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Excellent, but sometimes tedious like an rpg. | | A gamer from Tacoma, WA, USA says (17/Dec/2003): | Some games are for the quick fix easy satisfaction gamers. Others are for the long-term gamers, like most rpg's, that require that one spend at least 20 hours building up their character's attributes before being able to do anything significant (the type of game I use a cheat cartridge on--I hate wasting time doing medial tasks for hours on end just so I can see the rest of a game).
This game is somewhere inbetween. It starts out like a quick fix game, giving me satisfaction at least every half-hour in being able to accomplish something, and then it slowly becomes more and more tedious as it becomes a game of trying to get enough money (pearls) so I can finally buy the item that lets me get past a laser-border that blocks me from getting to most of the game. If they would have allowed for more bartering and doing tasks to directly get the tools I need vs. always having to tediously get pearls to buy everything, I would feel differently.
The graphics are superb, the way the cinema scenes blend right into playing the game is phenomenal, and the way the game does not force you into doing everything in a particular order is great.
If it wasn't for the "Mario64 you need 20 more stars" aspect of the game, I'd rate it a 10.
| A Refreshingly Original and Fantastic Game | | GawdDawgs from Omaha, NE, USA says (1/Dec/2003): | Beyond Good and Evil is the newest game by Ray-Man creator Michel Ancel. But unlike the Ray-Man series (which I am unfamiliar with), BG&E is quite an epic adventure. Rumor has it that BG&E is a lot like the 3D Zelda games for Gamecube, but I cannot attest to this because I have not played any of those games. But if you, the reader, has, then you might know what you can sort of expect with this title. With that said:
Story: 10/10
You are Jade, a freelance photographer who lives with a bunch of orphans, along with your adoptive Uncle named Pey'j (pronounced Page, who is a gruff talking pig mechanic) that lives on a planet called Hillys. Hyllis is under attack by a brutal alien race called the Domz, and the planet is being somewhat protected by a government agency known as the Alpha Force. But there is a conspiracy behind the government, and Jade receives a mission into trying to expose this conspiracy. The story is quite epic as Jade goes on her quests and battles the aliens to help save her planet. And while not giving too much of the story away, the significance of the title of the game becomes evident as the events in the story unfold. It is quite an epic adventure that is filled with some heavy themes and very emotional characters and events. A great story that always kept my interest.
There are quite a few cutscenes, but they never hinder the gaming experience. Also, Ubi Soft decided to make the game fully in letter box format to help save on load times and to make the game feel seamlessly cinematic.
Gameplay: 10/10
This game is a lot of fun to play. It is an action adventure style of gameplay, filled with puzzles, fighting, bosses, and even stealth. One of the main and unique aspects to BG&E's gameplay is the use of Jade's camera. You obviously have to use this to take pictures of certain things to expose the government for missions, but you can also use your photography skills to earn money, or in this case, credit. You can take pictures of exotic animals on the planet and turn them in to get yourself some Hillys credits. Getting credits is essential, for you can buy health tokens and other useful things to help you along on your adventures. The control of the camera, as well as zooming in and out is implemented wonderfully into the gameplay. I had a lot of fun with this game just trying to search out for these exotic animals to take pictures of them, as well as using the camera for story purposes.
The fighting in BG&E is really straight forward and very easy to pull off. It's not very diverse or complicated at all, but there are some combos you can pull off and other cool things. The combos aren't essential, but they're there. You also only have one weapon, to two, weapons - the main one being your Dai-Jo staff, which is basically a powerful staff to wack your enemies with, and later on in the game you'll get this glove that shoots laser discs out. The glove is mainly used for hitting hard to reach switches though. While the fighting isn't what the gameplays main focus is on, it is still very very fun.
There's also stealth elements in BG&E. Now, trust me when I say this: the stealth element in this game could have been very, very annoying, but it is actually done really well. I actually found the stealth aspects to be pretty fun, sometimes challenging, and it is often times a puzzle in itself. It's not trying to be Splinter Cell or Metal Gear Solid by any means, but the element is still there and quite essential to the gameplay and the story. The stealth , just like all other aspects of the gameplay, is done remarkably.
There are quite a few bosses and enemies in the game. While the bosses aren't really difficult at all, they're also not very easy either. Some of the bosses put up a really good fight and even require that you practice a bit first.
Another important aspect to the gameplay is the use of your team. Throughout the game, you'll have at least 1, sometimes 2 partners that will ally with you. They will aid you in combat and even more so during puzzle situations. They have their own unique special move that you can command upon a Triangle prompt when it's available. For example, if you need a gate cut open, a triangle prompt will appear under the NPC's health bar/icon and you can call over Pey'j to cut it down for you. The NPC's also have unique personalities and never really get on your nerves. Only in rare occasions do they ever get in the way.
You'll also have an inventory to observe and use different items. From here, you can also give and exchange items that your NPC team mates have as well.
On a final note for this games such diverse gameplay, is the use of your hovercraft. You will be doing a lot of travel by water in your hovercraft to explore different parts of the planet to go on your missions. You can get upgrades for your hovercraft as well, like stronger guns and other upgrades. Upgrading your vehicle requires a different source for money though - crystals. There are a lot of crystals to find throughout the game that you'll be using quite frequently to upgrade. The hovercraft is not the only vehicle you'll be driving, but I won't give the rest of it away.
There are also a few mini games to play that are actually really fun. There's an air hockey type of game, as well as hovercraft racing. At one point you will have to enter a race to find a secret area. The mini games are surprisingly fun and are worth playing more than once.
BG&E isn't entirely linear either. You can take a break from the main quests to search out for crystals or rare animal photographs or to play some mini games. You can even gamble in parts of the game. It's really quite an experience.
Save points are frequent and often, and there's even a map for each area that tells you where save points are located (as well as pearls and rare animals to photograph if you purchase the special detectors from a vendor)
In short, the gameplay in BG&E is astounding.
Graphics: 10/10
By far, one of the most beautiful games I have ever played on the PS2, or any system for that matter. The water effects are done marvelously when driving in your hover craft. The character models look wonderfully done, and the games overall atmosphere is very pleasing to the eyes. There aren't any frame rate problems or clippings really either. And unlike a lot of most modern action/adventure titles, I never came across a ''fall through the floor into a void'' type of scenario either, or any glitches for that matter. BG&E has wonderful graphics!
Sound/Audio: 10/10
The game has some great voice actors and some great music that really sets the mood of the game. Even during stealth moments, the music changes to fit the mood properly.
Controls: 10/10
Very straight forward, never goofy or difficult.
Replayability: 7/10
Once you beat the game, you might want to go back and collect all of the pearls and rare animal pictures, as well as maybe play some of the fun mini games. Other than that though, the game does not have a whole lot of replay value, but I can definitely see myself playing this game again in a few months or so just because of how fun it is and how beautiful it is to look at, as well as a really good story to tell.
Final Thoughts
I am very pleased with just about every aspect of Beyond Good and Evil. However, the only major bad thing I can say about it is that the game is surprisingly short. It's roughly about only 10 hours or so, which in a lot of peoples eyes is only a ''renter.'' I bought it, and was not disappointed by it at all, except that the game is finished too quickly, and the love for the characters really starts to develop when suddenly the game is over. The game's story doesn't drag on longer than it should, or anything of that sort, but the game is very short, and in my eyes, BG&E gets dropped a whole point because of this. But if you're even remotely interested in Beyond Good and Evil and you either buy it or rent it, you will not be disappointed. Beyond Good and Evil is a wonderful experience that is refreshingly original.
| its ok | | Kevin from California, USA says (27/Nov/2003): | Beyond good and evil was a great game. Pretty good graphics and story. But the only thing that i though was bad about the game is that battling gets sorta boring after awhile because you do the same moves over and over. Otherwise, it was pretty cool. It is sorta like The Legend of Zelda for the N64.
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