Posted August 12, 2010
Still, the phenomena of this game eludes me... I can't understand, why so many people consider BG&E a masterpiece. This game got stuck in a split between something deep and easy, funny, casual arcade. And it fails in both categories...
As a story... oh c'mon. You can guess the ending from the very beginning. Trying to be "deep", it barely slides through many important topics like a snow speeder on a frozen lake. Trying to be moving, it sinks in cheap sentimentality. Watching this story unfold is like reading one of Paulo Coelho's novel-for-desperate-housewives-trying-to-be-philosophical... (but, considering the sales of Coelho's books, maybe there lies the answer for popularity of this game in some circles).
I'd read some interview with Ancel: he spoke about inspirations taken from jRPG's. Dear Michael: there are light years separating your game and, par exemple, FF7 or 8.
And as an arcade game: well, a LOT of words were already spilled over such topics like bad controls, bugs (it is TOTALLY unacceptable in XXI century, to play a "masterpiece" game and frequently visit Windows desktop), terrible interface, graphics glitches, doddle quests... So, what's all this commotion 'bout?
The only reason why I rate Beyond Good&Evil for two stars instead of one, is some miniquests (like racing) and brazen Uncle Pey'j, whom you can't stop love. Ach, and of course the side-quest for taking a snapshot for every animal on the planet (and beyond!), which - speaking frankly - was the main reason for me to push through the game.
Ubisoft in past times made some amazing and true masterpieces, only to mention the Sand of Time trilogy, which I play at least once in every year. Beyond Good & Evil is NOT one of them, alas.
As a story... oh c'mon. You can guess the ending from the very beginning. Trying to be "deep", it barely slides through many important topics like a snow speeder on a frozen lake. Trying to be moving, it sinks in cheap sentimentality. Watching this story unfold is like reading one of Paulo Coelho's novel-for-desperate-housewives-trying-to-be-philosophical... (but, considering the sales of Coelho's books, maybe there lies the answer for popularity of this game in some circles).
I'd read some interview with Ancel: he spoke about inspirations taken from jRPG's. Dear Michael: there are light years separating your game and, par exemple, FF7 or 8.
And as an arcade game: well, a LOT of words were already spilled over such topics like bad controls, bugs (it is TOTALLY unacceptable in XXI century, to play a "masterpiece" game and frequently visit Windows desktop), terrible interface, graphics glitches, doddle quests... So, what's all this commotion 'bout?
The only reason why I rate Beyond Good&Evil for two stars instead of one, is some miniquests (like racing) and brazen Uncle Pey'j, whom you can't stop love. Ach, and of course the side-quest for taking a snapshot for every animal on the planet (and beyond!), which - speaking frankly - was the main reason for me to push through the game.
Ubisoft in past times made some amazing and true masterpieces, only to mention the Sand of Time trilogy, which I play at least once in every year. Beyond Good & Evil is NOT one of them, alas.
