Beyond Good & Evil (Nintendo GameCube, 2003)

I decided to buy this game because I had originally owned it for the Xbox and had played it twice through. It is not compatible with the Xbox 360's so I tried looking for a version for the Gamecube. This is a really good game and I enjoyed playing it for a third time through.

I like this game because the whole storyline is based on an alien race called the Domz taking over a planet by the name of Hyllis, or so it seems. The governement is making it look like a take over by 'fighting off' the aliens when they attack, when they are realy covering up a conspiracy involving sending unconcious human bodies into space for use by the aliens. Jade, your character's name, is hired by a group called Iris, who's goal is to uncover the truth behind the conspiracy. Your objective as an Iris agent is to sneak into three locations (I know it only seems like a few places, but they are MASSIVE!) and take photographic proof of what is happening. There is a little bit of fighting with your weapon (what they call a Dai-Jo stick), but the majority of the game is all about stealth, not being seen or caught. I thought it was just an awesome story line. Aside from the main mission of uncovering the truth, there are several side missions, like using your camera to take pictures of as many animals as possible. There are also the hovercraft races, and a cool game you can play that is like a hybrid of air hockey and that game crossfire.

I didn't have many problems with the game really. The only 'bad' comments I would have to make is that the game starts off kind of childish. As you progress through the game though, the whole story gets darker and really cool. The other 'bad' comment, which I thought to be a bigger problem, was the fact that the Gamecube version of the game is much rarer than other versions, therefor driving the price up to between $30 to $40 for a game that came out four years ago, as well as lowering the availibility of the game.

I greatly recommend this game to anyone who enjoys video games. It has one of the best stories in a game that I have played. This game would have been much more sucessful with more advertising. And an additional piece of info, if you play the game and watch all the way to the end of the credits, it hints at a sequel. I hope whoever buys this game enjoys it as much as I did.

What first drew me to this game was the fact that it was so critically acclaimed when it was released, yet hardly anyone bought it. "It sold so poorly, but it was praised by critics?" So I decided to buy it based on that fact alone, not knowing much else about the game. The story was very gripping from the get-go and pulled me in. The setting is Hillys City, in a world that's constantly attacked by mysterious aliens known collectively as DomZ. The military force known as the Alpha Sections serve to defend against the DomZ, but beneath all this, something bigger is taking place, and its up to you to uncover the truth!

Whats great about this game is how it incorporates action/adventure, puzzle solving, and stealth elements and blends them all together without feeling cheap, and fit the story well. The gameplay as a whole is simple and controls very well. Attacking is done with the tap of one button, but the direction you're facing as well as moving makes Jade perform a few different moves for a bit more complex battle. It's also very fluid attacking from one enemy to another, especially without a lock-on mechanic. One very important thing I should note that could easily ruin your fun is the camera system. If you're buying the Gamecube, PS2, or XBOX version you absolutely MUST change the camera control scheme to inversed on the X and Y axis in the options. Otherwise, the camera control will make you not wanna play the game. Fortunately, it's very easy to fix, and I think the HD version on the PSN and XBox Live version can be adjusted as well.
Anyway, back to the gameplay. Most of the time, you are partnered with a supporting character that follows you to aid you in battle or to help you solve puzzles. Half the time you are left to tackle stealth missions to meet your teammate elsewhere and achieve the main task of exposing secrets with your camera to the public. Key missions and side quests are reachable by boat as the hub world is comprised of islands, some small with about four large ones. You can explore various caves on boat to reach areas like cities where you can buy health, food to replenish health, and take on missions to collect pearls. Pearls are very crucial to progressing through the game and I found very fun to collect. There is always a fun means of getting them, such as racing other boats, save a mini-game or two.
I wont spoil anything, but it's time for me to talk story. Unlike most video games, this one features a strong female lead character, Jade. Her femininity is never sacrificed; she is simply a strong person. The thing is, we don't learn much about Jade's character. She is a strong, courageous person determined to find the truth about whats happening around her, but we don't learn exactly why she is this way. I rarely felt empathetic towards what little we learn does motivate her. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Jade throughout the game, but I felt we could've learned a lot more than we did.

Despite my issues with this game, its still a solid action/adventure game. Despite the limited hardware and old game design, it still holds up today.

One last unimportant thing that baffles people is the title of the game, Beyond Good and Evil. It suggests that there is more to the plot than good vs. evil, but the plot is just that. Perhaps the developers were referring to the nature of truth, the big theme of the game.

Beyond Good and Evil puts you on the planet Hillys as a young female reporter named Jade. The planet is constantly under attack by the DomZ, and your protectors are the Alpha Sections. Or so you think. This Zelda-type adventure takes you across the planet to uncover a conspiracy so deep that it will make Mission: Impossible's conspiracy plot look like child's play.
The game is very fresh and combat is simple, but very entertaining. The camera has many functions, sort of like Samus's scan visor, but more simplified.
The only problem with the game is the fact that it is much too short (only about 5-6 hours), and at points it can feel very linear. It does not have many of the fun side-quests that Zelda has, but it still retains that type of gameplay.
I would highly recommend this game, but unfortunately, it can no longer be bought in stores, nor even on the Ubisoft website. The only way you may find this game is at a videogame store that buys, sells, and trades games such as Video Games Etc., Software Etc., or EB games. Or you might be able to find it right here on eBay.

This is a gamecube game that was released by Ubisoft.

You are Jade, an action reporter who has a bit of a rebellious streak. You are trying to uncover the secret behind the constant alien attacks of your home world. WHat you uncover is a terrible conspiracy that is based in your government that rocks your world.

The gameplay is neat and new! The controls are great and the graphics are not bad.

4/5

Latsyrhc
Tamarack Collectibles

Personally, I want to rate this game a 4.75 (Pretty Good). What a wonderful surprise this game was to play !!
Without telling you any of the storyline: 1. You can explore (as long as you like) a wonderous landscape. 2. As you explore you hopefully find items that will upgrade your health (which, you can actually SHARE with others that help you on certain missions)AND upgrade and maintain the condition of the vehicle you will use (easier done than said). 3. You can take photographs (if your quick enough and smart enough to manuever yourself in the right angle for the shot) of numerous creatures (which will help you receive important items in trade). 4. You can purchase 'detection' items which are so important in finding the what you will need.
A couple of downfalls of this game: 1. Hand to hand combat is not very challenging. 2. When you leave a 'certain' area of the game theres no going back(unless you return to your last saved point). 3. The final mission was way too short compared to previous missions. 4. The 'Bosses' lack both strenth and intelligence.
A 'must play' game overall !!