Beyond Good and Evil

It's hard to call Beyond Good and...

Strengths: One of the best storylines and cinematics of recent memory, very interesting characters, great graphics and sound, good action, interesting spin on an action title, almost like acting in a movie

Weakness: None

It's hard to call Beyond Good and Evil a game, it's more like an interactive movie for all of what is packaged together. A game with one of the most interesting and deep storylines that has been put out in quite some time is the highlight of this game, with many levels of plot and intrigue. It's not a pure action title, with one part of the game involving snapping pictures of the local wildlife,...
Read Full Review

It's hard to call Beyond Good and Evil a game, it's more like an interactive movie for all of what is packaged together.

A game with one of the most interesting and deep storylines that has been put out in quite some time is the highlight of this game, with many levels of plot and intrigue. It's not a pure action title, with one part of the game involving snapping pictures of the local wildlife, as the main character is a photographer, and it earns her money to do so, almost like Pokemon Snap in some ways. Her partner in this adventure helps her out to solve some of the puzzles and help out in combat, which adds depth to the weight of of the game.

The graphics and sound are top-notch, easily some of the best in recent memory, almost cinematic in their quality, adding to the feel of being in an interactive movie. The action flows from personal combat to vehicle combat to photography and on and on from there. It all works together for an amazing interactive experience. Voice acting is a key part of the immersion in this game world, and it all works together perfectly.

It's hard to classify this title as one specific kind of game, since it covers so many different aspects of play. Without question, it is one of the most impressive and unique games that has come out for some time, and all types of gamers should like some of this title to learn to appreciate the other parts of the game. Well worth the money, without question.

By shrike424242 - Sep 23, 2004

I enjoyed this game overall....

Strengths: Quirky characters, compelling story

Weakness: Not as great as everyone says it is.

I enjoyed this game overall. Sections were a little boring, and there is one really annoying boss type of battle where you have to launch your boat up in the air and shoot at this giant worm- it took me over 45 minutes to beat it (in one try). The levels are interesting, but not terribly memorable. I loved the idea of finding things to photograph for money- that was a lot of fun- but the overall...
Read Full Review

I enjoyed this game overall. Sections were a little boring, and there is one really annoying boss type of battle where you have to launch your boat up in the air and shoot at this giant worm- it took me over 45 minutes to beat it (in one try).

The levels are interesting, but not terribly memorable. I loved the idea of finding things to photograph for money- that was a lot of fun- but the overall game was simply ok.

By wpbgwm - Jun 3, 2004

Great game, great price.

Strengths: It's satisfying, fun, intriguing... and cheap.

Weakness: Not too long; meant to be the start of a trilogy that will likely never be finished.

For some reason, Beyond Good and Evil just didn't sell. Maybe it's because Ubi never advertised it, or because it doesn't contain recognizable characters. Still, this Zelda-with-photography adventure is a lot of fun, and got universally great reviews. This is one of them. And since the game was a failure sales-wise, you can find it way cheaper than it should be. Buy it.

By mkelehan - Sep 6, 2005

Really good, but not great

Strengths: Good storyline, good controls, lots of variety

Weakness: Pretty short, there probably won't be a sequel

Beyond Good & Evil is perhaps the best Zelda-clone of all time. Ubi Soft has taken all the things that make the Zelda games great and thrown them into a new universe. The game is set in a futuristic society where a large corporation/government is trying to gain complete control. Your character's name is Jade and you are a reporter set on exposing the conspiracies that are leading to the...
Read Full Review

Beyond Good & Evil is perhaps the best Zelda-clone of all time. Ubi Soft has taken all the things that make the Zelda games great and thrown them into a new universe.

The game is set in a futuristic society where a large corporation/government is trying to gain complete control. Your character's name is Jade and you are a reporter set on exposing the conspiracies that are leading to the enslavement of the world. In order to do this, you must explore a large overworld in your hovercraft vehicle looking for various areas to search out on foot.

Once out of your hovercraft, you can interact with the locals and learn clues to further your quest. There are various items available to increase your character's health and to power-up the hovercraft. You can earn cash to buy these upgrades by taking pictures of the local wildlife. This may not sound that exciting, but it's actually pretty fun to try and find and snap pictures of all the animals. Along with the animals, you will also meet up with a few companions during your travels. These companions can be very helpful in battle and in solving puzzles.

The combat is very simple, but effective. Jade has a staff-like weapon that she can use to block and attack (all with one-button). Most of the game isn't centered around combat though, but rather exploration. There are several stealth missions and a lot of puzzles to figure out as well. There are even some hovercraft races and battles thrown in for good measure.

The only downfall of the game is that it can be beaten fairly quickly. You will probably speed right through this thing in 6 to 8 hours and there really isn't any replay value after that.

Overall, I would highly recommend this game to anyone looking for a Zelda-type game. It's not as great as some would tell you, but it is an extremely good game in a genre that is under-represented.

By shipwreck1 - Aug 9, 2005

Great game to pick up for the...

Strengths: Good Story Line and Gameplay. Graphics

Weakness: Limited Replayability. Not too long.

Great game to pick up for the Xbox. There's really nothing else on the Xbox which can compare. The game has outstanding graphics (Prince of Persia used the same graphics engine), a great storyline which grabs you and has a nice blend of humor as well. The game has some Zelda-esque qualities to it which will make you want to keep playing it until you finish. The game isn't very long, but...
Read Full Review

Great game to pick up for the Xbox. There's really nothing else on the Xbox which can compare. The game has outstanding graphics (Prince of Persia used the same graphics engine), a great storyline which grabs you and has a nice blend of humor as well. The game has some Zelda-esque qualities to it which will make you want to keep playing it until you finish. The game isn't very long, but considering the bargain prices which you can find this game if you look around, this is a real sleeper hit.

By mick16 - Jul 5, 2005