Beyond Good & Evil (2003) Online

This game is not selling well. In the UK at least, prices have been slashed dramatically. This is a huge shame, as Beyond Good and Evil is the best game of the genre that I have ever played. In game play style, it is closest to Zelda, but the characters and storyline are infiniteley better, with depth, and several twists throughout. On the surface, it's beautiful, you can almost feel the sea air on the lighthouse island where Jade lives, and the canal city is Mediterranian in look, sound and atmosphere. In stark contrast, the slaughterhouse and the factory are dark, disturbing and sinister, and the moon resembles the set of Alien. All this is secondary, though a strong contributer to the plot and the characters. Jade is not of the Lara Croft school of game heroines, she does not blast her way into places and knock enemies out with bazookas and breasts. She has a subtle femininity, she is quiet and thoughtful, she uses a camera, not explosives, and cares deeply about her home, and her uncle Pey'j (if you havn't read it somewhere else, he's a pig). This, and the fact that her quest ultimately leads her to a point of saving captured people from evil, gives the game the opportunity to become sugar-coated and sickly sweet. But it is saved totally and completely from this, by brilliant characters who you actually care about, and by the very disturbing fates of the people, which Jade has to report and show the remaining population. Victims are tortured, put in packing cases and shipped off to the moon, whereupon they are stored in pods so that their fluids may be drained away and used in the preservation of the Domz, grotesque monsters who have recruited their own human army, who the humans trust unconditionally. Jade's job is to alert the population and save those already taken. When bad things happen to the characters, you are upset. The cut scenes are not simply a method of getting from point A to point B, they blend perfectly with the rest of the game, and add to the feel of the game - the voice acting is spot on and the animation is faultless.

This is a game, which, sadly is at the moment enjoyed only by gamers who read reviews, it has no publicity, people don't know about it. I would strongly advise you to play it while you can, because something like this won't come around again for a long time.

It's always the good ones that get overlooked.

This is arguably the most sublime, awe-inspiring, playable adventure of this generation of consoles. It plays like a sci-fi version of Zelda, only much more cinematic and less mention of elves. The graphics are quite simply jaw dropping, with a whole world - including the animals, the environments, the people, and space (!!!) - rendered in an utterly believable way.

The characters are the most likable bunch you could hope for. From Jade, the main character trying to uncover a vast conspiracy, to Pey'J, your friendly talking pig sidekick, through to even the most minor of characters, you build a connection with many of the different characters.

The music is absolutely stunning, with cinematic themes acting as a powerful backdrop to the game play. And some game play it is. With a wide amount of game types - platformer, action, racing, photography, puzzler, and at the end space battle - it's a game bursting with variety.

The only problem is it's length - at around 10 hours you want more. But while it lasts it's complete perfection. A game like none other awaits you. That it didn't sell enough to warrant the planned trilogy is one of the greatest shames in video game history.

Beyond Good and Evil is an awesome game. Period. Let's start out with the sound. Wonderful sound. I absolutely loved the musical scores in this game! They were so good! I really enjoyed the different sounds, too! The storyline is one of the best i've ever seen! and the voice actors do a wonderful job! i was really impressed. The graphics were also very good. It showed much attention to small detail, which i loved. ONe of my favorite things about this game is that you really feel like you KNOW the characters. they all have a personality that you could relate to or know.

What i don't understand about this game has nothing to do with the actual game. It's that, why did people just overlook this amazing game? Really! When i saw this game, i got it that day. And i loved it. I would also love if they would make another BG&E, but I highly dought that because of the poor sales. If you own a GC, ps2 or PC, buy this game. please. you will love it! perfect- 10/10

In an alternate world and time period. There was a planet called Hillys where humans, anthropomorphic animals, aliens, and robotic species co-exist with each other in one community. The whole planet is under a war against an alien race race called the DomZ. They invade the atmosphere of the planet and abduct countless civilians to drain their life forces for their own or implant spores into the victims which turns them into obedient creatures for the DomZ. A military force called the Alpha Sections has for sometime help defend the planet the planet from these extratrestials. They are praise by the public as national heroes.

The story revolves on Jade, a tomboy photographer who lost her own parents when she was young. She lives on a lighthouse island with her legal guardian Pey'j, a pig mechanic who looks after several other orphans whose parents got taken away by the DomZ. One day Jade was doing yoga right until a group a DomZ was heading for the lighthouse. She heads for the home security switch which activates the "Anti DomZ" shield. But it immediately lost power due to the electrical bill not being paid off. The group of DomZ attack the Lighthouse, and soon after the attack the Alpha Sections came in time to rescue Jade and Pey'j who were trap inside the newly made pit that was cause by the impact of the DomZ that landed there.

After the incident, Jade got a message from a magazine company that will pay her if she is able to take pictures of all the existing animals on Hillys. This was perfect for her to repay the electrical bill for the lighthouse's electricity. Eventually Jade will end up questioning on whether the Alpha Sections is truly the saviors they claim to be or not. As according to Pey'j they don't always comes in the nic of time whenever the DomZ attack. What kind of secrets is the Alpha Sections holding? This game came out in 2003, and it was one of my Christmas presents too. I got the game cause it really looked cool with the heroine being the main protagonist and containing a stealth action plot to the game. With a lot of fighting sequences, aliens, and sneaking around military territories. The game also had a rich environment to it as well.

The down side is this game didn't get the best sales as predicted. Probably because it was release in stores during the wrong time when Ubisoft release two other games that out sold more copies than it did. However the game receive a lot of good reviews on the internet from those who played it. I completely agree that this was one of the best games of 2003.

I admit that the game wasn't too long, but the story, characters, and environment is what saved the game from being bad. For years I've been defending my own opinion on how awesome this game is. If people at least give it a chance they would know what the whole big deal is about. Just cause a game had poor sales doesn't always mean the game itself is bad to play.

Also look out for the upcoming sequel that's been said to have better advertisement and long game play.

I can echo all of what was said above: Great art design, great music, and above all, great story -- very rare in video games, and indeed Beyond Good and Evil's story and characters have more "meat" than most sci-fi blockbuster films.

The reasons why this game was overlooked are simple. One, the game is mis-named; the title really doesn't describe the game in any meaningful way. The second and far more important reason is that, in the U.S. anyway, this game was released during the "Christmas Rush" that plagues the gaming industry. In an effort to capitalize on holiday sales, game publishers save every game they've spent any money on and then release them all during November and December. It's inevitable that some games -- often very good ones, and especially those that are left-of-center -- are going to get lost in the shuffle.

The director of this game, Michel Ancel (also the creator of Rayman, one of my favorite VG characters), is one of video gaming's true visionaries. Any of his games are at least worth a look, and BG&E is worth more than that.

One note of hope is the fact that it has happened in the past that games that didn't do well initially have gone on to become "cult classics" and actually spawned sequels! Maybe this can happen with this great, overlooked game.

The critics loved this game and so I thought I would buy it. In the end it was a rather good and original game. The only two problems I have with it is the fact it is too short and the ending is a bit lacking. The rest of the game is rather fun though and rather easy to pick up and varies as well. You control Jade, a gal who watches over these orphans at a lighthouse. Why are they orphans, well an alien race has come to this particular planet full of all sorts of weird aliens and is causing havoc by abducting its citizens and such. A military group is on the planet to protect it, but they seem to have issues as well. Well you must guide Jade through this planet searching for the truth and you even become a sort of photographer for a group committed to exposing the truth. So this for me was the best portion of the game as you must sneak in these facilities and take pictures. You are also awarded for taking pictures of the various alien life forms on the planet. You do some fighting, and it is rather easy to perform, but stealth also plays a key role in the game. You will also use a hovercraft to reach areas and win races and a spaceship late in the game. So there a various things to do. Still though it wraps up way to soon, and the ending doesn't really overwhelm. Still though, it is different from all the sequels and such that come massive waves.

****PLEASE NOTE**** It is not my intent to include spoilers of any great detail, if any at all. I apologize ahead of time for not clearly marking out anything that reveals any great detail about the game.

This game is a-maze-ing! There's really nothing bad I can say about it, aside from I find it too short, and mis-named. The game design is very unique, despite how it starts with an opening cut scene that leads into combat. And yet, the game is very little combat.

The script is well written, the musical score is amazing, the graphics and art are really top notch. A perfect blend of talents in all areas. This game definitely will not be for everyone, but for those who appreciate the value of what is practically an interactive novel, it should be picked up.

Beyond Good And Evil is about Jade and Pey'j having to come up with money to help keep the orphanage running. After their first job they stumble into a much more pressing matter which is to save planet Hillys.

The overall story is great and the mechanics to incorporate the companions works well. Each character is given a unique ability to help Jade on her journey. The background has a good beat so you will not want to turn off your volume just to enjoy the game. I certainly didn't find it bothersome in the slightest. Another plus doesn't spoon feed ways to solve the puzzles like they do today. It was a nice change to discover the mysteries on my own, instead of reading the bottom bar. Another addition that helps the overall game is being rewarded for taking pictures of the animal life in Hillys. It is a fun idea that really fits with the overall game as Jade takes pictures for evidence throughout.

The downside of this game falls mainly on combat and the camera. The combat controls are forgivable when it is one on one but when it comes to the main boss fight the inaccuracy really shows. I found myself being off slightly when I am standing right in front of the enemy. That gets frustrating against a group of bad guys. The main camera work also gets annoying during fight sequences as it doesn't rotate correctly, and I find myself having to use Jade's camera to turn myself around in battle. I also encountered the camera going behind walls so that was left in the dark during fights.

There are two more things, the Save Game option has a tendency to disappear. Always check when you start playing if you can save your game. It only occurred to me once in my play-through but it is just a word to the wise. Once you beat the game you can't go back so either obtain all the pearls before you travel, or keep an extra save.

This was an OK game but it definitely doesn't deserve the hype.

This is my second review on IMDb and its about this game that i have wanted to play for ages and finally have thanks to the wonders of psn that just recently gave out an HD version of Beyond good and evil.

In Beyond good and evil you play as a reporter named Jade who is investigating The alpha section. You see Jade lives on an planet called Hilleys which is under attack by aliens called the DomZ that abducted countless citizens and the Alpha section is in charge of putting a stop to all that. But they are always late to the scene of the crime and in short don't do much good. So Jade whose working for the resistance is investigating what the alpha section really is up to.

Gameplay: Beyond good and evil plays like a third person platformer more or less. Hilleys is mostly made up by small islands and a lot of water. So you use a boat to drive around to different islands where you are to complete different kinds of objectives. On foot Beyond good and evil pretty much plays like a third-person platformer. Jade jumps, uses a Caine and kung fu like moves to take out aliens, soldiers and other aggressive animals inhabiting Hilleys, the unique ingredient is the camera, which Jades uses to collect evidence on the suspicious activities surrounding the alpha section and also to photograph the animal life on Hilleys. there are also a few minigames like air hockey and so on. It all works very solid if a little stiff.

Graphic: HD version looks great and I'm guessing so did the original. with great character animations, environments, lighting and shadow effects. What I missed was the lack of facial expressions and the stiff lips. The voice actors did great job with the characters but the faces are just blank and dull to look at, this sort of ruined some key scenes for me.

Overall the game is pretty solid with good gameplay and nice characters that you follow on a nice adventure, why I am troubled as the headline says is because when I had finished the game I didn't feel anything. Many people have criticized this game for being to short but this is not the problem I believe. The problem is that when things are starting to become interesting and you're allowed to explore this planet it ends pretty fast and also the adventure that Jade goes on never seems that important and dangerous basically because it never gets hard to advance and the bosses, well you pretty much beat them on the first go. Its all very sad.

So I'm not like everyone else say that this game is underrated, I think its overrated. It had the making of greatness but alas didn't make it there, but perhaps the sequel will.

The year is 2435. Not Earth. The planet Hillys. The peaceful population is under sustained attack by the alien Domz. Forcefields help, although only if you can pay your bill on time. The Alpha Section troops are always showing up too late. The media claim otherwise, asking the pertinent question: what do you do when faced with authorities who let awful things happen, when reporters refuse to spread that fact, and physical harm coming to you and your loved ones? There is a conspiracy going on, and you have to uncover it. As a photographer, you will document it. You're not Rambo, setting explosives and destroying entire bases. You're Jade(Forrest, determined). And you'll be sneaking in, snapping shots, and let the people know what's going on. Admittedly, the more you understand what's going on, the less sense it makes, and the ending is a clichéd, twist-laden mess. Still, there is some good drama there. This does realize that kids can handle that, and scary material, as well. Some will find it too child-friendly. It helps that there's so much substance here.

You almost always work with a companion. Cooperation and friendship are among the values this promotes. You can go places they can't and vice versa. The reasonable puzzles require you to work together – you won't get far without utilizing each others considerable talents. I do wish that there wasn't a pause between you telling them to help and them doing so. It can mess up the timing, when, really, this is something that could have easily been avoided. In addition, you gain the ability to throw discs great distances, and this can be used as an attack whether your presence is known or not, and activate those of the countless switches that are far off. You'll take pictures of all animal life. Including, if you have nerves of steel, those about to smack you with something. Every species once, and you'll be paid well. The rarer, the better. As long as they're of high quality: not too far away, etc. And it does aid you in ensuring that, telling you exactly what failed, and giving an indicator of when it's right, and when it's not, what's wrong about it. This includes the humanoid ones that you live among. You're encouraged to recognize that they look, sound and sometimes behave different from you, yet also that they're helpful, competent and, like you, they belong.

This mixes different types of addictive action-adventure gameplay well, each is fun, well-done, gradually increases in challenge and appropriate in amount. Don't get me wrong, the difficulty can be uneven, and spikes at bosses. The climax will seem impossible until you get the hang of it. While the accessible nature of this, and its easy-to-learn controls, do sometimes lead it to feel too simple, they make great use of all of these elements to keep throwing different situations at you that you can maneuver via your skills and tools. The minigames and racing can be annoying, yes. They can also be ignored, provided you do well enough elsewhere. The latter especially feels right out of a licensed title, much like the terrible third person camera. Ironically, when it locks your view and forces you to adapt the directional keys since they change with it, it's at its best. When you have to turn it yourself, it will try your patience. The platforming has you climbing and jumping ledges.

The stealth is line-of-sight based. You're waiting for soldiers to turn and/or move away, so you can pass unseen, behind them, blocking their view with crates on conveyor belts and the like. Them spotting you first due to poor design choices are the only real problem with this aspect. It's tremendously satisfying to clear an area, to finally be able to defeat the guards by breaking their air supply sending this previously very real threat pathetically floating off, etc. The only settings being factories and caves, particularly the former, do end up a tad boring. Some of these culminate in you running away, avoiding the dangers behind you, very thrilling.

Combat has been called the weakest element, pointing to how light it is. Hardly. I find the unreliable dodge function to be its biggest fault... not sending you in the right distance, direction, sometimes not launching you at all. It's a minimal version of that of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, based on the same engine. You'll be somersaulting between foes that are a bit apart from each other and you, can easily switch which one you're facing and hitting, and you have a radial charge. This is also where you not being alone, in this singleplayer piece, comes in very handy. With help, you can instakill, even using evil robots to disable electrical barriers in your path.

Your hovercraft will take you almost anywhere you can go in this, and when you've earned it, your interstellar spaceship will close that last gap. Fire at anything in front of you, either rapidly at the center of the screen, or hold down to automatically target. It does allow friendly fire, for some reason. And it tends to go for things that aren't close before the ones that are, which makes regenerating mine fields, further worsened by the seafaring vessels bouncy nature, an irritant. This can seem too open, given that the map does not list major areas of interest. You have to online for that, which shouldn't be necessary. Unfortunately you can't play on after completion, which would have fit the otherwise partial similarity to Grand Theft Auto, and given it replay value. Honestly, I do think I'll return to this. It took me 11 and a half hours, and I did not go for every collectible.

There is mild violence in this. I recommend it to any fan of the genres it covers, young and old alike. It will make you think, care, and it did not deserve to bomb. 6/10