Beyond Good & Evil™

I was lucky enough to have this game and finished it on my original xbox about 10 or more years ago, I am so glad this game eventually came to PC and I can replay it in high quality.

I gave up on this game about 2/3 of the way because progressing to the final act is impeded by a collect-a-thon involving a scarce resource that should just be allocated to a sidequest in this kind of game. The plot is nothing novel, and what I watched on YouTube indicated that the gameplay in the final act isn't that fundamentally different from what happens before. This game gets a comparison to Zelda, which is fair in some sense, but it's much more shallow. Most of the gameplay mechanics introduced in the very first part of the game is what the entire game is. The Zelda component of getting a new tool each dungeon that opens up the world more isn't as salient here. There are also a lot of essentially pass/fail stealth segments, a common feature of games this era that will probably frustrate someone used to looser and more emergent modern game design. Where the game does shine is the art direction, music, and voice acting. There is a lot of character and artistic license in this game and I think at a discount, this game is worth picking up for that. If you have more patience than I do, you might beat it.

This gripping, immersive tale had me snagged right from the start and didn't let go until many hours later, and even then mainly because the day was over. Dialogue and music are used to very good effect, enriching an already enjoyable experience: there's action, adventure, sneaking, exploration, photography (more fun than you might think), puzzles, some racing, plenty of stunning locations to explore and exciting missions to undertake... Nothing in the game is too hardcore either, so even if you're not an expert racer, action fan or sneakster, you'll probably get through each section without too much frustration despite some significant challenges. The story keeps you playing, the gameplay won't make you regret that fact and nice details like the day/night cycle outdoors sweeten the deal further. In a word, excellent!

I've always loved this game. Ever since I played on my old PS2, I've loved it. I has everything a fun game should have: - a cinematic feel with good dialog and an decent plot - a good blend of action and puzzle-solving - lots of optional mini-games to do, including: taking pictures of animals, racing, collecting extra pearls - the bosses aren't too tough once you figure out the strategy you need to use to beat them. My favorite "sub-quest" is taking pictures of different species of animal. It may sound simple, but some of them want to eat you while you're lining up the shot. I always laugh as I try to get a picture of a boss before I try to kill it. The thing you need to know about this game is that it's just plain fun. It's a little cartoony sure, but what's wrong with that? One negative is that you may have problems with lip sync in the cinematics. There are solutions available that should fix it. (Check the forums. Also check the Steam forums.) This is a game I highly recommend to everyone.

Anybody who is a fan of classics such as the Zelda series, RARE's platformers, and other action adventure games should definitely pick this title up! It is very engaging, with puzzles that are difficult yet manageable. There are many side-quests for pearls, similar to RARE's Banana's in DK64 or Mario 64's "stars"; they allow you to progress at certain points. Yet in reality, this game is a spiritual successor to the N64 Zelda games, but it doesn't provide an enormous inventory or all-out attempts at being epic. Regardless, it is very pleasant; they put the save points (or in game lingo, "mdisc readers") in the perfect spots. Similarly to Nintendo's classic title, it is based around puzzles and struggles in large dungeon settings with a minor yet ominous plot. That said, the post-modern, alien environment is enticing, the side quests and other fillers allow you to regain your focus, and the sheer unique artwork and mechanics are amazing. Note: Console gamers, be prepared to use your mouse and keyboard. USB Gamepads are NOT supported in this title!