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Wow.... Wow.... WOW~!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: October 07, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Two things: 1) It is sooooo sad that there is no sequel to this game out there to be found. 2) It's very hard to put into words my feelings about how great this game is. It is the best game that i've ever played, and among the 100+ games that I own, no other game has yet to make me as happy playing it more than Beyond Good and Evil has . I have 2 copies (one for game cube and one for x-box). Great story, beautiful graphics, nice action, wonderful music, and loads of fun. Sometimes it takes a lot to spend time and energy playing a game, but this is one game that's really worth it. I only hope that a sequel is made someday. It would be a shame if one wasn't.

Neglected Beauty

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: April 07, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Beyond Good & Evil is one of the best, yet most overlooked games available, however, those who have played it know exactly what everyone else is missing out on, a fantastic gaming experience.

Today's video game market is being flooded by the overflow of endless first person shooters and cookie cutter adventure games; Beyond Good & Evil is something fresh and unique. It combines elements from many different game genres. There is the stealth factor: Using Stealth to your advantage is essential to make any progress in the game and is very well executed - this is likely due to the fact that the game was created by Ubi, the developers of the ground breaking series of stealth action games - Splinter Cell. There is the action/fighting aspect in which you punish your enemies with Jade's Dai-Jo Staff techniques and tag team combo moves with the help of your friends Pey'j and Double H. This is somewhat reminiscent of Prince of Persia's fighting system, well done and very intuitive. Also on the list of features is the camera system; throughout the game Jade must use her trusty camera to capture intelligence for the Allied Resistance, this not only gives your allies info to work with in order to help you further, it also gets you paid so you can get supplies and upgrades. The graphics are not the very greatest you have ever seen but are well executed and work well with the style of the game.

Beyond Good & Evil is a truly fantastic game that you should certainly hunt down and play when there is a lapse in your list of must buy new releases. It's a bargain bin dweller so it may be a little difficult to get your hands on but it's worth the effort. Its unique style and easy learning curve make it accessible to children but its depth and ever-changing universe are enough to keep even the most jaded adult gamers engaged and thoroughly entertained.

This game is the BOMB!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I am not a hard core gamer, but do own over 50 xbox games, and this was one of the best I have ever played! The characters and story line are great! I have played many other highly touted games, i.e. Halo, Halo2 etc. and though different, this game ranks up there with the best! If you have never played it, I highly reccomend that you grab a copy and do! And since it is an older game now, you can also get a great price on it. I would rank this as one of the 5 best games that I have played in all time.

The good in gaming

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 21 / 22
Date: July 11, 2005
Author: Amazon User

So often we look for computer games that simulate, we forget about those that actually stiumulate. I'm as much of a fan of the movie tie-in or the sports franchise as the next gamer. But every once in a while a singular title, made with no guarantee of financial success, but simply because a few people had a genuinely creative thought, reaches out and demands attention.

Beyond Good and Evil seems, at first, the least likely candidate in the world for this. Its cover shows a girl not with a gun or a superhero's outfit, but a camera. And the drawing, though obviously professional, is clearly...cartoonish. It seems more like an anime adventure than a real game.

And, indeed, when you first start playing there's a lot of very odd anthropomorphic animals running around a kind of kids' playhouse. You discover that you'll make money in the game by taking pictures of the wildlife. It's all very tame, and very unlike the traditional game.

At one point you walk into a room where a news broadcast is being received, and then you get an inkling, just a mere hint, that things in this cartoony, almost idyllic, world you're in are maybe--just possibly--a little more sinister than you first thought it was.

And then all hell breaks loose.

From there on those strange creatures you first encountered become allies, your camera becomes a key to unravelling the truth of what's going on in the propaganda war around you, and the game, well, grows up. Part puzzle, part adventure, part flat-out action, Beyond Good and Evil is one of those very rare games in which all expectations are trumped by the unfolding immersive story line, where parents and kids can play together and find different things to like, and where you're left feeling genuinely entertained.

I gather that this title perhaps didn't do as well as it should have on its initial release, but I've seen it for sale at major retailers for the past two years. It may not have the high profile of a Halo or a Madden, but it's got a very loyal following and a growing player base.

In the midst of discussion about gratuitous gaming violence, and uninspired title cloning, there are occasionally titles like this that give validation to the industry as a place where artists--real, honest-to-gosh artists--live and satisfy our collective hunger for something really good to play.

When I hear of state governments threatening to make it illegal for minors to buy games, I think of a title like this and just wonder how far out of touch lawmakers and some political activists are from understanding the diversity present in the games industry. But the triumph of individual creativity against government misinformation is precisely one of the political points this "kids" game is trying to make.

A Game Full of Wonder and Beauty

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: March 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Wondering why this obscure game is so highly rated? It really is one of the most pleasurable experiences in gaming you can have. Every aspect is expertly done ( even the blips
+ bloops of minor sound effects are original and fun to listen to). The graphics, story, sound design, and gameplay leave almost nothing to be desired. The act of taking pictures of strange alien animals may sound lame, but even this a joy since the creatures are so breathtaking and well-designed. And there is much to do : fighting ( martial arts-style! ), reconnaissance, collecting, racing, vehicular combat, puzzle-solving, and even wagering on an air hockey-type (!) parlor game. Even the soundtrack will delight you when you hear the Latin, Eastern, or reggae music kick in at the appropriate time and place. To sum it all up, this is a game nearly every child or adult ( Eat your heart out Disney! ), male or female, can easily get the hang of and thoroughly enjoy.

Best Action Adventure On Xbox

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: February 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Beautiful. Simply beautiful. This might well be the best action adventure game in the history of the genre. (Certainly in the history of Xbox.)

Even though the name and cover didn't appeal to me at first -- when I popped the game into my console, it became clear to me from the lush, stylized graphics with their unmistakable french "flavor" alone that this game is special.

The production values are truely awesome. This applies not only to the graphics and animation, but also the musical score that would suit any James Cameron movie. You'll be discovering a variety of very imaginative environments that have all been designed with exceptional love of detail.

But what's most important, the story is superb and really really well presented. It starts of rather subtly, step by step drawing you ever deeper into the game world, always keeping you motivated to explore it more. By the time the dramatic tension really starts to build up, you are already helplessly in love with the protagonists and the alien world that they inhabit. You just have to keep playing until the fulminant climax.

Even tough the story is a told in a fairy-tale fashion, it has quite some depth and a lot to say. I always disliked Zelda because of the, in my opinion, clicheed and utterly silly
stories and dialogue ("Rescue the princess bla bla"). Not so BG&E! If you, like me, have been waiting for a game story that is light and entertaining but doesn't insult your intellect -- you just found it!

What adds to this is the way the different elements of the gameplay relate to, and support, the story. Everything makes complete sense in the game, creating a feeling of authenticity and purpose. It's all killer, no filler.

The level design is full of innovative ideas and will hit you with lots of great surprises and enthralling situations. Although there is no one single gameplay element that is genuinely new,
the way the game blends such a variety of different elements together seamlessly can be called a major innovation of its own rights. Everything in the game just "flows"... and your game character moves through this diverse world with precision and elegance. The game engine does a great job letting you forget about the controls, and just play.

BG&E combines the emotion and narrative intensity of the classic LucasArts adventures with the action and thrills of a 21st century console action game.

Given, the graphical style and low-violence mood may not match everybody's taste. [...]if what you see complies with
your viewing habits then this game is must-have for you.

Another gem lost to time...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: February 24, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is fantastic. Go buy it.

I'm not going to waste your time by telling you things that you can read in the other excellent reviews here. It's a 5 star game, I think you can get that from all of the reviews here. I would just like to add to why you should buy this game...

In a world of sequels, games based from movies, games that have been rehashed and rehased comes some wonderful gems that get lost. Whether it's because they come out at bad times or because people would rather play Halo 2000 or similar game, actually creative and emotionally powerful games slip through the cracks. This is one such game.

I have been trying to get people to play this game for purely selfish reasons. I've seen too many games that actually warrant sequels get halted because no one buys them. This game has everything. It has characters you care about, a story that is interesting and socially relevent, action that is constantly changing so that you are doing many different things, actually humorous scenes and dialogue, and graphics that are stunning in both their fluidity and art direction. I remember loading this game, watching a beautiful cut scene that bled directly to the action and being surprised that I was actually playing. I just assumed it was a cutscene, it was so fluid.

I got this game at Christmas time a while back with a bunch of other games. When I started playing this one, I couldn't put it down. Normally, I'll switch between games if I have more than one. Not so with this game, I had to keep playing, had to figure out what would happen next.

It fills you with so much wonder and joy that you remember why it is you play games. And just like Ico before it, it gets ignored. If you want a game that is different from most, then please at least rent this game, give it a try. It's too good to keep going unnoticed.

Pure Eye-Candy

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: October 08, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Beyond Good & Evil is a platformer type game for the Xbox. You play a girl named Jade, whose world is being invaded by the evil aliens known as, "Doms". Even though there are platforming game elements (jumping puzzles, switches and hidden passageways), it plays and looks amazing! You can go hunting for orbs (money), go hunting for creatures, take photos (also pays money), race in your hovercraft, play alien mini-games, go shopping, upgrade your hovercraft, explore caverns or walk through the city, talk to characters, discover secret areas, and uncover an evil conspiracy. Your hovercraft is your primary means of transport which can of course travel and both land and water and is equipped with self-repair bots(limited) and laser cannon (unlimited). You'll fight against the most bizzare creatrures and they look awesome! Even the world looks awesome its a living, breathing world filled with alien inhabitants. You'll even see flying cars (think Bladerunner), futuristic building and exotic islands. The free-form gameplay (go almost anywhere, do almost anything) is what really makes this game shine! And the amazingly beautiful graphics is icing on this yummy game. If you like platformers or free-form gameplay go buy this game!

Pros:
+free-form gameplay
+amazingly, beautiful graphics
+day and night cycles
+excellent story
+exellent animation
+excellent controls
+excellent sound effects
+excellent voice-acting
+excellent music
+play mini-games
+good puzzles
+shoot, walk, drive, fight
+okay for kids

Cons:
-some maps areas closed off
-no car-jacking allowed
-no envirnoment destruction
-weak weapons

One of those hard to find games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: September 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I don't mean by my title that this game is hard to find. More that a game as well done as this only comes around once and a while. I spent about 20 hours exploring the world of Hylis. 20 hours which seemed to be only 10-15 hours. Time passes much faster outside the little bubble of blissful ignorance that will form around you while playing this game because, frankly, the outside world will seem to fade as you almost become Jade, becoming increasingly immersed in the beautiful yet dark world of Beyond Good and Evil.

The game opens with an alien attack by creatures known as the Domz. After a simple battle, you recieve your camera and can begin exploring your small island home, which also happens to be a lighthouse. When you first get the camera, you'll recieve one of the game's main side quests: photographing all the world's animals. This quest continues throught the game and takes a bit of work to complete, although you won't regret it. It is one of the most entertaining mini-games I have ever seen, keeping you entertained durring and between misions. After you've finished photographing the animals and exploring the environment, you begin you're adventure by recieving a speedboat from your best friend and companion, Pay'j.

Before I go on to mention anything else, I should probably go into detail about the environment. Although the game's graphics are often very cartoony, the cartoon world of Hylis comes alive in the form of the teeming life you see everywhere around you. There are the small things, such as the detailed rock walls of caverns, to the way the water moves, to all the people walking out on the streets. Everything just seems so alive that it will seem almost magical. The game also has a wonderful distance engine, which allows the player to see things from a very large distance, such as a whale leaping from the water, or other boats, or even the larger details of the game's several islands.

While running around taking pictures and fighting evil is fun, it is just as much fun to cruise around on the speed boat and the rocket ship, once you get it. While there is some fighting and picture taking to be had aboard the ship, it was not quite frequent enough for me, and I had to just make due with the 3 boat race courses and the four smugglers caverns, with the occasional Domz attack.

The main collectible in this game is the pearl, and pearls are required to progress through the game, with some additional pearls added in to give you more choice as to what quests to perform to progress in the game. The games quests vary. While you will get pearls automatically for progression in the game's rich plot, you will also have to take pictures of animals, fight some hidden Domz, win boat races, defeat smugglers, infiltrate government buildings in which pearls are held, and other little quests, many involving the perchase of pearls. Also, to avoid all the annoying serching that most games have to get the last collectibles, you can buy an item that will label pearl and animal locations on your map so that you have an idea of where to look, although it won't tell you how to get them.

The puzzles in the game are very well done, and, for the most part, simple. There is one puzzle later on that is quite well done because it is hard without being contrived or ridiculously pointless or anything else that can be complained about. Other puzzles involve finding clever ways of sneaking past guards or getting over a wall. It's one of those games where solving puzzles isn't extremely difficult as long as you look for the game's hints, yet still give a very rewarding feeling after their completion.

Almost done... This game isn't exactly an action game. Like in most RPGs, you can't fall of edges into bottomless pits, although enemies can kill you. Jade will do most jumping and action oriented moves by herself, leaving you to fight monsters and solve puzzles. The controls are very responsive and should never frustrate the player, especially with the fantastic camera, which places itself in basically the best position almost automatically, although there are sometimes when it would be nice to be able to move it. This makes doing battle simple, although it's not to hard to begin with. Most enemies are slow to attack and give you plenty of time to prepare a good strategy to dealing with them.

To wrap up, I need to mention the two most surprising things about this game. First off, it had almost no bugs that I could find. I found one spot where I fell through a floor, but I can only blame myself for that one, and it was easy to avoid the spot once I knew what I did to get into it. Did I mention that there are save points EVERYWHERE, so you never have to worry about getting really far and then getting stuck having to turn it off and losing 30 minutes of playing. Also, being killed only places you back at the entrance of a room, making some of the more frustrating sneaking bits much less so. The other bug was simply a quest desription bug on Salene which described the Pay'j quest as the "escaping the Slaughterhouse" quest. Other than that, I had no problems with the game's mechanics. Another surprise in this game was the increadible music, which had a great Latin feel and really got your feet moving and sometimes your head moving from side to side.

This game's story line never lets up and keeps you on the edge of your seat right up till the fantastic final battle. There were even several spots (especially the lighthouse bit near the end), when I almost cried because of the game's extremely emotional presentation. The only irritating thing is that the game seems to have one of those 'prepare for a sequal' endings, with some little loose ends to tie up, yet I have heard no plans for one as of yet. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled, I guess.

Anyway, if you're still reading this (I didn't realize I had this much to say about BG&E, sorry), this game goes beyond good and bad and reaches a level which few games attain of utter perfection. Every little thing in this game is thrown at you in just the right amount to entertain you, yet keep you begging for more. If you can find this game used, it makes a great addition to anyone's collection, but even new it's still a great deal for a great game.

SERIOUS EYE CANDY,SMOOTH GAMEPLAY

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: September 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

WOW , what can I say what a fun game . The secenery is remarkable in this game,especially when you get to the crossroads area on water .Looks like a scene out of bladerunner,but its not dark ,its on the lighter side. How did this game go unnoticed? The hovercraft was very fun to drive. And all the creatures you have to find and photograph,makes me wanna go buy a canon 10mexgapixel rebel. This game is not dark,bloody,or gory in any way. Its just in a leage all by itself.What a surprise hit.Graphics are clean and sharp,and all the other vehicles flying over you in the 4 way water crossroads area. Very well designed game.

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