Beyond Good and Evil is one of those exceedingly rare games where everything works. It's visuals, music, voice acting, design, fast pacing, warmth and even its relatively short length all work to its advantage, creating what may be destined to be a cult classic. Though none of its gameplay elements, or its story elements ever approach a particularly high level of complexity, each is executed superbly, and self-sufficient in its own right in this incredibly experience. You are cast in the role of Jade. She's an action-reporter, who doubles as a caretaker to orphans, who had their parents taken away by the DomZ. The DomZ are staging an invasion on Hillys, and as a result of their devastating attacks, the people of Hillys have come to rely on the mysterious armed forces known as the Alpha Sections. As the game progresses, you will come to understand the truth behind this situation, and the simple, but interesting conspiracy keeps the game interesting throughout. Moreso, Beyond Good and Evil also sports a small, but likeable cast of character. Jade is a really solid protagonist, and her good nature is charming. Her relationship with her "uncle" Pey'j, who appears to be some sort of pig man, gives the game a lot of emotion, and their affection for each other, as sort of the only family either has, is entirely winning. Double H, an agent for the organization that you join, is also a likeable character, as his loyalty, and straightforward thinking makes him enjoyable company. These characters, and the events in Beyond Good and Evil don't make up a particularly complex tale, but by the end of the game, you really do care about what happens to Jade, Pey'j, Double H, and all of Hillys. It's commendable for the emotional involvement that Beyond Good and Evil gets you to commit to its fairy tale. As much as the game is about plot, the atmosphere of the game really helps it along. You will explore several places over the course of the game, and although the overall world is small, each area evokes the appropriate mood, drawing you further into the game. A lot of this has to do with the game's excellent sense of ambiance. Voiced lines will occur during gameplay, sound effects are used to good effect, and music as well as silence are both used really appropriately. Beyond Good and Evil draws you in. Beyond Good and Evil also makes you play, but the gameplay, is fortunately consistently good. Over the course of the game, you will fight, explore, race and fight in a watercraft, solve puzzles, sneak, snap photographs, and play a mini-game or two. None of these elements are hugely deep, but since Beyond Good and Evil is such a tightly paced game, and these elements are all used to good effect, the game never overuses any of them. Each element is compelling in its own right. Combat is shallow, but cool looking, but not used particularly often throughout the game. Puzzles are simple, entertaining, and well integrated. Your watercraft is used for racing, a couple of fights, and even an interesting puzzle solving sequence. Snapping photographs are often critical parts of your mission, and can also done in order to earn some extra cash. Stealth is by far the most common element in the game, and also the deepest. You usually just have to observe enemy patterns, and deal with them appropriately. Although, more often than not, you can simply attack. These things might otherwise overwhelm a game, but since the control scheme is so simple and intuitive, they all control well, and are almost instantly playable. The graphics and sound are also really good. The game has a distinct style that is exaggerated in the way of a cartoon, but still relatively serious. The engine behind the game is also pretty good from a technical standpoint, and visuals are usually pretty top-notch. The music is really good, some tracks more than others, and silence is actually used to the game's advantage at times. Furthermore, the sound effects are used well, and the voice acting is truly outstanding, as all the main actors deliver convincing, and emotional performances. Beyond Good and Evil is a game that mixes gameplay elements to good effect with its emotionally compelling storyline, and the result is extremely appealing. Though short in length, the quickly paced experience of solid and varied gameplay mixed with one of the most interesting stories in recent memory results in a game that is destined to be remembered by those who play it. Elegant in a way few other games can match, Beyond Good and Evil is worth playing to anyone who enjoys a good story, or enjoyable action-adventure.
Games pertaining to the action/adventure genre have been continuously produced ever since 3-D gaming was born, after all if there is one thing a tridimensional scenario claims for is deep exploration, with a few action s... Read Full Review
The planet is Hillys. There seems to be a problem because a group called the DomZ are attacking the planet putting the innocent population in danger. The Hillys troops can’t seem to keep things in control so this is wher... Read Full Review
