bit-tech Shopping: UbiSoft Beyond Good and Evil (GC)

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2

Strengths: Unique gameplay mechanics, solid graphics

Weaknesses: Camera is a little glitchy

Summary: Playing as Jade, you're out to save the world from evil, one photograph at a time. The most fascinating thing about this game so far is the photography. You earn money/credits by taking pictures of all the wildlife in the world and submitting it to a periodical. This is presumably a part of the gamplay for the extent of the game though I haven't played far enough to know. This facet almost brings on the air of a shooter, only your gun is a camera. Otherwise it remains a fairly standard third-person platformer, with some interesting elements that set it apart from the rest. Not to mention the fun characters present.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1

Strengths: (1) Great, unique story (2) Various, well integrated styles of gameplay (3) Well developed characters immerse you into the universe

Weaknesses: (1) Does not display in Progressive Scan so it won't look as nice on a HDTV

Summary: Beyond Good and Evil is exactly the kind of game I wish more developers would produce. The best thing about this game is the depth of the characters and story - just about everything you do in the game drives the story. Beyond Good and Evil really feels like an interactive, animated adventure. You'll do everything from piloting vehicles and battle invading aliens with your staff, to taking pictures of resident flora and fauna that are being wiped out by the invasion. The main character, Jade, starts out as a upstart journalist, and as such, taking pictures is a constant objective throughout your adventure. As you begin to gather photographs and evidence against the government, you will see a change of political climate within the world's inhabitants as their eyes are opened to the real state of affairs. I bought this game at full price when it came out and it has been worth every penny. I really enjoy the experience it delivers. You should be able to find this one going for a lot less money now, I would whole heartedly recommend it as a purchase.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Years

Strengths: Everything

Weaknesses: Short. Fighting isn't as it exciting as it could be.

Summary: Beyond Good and Evil illustrates what is wrong with games today. A beautiful game, with compelling mature content, and a strong female lead. So of course it proceeds to bomb. Beyond Good and Evil is a game the delves into cultural issues and what constitutes freedom and our relationship with government. Jade is an orphan in a futuristic world that is inhabited by both humans and anthropomorphic animals. This world is often under attack by aliens and the government has instituted "protections" in the form of harsh restrictions on the people. There is a rebel element that is fighting back against this government. The game takes you from a small incursion by the aliens to questioning what involvement both Jade and the government have with them. Graphics, in particular the style and design used here is a real breath of fresh air. Instead of trying for a realistic style like 99% of other games on the market, BG&E gos for a more artistic mode of design. This lends itself to a beautiful, believable and immersive world. Sound is equally great. The music is of special note, as there are several varied and memorable tunes. Mammago's reggae beat, Propaganda in the Akuda Bar are two of the best. The voices of all the characters are perfect, as are the excellent sound effects. The game follows the Zelda games in play style. The occasional fight thrown int between the creative puzzles. More often than not Jade's best course of action is avoiding fights via stealth. Much of the game involves Jade's profession as a photographer, gathering intelligence and proof so that she can expose the conspiracy. She will have to travel around the living world of BG&E and meet with members of the rebellion and government. The game also has the occasional racing and table hockey moment thrown in to break up the adventure play. Beyond Good and Evil is a rarity in a world of cookie cutter games based on movies and comics. The game is neither graphic nor salacious. It features a strong female lead character, one that is not a bundle 44 dds and violence. It breaks the mold of what is commonly referred to as a mature game dealing with adult issues like abandonment, liberty, the responsibility of a free press, and government, instead of violence, crude humor and overexposed flesh. Instead of the ever constant race towards realism in graphics, BG&E reaches for vision instead of replication. The gameplay itself isn't particular innovative, but BG&E uses the framework of a Zelda style game to play out a compelling story and game. Games like BG&E aim higher and so should all games.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 20 Months

Strengths: Immersive world; gorgeous, stylized graphics; incorporates many gameplay styles without any of them feeling forced or awkward; Story, characters, and voice acting are all outstanding

Weaknesses: it ends before you want it to end!

Summary: Within minutes of playing Beyond Good & Evil, I was sucked in by the immersive environents, a convincing ambient soundscape, and impressive stylized visuals (which I found very reminiscent of the film "Titan A.E," another financial failure that I happen to love). Early in the game, there was a key moment where I was walking around the home of Jade, the games protagonist. As I talked to the creatures living in her house, took a walk outside through the grass and stood on the edge of a cliff to admire the night sky, I had a feeling I was in for something special. Indeed, when playing BG&E, you become familiar with and begin to care for the places and people in this world, so there is a real sense of peril involved when the plot begins to escalate and things get more threatening.The core gameplay is sort of a fusion between Metal Gear Solid and Pokemon Snap - an unconventional combination that works surprisingly well. Jade uses her camera to gather evidence of a government conspiracy (often using MGS-style infiltration techniques), which drives most of the story. But she'll also be taking pictures of wildlife, since she's a freelance photographer and that's how she makes money.Along the way you'll meet some memorable characters, explore exotic locales, and find yourself in some genuinely tense action sequences. The resulting adventure is very rewarding, with tight gameplay all the way through. The only problem is that you'll wish it all lasted longer. The adventure - grand as it is - is over all too quickly! Still, it is an adventure well worth taking - and considering the cheap pricetag the game has by now, you owe it to yourself to give it a look!

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2 Months

Strengths: Unique storyline supported by excellent adventure and puzzle solving gameplay, excellent graphics and some good music

Weaknesses: Somewhat short, controls are just a bit twitchy, the ending is lacking, leaves much unanswered.

Summary: Beyond Good and Evil is a highly recommended, surprisingly unknown action/adventure game. The basic adventure involves a mix of collecting items, snapping photos of creatures, and solving puzzles, with some decent combat thrown in as well. The best feature of this game, though, is the surprisingly serious storyline. Although many of the game's characters are humorously designed, they become involved in a plot which includes everything from the issues of media censorship and bias to government control and conspiracy. It's a shame that great games like these are often overlooked in favor of the latest sports rehash or tired sequel.