1. NerdRage85

   10

   If you haven't played the original on the PS2, or Gamecube this is a must buy. For $10.00 this is a steal. I recommend this game to anyone who likes action games. It's a few years old but it doesn't feel dated. Only thing that still bugs me is the camera. This is a GREAT classic game at a GREAT price. Download today!… Expand

   • Helpful? 4 of 4 users said Yes.
2. Kranitoko

   8

   This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Beyond Good and Evil was released all the way back in 2003 on the Xbox, PC, PS2 and Gamecube. Sadly, it did not sell well, but a sequel was still announced. Beyond Good and Evil HD is like a second chance for the game, hoping to slightly boost the fan base ready for its sequel. Now personally, I never played this when it first came out, so it was a totally new experience to me.
   
   Set in the year 2435 on the planet known as Hillys, you first meet Jade, a woman who usually dresses in green (get it? Jade?). She looks after orphans, whose parents were killed by the DomZ. Jade is also in charge of bringing up the shield to protect the area from the DomZ. But she is out of money, so the shield can not go up, meaning Hillys is free to being attacked. When it is attacked, the DomZ attack Jade and speaks to her in a weird way. That's where Pey'j comes in, an anthropomorphic pig, who comes in and saves her. Once the DomZ is destroyed, Jade is in a bad situation. She is out of money and wonders how long she'll be able to protect the orphans for. She then learns about a job of being a photographer, and taking photos of the creatures of the planets before they suddenly may be wiped out by the DomZ. She is then asked to undergo some missions from the IRIS network, as they believe that the Alpha Sections are working with the DomZ, and ask Jade to find out the truth.
   
   The story is rather confusing to understand at first, and the ending will certainly confuse you, but as you think the story through, you'll get it in the end. Nowadays, stories are usually a lot more complex, so it's good that we've gone back to a time where stories made a little more sense.
   
   The game is free roam (Ubisoft is usually known for it's free-roam games) and you travel around using your Hovercraft. The way your defeat your enemies is by using your staff. The way you make money is by taking pictures of animals found all over Hillys. As you progress through the game, you pick up Pearls, which help you receive upgrade for your Hovercraft. Before you think you can avoid these upgrades, every one of them is crucial in some aspect. When you lose health, you need to use food to regain it again (it does not automatically replenish itself. Sorry). The two types of food you use are a "Starkos", which replenishes 1 heart, and "K-Bups", which replenish all your health. Hidden around Hillys are PA-1's, which increase your total health by one, and usually replenishing all lost health at the time of finding a PA-1, so if you are on one heart of health and no food, you better hope there is a PA-1 around the corner.
   
   There are quite a few boss fights, and no doubt there will be some which will make you want to destroy your controller. In order to get to those bosses, you have to make your way through a series of puzzles, which could take you up to 15 minutes on what to do next, so you really need to be patient with the game. I did also encounter a couple of bugs. Sometimes I got stuck in a wall for a few seconds, or it would look as if I was glued to the floor before I could start moving again. There was also a huge lack in fighting abilities. All you could really do is press X to fight, and then hold X for a charged attack.
   
   But fighting isnâ… Expand

   • Helpful? 0 of 0 users said Yes.
3. drlowdon

   7

   Originally released back in 2004 to critical acclaim but underwhelming sales word of mouth eventually lead to a cult following and a HD rerelease via Xbox live in 2011. Fortunately Beyond Good and Evil still largely stands up.
   
   Taking on the role of Jade, a photojournalist, the player is pulled into a political uprising on an Earth-like planet called Hillys. Joined by her uncle, Pey'j (who for some reason is an actual pig) the two soon join an underground resistance group hoping to discover the truth behind an alien threat known as the DomZ as well as the Alpha Section who are supposedly charged with protecting the population.
   
   In terms of gameplay comparisons can certainly be made with the Zelda series with the main game world providing access to dungeon like areas. These dungeons are fairly inventive and involve a good mix of combat, exploration and (sometimes overly long) stealth sections. Being a photojournalist Jade is also armed with a camera that can be used to take pictures of the wildlife and enemies found within the game. This provides currency that can be used to purchase items and upgrades. Semi-Optional side quests such as hover craft racing also provide entertaining distractions from the main game and are a good way of earning 'pearls'. These can be traded at the local garage to add the improvements to your hovercraft that allow you to access new areas of the game world.
   
   Being a seven year old game there are of course problems, the biggest being the camera controls. It has been marginally improved on the Xbox live version but which ever iteration you play you are sure to spend significant time wrestling to get the right perspective. The in game map is also not as helpful as it could be, particularly in dungeons, meaning that you will find more than a few occasions where you are not quite sure where you should be going.
   
   These flaws are far from game destroying however and the in the end the games charm easily shines through. Don't miss out a second time as good sales could see the much anticipated sequel finally arrive.… Expand

   • Helpful? 0 of 0 users said Yes.
4. rathowreck

   4

   Definitely belongs to the last era of action adventure games. Heavily reminded me of Jak & Daxter and Starfox Adventures. The HD is crisp but of course lacking any next gen texture. The controls are clunky and the camera simply refused to give me a good view of the action at times. My game also froze once or twice. I can see why the Beyond Good & Evil was hailed as ahead of its time for creating endearing characters and a story that belies its cartoonish style, but ultimately I wouldn't recommend a purchase. A rental of the original would suffice for those (me!) who wanted to see what all the critical fuss was all about.… Expand

   • Helpful? 1 of 9 users said Yes.

See all 22 User Reviews