. The gameplay is good and smart, with elements of hand to hand combat, stealth missions, driving, flying, mini-games of different sorts including racing and pursuits, and even some air hockey. All this leads to the fact that you have to collect crystal balls in order to purchase items that you need to progress. The storyline moves along nicely and is always interesting making you want to continue. It involves an attack by aliens on your planet in which the government is somehow involved. There is also an element of exploration in that you have to take pictures of different species that you come across while on your adventure. Everything about the experience is rewarding and the world you are involved in is always alive and moving about making you feel like you are a part of something. Everything comes together nicely and most importantly the game is pretty much always fun and never makes you do tasks just for the sake of doing them like so many other games. The only thing I didn't like was the length of the game. For all its coolness this game is pretty short lasting about 5 to 6 hours or total gameplay. And that's pretty much if you don't know what your doing. If you're and experienced player you might even finish the game in just over 4 hours. Just when I was really getting into this game it comes to an end. Way too short for the quality and fun you get out of it. A great deal nonetheless if you can get it for around 25 bucks. I hope there is a sequel and I hope they extend the gameplay because that is the only thing this game needs to make it a classic.

A True Gem

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 26, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Anyone that has played this game knows that it is one of the greatest games ever made. Too bad it never caught on mainstream. I kind of like it that way though. Almost assuredly there will be a sequel. Play the game and you'll see what I mean. Finally, there will be no game description from me, this game needs no introduction. Buy it, you'll like it, and for the price, you would be a fool not too.

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