Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Beyond Good & Evil delivers a remarkably diverse gameplay experience that constantly keeps you on your toes. From the moment you step into the shoes of Jade, an intrepid reporter and photographer, you’ll find yourself navigating between stealth sections, logic-based puzzles, high-speed hovercraft races, and dynamic combat encounters. This genre-blending approach ensures that moments of high-tension infiltration smoothly transition into playful exploration in friendly hubs, giving the game a varied rhythm that rarely feels repetitive.

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The stealth mechanics are a standout feature, encouraging you to study enemy patrol patterns and make use of shadows to slip past DomZ guards unseen. Jade’s trusty staff and her ability to fire charged long-range shots give combat a satisfying impact, while Pey’j’s brute strength and Double H’s heavy firepower introduce intriguing cooperative puzzles. You’ll often have to swap between characters in tight succession to manipulate levers, distract enemies, or solve environmental challenges, highlighting Ubisoft’s commitment to smart puzzle design.

Aside from the core missions, the game pepperings of mini-games and an online ranking system add extra layers of depth. Whether you’re snapping perfect photographs of elusive wildlife or entering in-game codes to compare your efforts globally, these side activities never feel tacked on. Combined with the ability to purchase upgrades and gadgets in safe zones, Beyond Good & Evil manages to balance its main narrative thrust with plenty of optional diversions that reward exploration and skill mastery.

Graphics

Though originally released in 2003, Beyond Good & Evil’s art direction has aged gracefully, relying on bold color palettes and stylized character designs rather than photo-realistic textures. The planet Hillys brims with vibrant environments—from neon-lit marketplaces and shady back alleys to the untamed wilderness beyond city limits. The contrast between the oppressive, industrial Alpha Section facilities and the lively, open plazas of Port Ankh underscores the game’s thematic dualities.

Character animations are fluid and expressive, allowing Jade’s acrobatic rolls, staff strikes, and evasive maneuvers to feel both weighty and responsive. Enemy DomZ creatures exhibit eerily organic movements, their alien physiology emphasizing the otherworldly threat. Even in high-intensity sequences, the frame rate remains stable, ensuring that your timing in platforming or combat sections isn’t compromised by technical hiccups.

The game’s lighting and particle effects, while modest by modern standards, effectively reinforce mood and atmosphere. Flickering torches in ancient ruins, the glow of hovercraft engines in evening skies, and subtle lens flares when Jade snaps a photograph all contribute to a cohesive visual identity. If you play a remastered edition, you’ll notice sharper textures and smoother edges, but at its core, Beyond Good & Evil’s distinctive style is what truly endures.

Story

At its heart, Beyond Good & Evil weaves a gripping conspiracy thriller set against a backdrop of societal collapse. The population of Hillys is under constant threat from the DomZ, yet the official protectors—the Alpha Section—remain suspiciously inactive. This tension sets the stage for Jade’s recruitment by the shadowy IRIS organization, which believes the government is complicit in the planet’s downturn.

As you guide Jade through her investigations, the narrative unfolds through dramatic cutscenes, in-game dialogue, and the revealing power of photojournalism. Capturing evidence with your camera feels more than a gameplay mechanic; it’s an emotional journey as you expose the truth behind propaganda and uncover the extent of the conspiracy. The bond between Jade and her boar-like companion Pey’j brings warmth and humor to an otherwise dark storyline, grounding the sci-fi intrigue in genuine, relatable relationships.

Plot twists are handled with finesse, steadily raising the stakes as you infiltrate increasingly secure facilities. The game balances large-scale revelations—such as the true purpose of IRIS and the Alpha Section’s motives—with personal moments that deepen your investment in Jade’s quest. By the time you confront the final pieces of the puzzle, you’ll appreciate how the story masterfully threads together themes of trust, resistance, and the blurry line between “good” and “evil.”

Overall Experience

Beyond Good & Evil remains a shining example of creative world-building and inventive gameplay design. Its mixture of stealth, puzzles, combat, and exploration feels remarkably fresh even years after its initial release. By inviting players to alternate between investigative journalism and action-hero platforming, the game fosters a sense of agency and discovery seldom matched in other titles.

The game’s pacing is another highlight: safe hubs offer opportunities to restock, chat with NPCs, and dive into side quests, while main missions steadily escalate in tension and complexity. A captivating soundtrack and high-quality voice acting further immerse you in the world of Hillys, making every triumph over the DomZ and the Alpha Section’s forces feel earned and meaningful.

For anyone seeking a title that transcends simple genre definitions, Beyond Good & Evil offers an unforgettable journey. Its endearing characters, layered narrative, and eclectic gameplay ensure that it appeals to both action fans and puzzle enthusiasts. If you haven’t yet experienced Jade’s adventure on Hillys, this is the perfect time to uncover one of gaming’s most inventive and heartfelt stories.

Retro Replay Score

8.1/10