Review
Played on: Xbox 360Released: 2011
Original release: 2003 (PS2, GC, Xbox & PC)
I can't quite put my finger on it, but Beyond Good & Evil is probably one of my favourite games of all time. While it may not do all it's smaller, sometimes quirky, but hugely entertaining gameplay elements perfectly, crossing numerous genres along the way, it's the whole package that delivers a fantastic result.
It's all these ideas, clearly inspired by other popular releases up until its original release, combined with a great story, colourful characters and incredible art style set in a beautiful coastal area, that blends into a unforgettable experience. Extremely few titles truly master the art of combining gameplay styles and crossing genres successfully and BG&E stands out as one of the top at it's class doing so.
BG&E, Ubisoft's sleeper hit of 2003, was released on Gamecube, PlayStation 2 and PC simultaneously. The latter two were the ones I played and loved back in their day. Although it wasn't initially the hit the company had wished for, selling disappointingly under a million copies, it was directed by the french developer behind the critically acclaimed Rayman series; Michel Ancel. Sales aside, it became a cult hit among gamers and is fondly remembered.
The strong female lead, Jade, became an iconic gaming figure even without huge sales behind her or being sexualized like the famous Lara Croft. It's cult popularity paved way for a HD remaster in 2011 on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, speculated to be in preparation for a sequel that was teased around the time of it's release. A sequel which has turned out to be on indefinite hold until recently, going into a pre-production stage.
This HD remaster runs impressively in 1080p@60 fps, a nice visual treat for last-gen consoles and is backwards compatible on the Xbox One. The latter giving me a perfect excuse to replay it and write down some thoughts!
BG&E is an action adventure, basing itself on a sandbox styled world, with a small free-roaming layout of a seaside city. The player controls Jade, an iconic green dressed photographer with dark and short hair. She resides at a lighthouse for orphan children, ran by herself and a pig called Pey'j, whom is an inventor of sorts.
BG&E, Ubisoft's sleeper hit of 2003, was released on Gamecube, PlayStation 2 and PC simultaneously. The latter two were the ones I played and loved back in their day. Although it wasn't initially the hit the company had wished for, selling disappointingly under a million copies, it was directed by the french developer behind the critically acclaimed Rayman series; Michel Ancel. Sales aside, it became a cult hit among gamers and is fondly remembered.
The strong female lead, Jade, became an iconic gaming figure even without huge sales behind her or being sexualized like the famous Lara Croft. It's cult popularity paved way for a HD remaster in 2011 on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, speculated to be in preparation for a sequel that was teased around the time of it's release. A sequel which has turned out to be on indefinite hold until recently, going into a pre-production stage.
This HD remaster runs impressively in 1080p@60 fps, a nice visual treat for last-gen consoles and is backwards compatible on the Xbox One. The latter giving me a perfect excuse to replay it and write down some thoughts!
BG&E is an action adventure, basing itself on a sandbox styled world, with a small free-roaming layout of a seaside city. The player controls Jade, an iconic green dressed photographer with dark and short hair. She resides at a lighthouse for orphan children, ran by herself and a pig called Pey'j, whom is an inventor of sorts.
I simply adore the setting of this lighthouse, perfectly captivating a soothing and beautiful seaside location on a small island. The sunset which Jade admires in a yoga-like position in the intro, looking out towards the sea with the wind blowing gently in a huge tree on a cliff and seagulls flying above, really sets a unique mood. It's perhaps one of the most memorable and beautiful openings through all my years of gaming.
The tranquillity quickly ends though, as an alien race called the DomZ attacks the lighthouse. The DomZ are notorious for abducting people. Repelling the attack, working as a neat combat tutorial, Jade and Pey'j head out in the small world of the Hilly's to explore what's really going on.
The tranquillity quickly ends though, as an alien race called the DomZ attacks the lighthouse. The DomZ are notorious for abducting people. Repelling the attack, working as a neat combat tutorial, Jade and Pey'j head out in the small world of the Hilly's to explore what's really going on.
They learn that the Alpha Sections, an army division of sorts, who supposedly protect the civilians against the DomZ, control the city and warn people of a resistance group called the Iris Network. This secret rebel group, is something that Jade will become very familiar with. It's a simple story on the surface, but becomes deep and quite dark as you unravel what's going on.
Leaving the lighthouse island introduces the player to the main means of transportation through the open world; a hovercraft boat. This hovercraft will take you to shops, a small city and the main locations throughout the story. It's a neat way of traversing the distances between areas you can explore on foot. You can even participate in some racing with the hovercraft too!
The main part of the gameplay is controlling Jade on foot in third person though. Puzzle solving and taking photographic evidence of either wildlife, every creature can be documented through photos, or spying on the DomZ along the way. This game seemed to arrive in a time where photographing in game was kind of a thing, remember Tecmo's Fatal Frame/Project Zero series for instance?! However, it's done neatly in BG&E and never forces it upon the player, though I'd strongly recommend using it to gain more pearls easily.
Engaging in combat will lock you to one enemy at the time, allowing you to circle them. Either deflecting and defending yourself or giving some fatal blows with your fighting stick. Combat flows nicely and feels just right, without ever throwing the player into endless amounts of enemies. Mostly though, you're awarded for using a stealthy approach. In fact, it's often required.
Leaving the lighthouse island introduces the player to the main means of transportation through the open world; a hovercraft boat. This hovercraft will take you to shops, a small city and the main locations throughout the story. It's a neat way of traversing the distances between areas you can explore on foot. You can even participate in some racing with the hovercraft too!
The main part of the gameplay is controlling Jade on foot in third person though. Puzzle solving and taking photographic evidence of either wildlife, every creature can be documented through photos, or spying on the DomZ along the way. This game seemed to arrive in a time where photographing in game was kind of a thing, remember Tecmo's Fatal Frame/Project Zero series for instance?! However, it's done neatly in BG&E and never forces it upon the player, though I'd strongly recommend using it to gain more pearls easily.
Engaging in combat will lock you to one enemy at the time, allowing you to circle them. Either deflecting and defending yourself or giving some fatal blows with your fighting stick. Combat flows nicely and feels just right, without ever throwing the player into endless amounts of enemies. Mostly though, you're awarded for using a stealthy approach. In fact, it's often required.
It's one of the few stealth experiences that I really enjoyed. Perhaps because its fairly easy to understand what you had done wrong and how you were spotted. Each stealth area needs to be memorised, but doing it wrong gives you an opportunity to escape and re-enter the room and try again. Without dying all the time it feels more rewarding to retry, perfecting your stealthy run through guarded rooms.
I really appreciate how BG&E cleverly disguises a deep story as a colourful one from the outside. Which perhaps gives people an impression that this is only a kids game. It shouldn't be mistaken for one though, as it's much darker than it initially it appears. The story takes some seriously unexpected turns along the way!
Sure, there are some downsides to BG&E, though nothing that dethrones it from being one of my favourites of all time. The controls for instance, especially how the camera works can be a bit confusing, even worse is that you cannot choose inverted controls. Luckily, playing this on the Xbox One I could invert the controls outside of the actual game.
I really appreciate how BG&E cleverly disguises a deep story as a colourful one from the outside. Which perhaps gives people an impression that this is only a kids game. It shouldn't be mistaken for one though, as it's much darker than it initially it appears. The story takes some seriously unexpected turns along the way!
Sure, there are some downsides to BG&E, though nothing that dethrones it from being one of my favourites of all time. The controls for instance, especially how the camera works can be a bit confusing, even worse is that you cannot choose inverted controls. Luckily, playing this on the Xbox One I could invert the controls outside of the actual game.
The rather abrupt ending too, leaves us with a longing to see more of how things went for everyone in the story. There's even a cliffhanger at the end of the credits, which I'll say is optional to view. Especially since a sequel has been so uncertain for years now.
BG&E stands out as succeeding with a lot of ideas and actually making them all work together, in such a way that it keeps entertaining you with variation throughout. The mix of an unexpected dark story and easy to learn gameplay, makes it an all-time classic. I get that it doesn't revolutionise any genres or pushes any limits of new gameplay elements, visual boundaries or incredible storytelling, but the combination of doing everything it offers so well, impresses me still.
The visuals have a beautiful art style that hold up surprisingly well so many years after release and render favourably in this high resolution version. It's about gaming returning to what gaming is about; enjoyable gameplay and being pulled into a fantasy world that tells a story you'll most likely remember for years to come.
BG&E stands out as succeeding with a lot of ideas and actually making them all work together, in such a way that it keeps entertaining you with variation throughout. The mix of an unexpected dark story and easy to learn gameplay, makes it an all-time classic. I get that it doesn't revolutionise any genres or pushes any limits of new gameplay elements, visual boundaries or incredible storytelling, but the combination of doing everything it offers so well, impresses me still.
The visuals have a beautiful art style that hold up surprisingly well so many years after release and render favourably in this high resolution version. It's about gaming returning to what gaming is about; enjoyable gameplay and being pulled into a fantasy world that tells a story you'll most likely remember for years to come.
A little short on length and content, and it's awkward camera, robs it of a full score, but make no mistake; you have to play this once in your life. It's one of the best game experiences made, a real classic. Or is that a cult classic considering sales?!
