Beyond Good & Evil

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In Beyond Good & Evil, play as action reporter Jade and join an underground rebellion to expose your government's secrets on the alien-bombarded planet Hillys. Traverse a futuristic world full of deception, using stealth, force, and wits to uncover a horrific conspiracy. Prepare for any obstacle in this immersive game from Michel Ancel, and battle the forces conspiring against your people.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,708 reviews

story370 positive mentions

stability74 negative mentions

Timeless game with a phenomenal story and captivating characters.
Beautiful art style and immersive world that still holds up well.
Unique gameplay mechanics, including photography and a mix of stealth, puzzles, and combat.

Poorly optimized PC port with numerous bugs and graphical glitches.
No controller support and awkward keyboard controls that can be frustrating.
Some gameplay elements, like the final boss fight, can be overly difficult and frustrating.

story
696 mentions
53 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of "Beyond Good & Evil" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich character development, and emotional depth, often described as timeless and relevant even years after its release. Players appreciate the blend of humor and serious themes, particularly the protagonist Jade's journey to uncover a conspiracy on her planet, which resonates with contemporary issues. While some critiques mention pacing and predictability, the overall consensus highlights the game's compelling storytelling and memorable characters, making it a standout title in the action-adventure genre.
- “A timeless game with a phenomenal story.”
- “The story is excellent - your character, Jade the rebellious reporter, must infiltrate secret bases to gather evidence in order to expose a corrupt government.”
- “The story is amazing, the characters are heartwarming, funny, and it's just so much fun to get through the game.”
- “Unfortunately, the story and the gameplay were pretty boring.”
- “The story is lacking, but some of the characters' personalities are vibrant and enjoyable, which makes me forgive its flaws.”
- “The plot is pretty Saturday morning cartoonish, and not in a good way.”
gameplay
383 mentions
42 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Beyond Good and Evil" is characterized by a mix of action, stealth, exploration, and unique mechanics like photography, which many players find engaging and innovative. While some reviews highlight the gameplay as straightforward and occasionally repetitive, others appreciate its variety and integration with the story, noting that it has aged reasonably well despite some clunky controls and camera issues. Overall, the game is praised for its charm, character development, and the way it combines different gameplay elements, making it a memorable experience for many players.
- “The gameplay is very good with a good combination of action and stealth as well as good exploration and a good use of photography. I found the photography element to be quite good and well utilized; taking pictures of maps and locks as well as gathering evidence made you feel like a photographer. It was quite interesting.”
- “The gameplay loop has aged fairly well - much of it is platforming and puzzle-solving, while the stealth segments grow in number and length further into the game.”
- “The varied gameplay elements of driving, platforming, and stealth mean most of the time things aren't dull, the soundtrack is amazing to listen to, and the world and story are intriguing enough with their darker undertones to find out what happens next.”
- “But the overall gameplay is just so boring and uninteresting; a fetch quest is central for progression, and the story didn’t do anything special for me either.”
- “The stealth and combat mechanics are pretty basic; most of the side quests can be generic, and the world itself can seem pretty sparse outside of a few areas.”
- “The gameplay is shallow, and the amount of distractions in the disappointingly small hub-world is one-note, but the game is carried by the amazing art style and music.”
graphics
311 mentions
26 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Beyond Good & Evil" are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2003 origins, yet many players appreciate the game's vibrant art style and colorful environments, which have aged reasonably well. While some users report significant graphical glitches and performance issues on modern systems, others find that with the right tweaks and patches, the visuals can still be enjoyable. Overall, the game's aesthetic charm and nostalgic appeal often overshadow its technical shortcomings.
- “The graphics in this release are upscaled and look beautiful; the soundtrack is timeless and full, and the gameplay is still intuitive and fun.”
- “The graphics are good for an old game, very detailed with a nice use of colors and diverse scenery that makes you just want to stop and stare at a lot of places.”
- “The graphics hold up surprisingly well and look great.”
- “Out of the box on Windows 10, graphics were low resolution and unacceptably glitchy, with random squares being brightened all over the place during the intro scene and the pause menu.”
- “The graphics are broken on modern hardware, and installing a bunch of mods that rework the graphics and enable widescreen fixes is necessary.”
- “Filled with weird graphical glitches, audio sync problems, random bouts of slow/fast motion, and awful framerate even on modern systems - it's just a mess.”
music
216 mentions
64 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the captivating soundtrack as a standout feature. It is described as diverse, memorable, and perfectly fitting for the game's various settings, contributing significantly to the emotional depth and charm of the experience. Despite some minor criticisms regarding repetition in certain areas, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is exceptional and remains a beloved aspect of the game.
- “The music was one of the highlights of the game and really did a lot of heavy lifting in bringing the world alive and giving it a unique feel.”
- “The soundtrack is captivating and I could listen to it for hours.”
- “The music is absolutely beautiful, the characters are well written and authentic, the story is interesting and keeps you playing.”
- “The music is nothing short of jaw-dropping; there's not much to say about that except that it is amazing.”
- “People seem to love the soundtrack, but all in all it was pretty average and had nothing exciting.”
- “The only song that stood out to me was out on the sea early in the game, the peaceful one reused at the beginning of the credits.”
stability
76 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly in the PC version. Many users have experienced frustrating technical problems, including graphical glitches, audio desynchronization, and control issues, often requiring extensive troubleshooting to achieve a playable state. While some players managed to fix these issues, the overall sentiment suggests that the game suffers from a lack of polish, making it a challenging experience for many.
- “After searching on the forums, I quickly found solutions and the game runs great.”
- “It took me about 2 hours to get this version running with mostly no glitches or framerate issues.”
- “It's frustrating to spend more time troubleshooting and dealing with technical issues than actually playing the game.”
- “This is easily one of the most buggy games I've ever played.”
- “The game is nauseating to play with all the visual glitches and flickering.”
optimization
38 mentions
29 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
32 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant performance issues, especially on modern systems. While some players managed to achieve smooth gameplay through various tweaks and third-party applications, others found the game poorly optimized, leading to stuttering, low frame rates, and compatibility problems. Overall, it appears that while the game has potential, it requires considerable effort to run effectively on contemporary hardware.
- “For a wholly unoptimized PC game from 2003, it ran shockingly well, though it required a third-party settings application to change the resolution and registry edits to ensure the game didn't run in French.”
- “It takes a little bit of tinkering to make it run smoothly on modern-day computers, but it's well worth the effort.”
- “The game itself is great, but not very optimized for modern systems.”
- “Poorly optimized, don't buy it honestly.”
- “However, this is a very poor port by Ubisoft; they haven't optimized anything for the Steam version.”
- “The optimization - you would think that a 15-year-old game would work as smoothly as it could, but due to its old compatibility with the old Windows versions, it sometimes will have major FPS losses no matter what hardware you have.”
emotional
36 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players highlighting its captivating story, well-developed characters, and a mix of touching, funny, and sometimes heartbreaking moments. Many reviewers noted that the narrative evokes strong feelings, leading to genuine emotional responses, including tears, while the immersive world and engaging gameplay further enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game is described as a heartfelt journey that successfully combines humor and depth, making it a memorable adventure.
- “When I played it the first time, I cried on two occasions because... well, it was very emotional.”
- “The story had me going on an emotional roller coaster.”
- “The world is colorful and fun, the characters are lovable, and the story has a deep emotional dimension.”
humor
36 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing and memorable characters, often blending funny moments with emotional depth. Players appreciate the lighthearted interactions and whimsical tone, although some humor may feel out of place or cringy at times. Overall, the game's charm and comedic elements contribute significantly to its engaging narrative and enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “The humor, story, and largely varied gameplay styles of Beyond Good and Evil shine in their own unique ways every time you face a challenge, and very rarely lose that charm.”
- “It's a timeless classic with awesome humor and smooth gameplay.”
- “The story is amazing, the characters are heartwarming, funny, and it's just so much fun to get through the game.”
atmosphere
32 mentions
72 % positive mentions
19 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant, nostalgic charm reminiscent of the PS2 era, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and unique aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create an immersive world filled with likeable characters and a compelling story, despite some dated graphics and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the combination of art direction, music, and storytelling contributes to a beautifully atmospheric experience that resonates with players.
- “The general vibrant atmosphere of the game brings one back to the nostalgic PS2 era, and the graphics still hold up well (especially with a small downloadable patch that I used the whole time).”
- “The elaborate storyline, as well as the combination of various cultural influences within a futuristic setting, have managed to create an atmosphere with a unique aesthetic that ensures an absolutely wonderful experience.”
- “The atmosphere is very well done; it really makes you feel for the characters.”
- “The graphics are pretty outdated (obviously, it's a game from 2003) but the game still happens to have a very pretty and stylized atmosphere.”
- “Underplayed game that is absolutely beautiful in the whole atmosphere it creates.”
- “The atmosphere is very well done, it really makes you feel for the characters.”
grinding
16 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, reviews indicate that while some games feature elements of grinding, many players appreciate the balance between exploration and gameplay variety, which helps mitigate tedium. Some aspects, like collectible grinding and repetitive puzzles, can feel tedious, but the engaging mechanics and interesting characters often keep the experience enjoyable. Players generally prefer games that avoid excessive grinding, favoring shorter, focused playthroughs over inflated playtime through repetitive tasks.
- “Game forces repetitive grinding of collectibles in order to continue, used to inflate playtime.”
- “The real meat of the gameplay comes from its puzzle-solving, though there's a little too much repetition in the puzzles, which can make some sections of the game feel pretty tedious.”
- “On the down sides are that it can be a bit grindy (collecting items for ship upgrades), and in some situations the controls can be frustrating but in the main they work well.”
character development
10 mentions
50 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its unique and charming designs that evoke a vibrant, comic book aesthetic, contributing to a creative world. While the story and character art are praised, many reviewers feel that the actual character development is lacking depth, with some describing it as "paper-thin" despite the engaging narrative. Overall, the game excels in visual appeal but falls short in delivering substantial character growth and compelling voice acting.
- “The character designs are all unique and look like they've come straight off the page of a French comic book.”
- “The character development and writing are some of the best and most indelible in recent memory.”
- “The character designs are quite charming and well done, very creative and satisfying to snap pictures of.”
- “Combat is fairly bland, but the focus seems to be more on creating a cinematic experience than worrying too much about gameplay mechanics... and yet the voice acting is wonky, character development is paper-thin, and the 3rd-person camera tends to be a bit stubborn.”
replayability
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable enough to revisit due to its engaging gameplay and memorable characters, others feel it lacks significant replay value and don't foresee playing it again. Despite this, many still regard it as a classic worth experiencing at least once.
- “Well worth it, the game is a true gem: action, stealth, racing... setting, plot, replay value, and music truly stood the test of time.”
- “Beyond Good and Evil is a very good game, has a fairly simple but amusing story and good replay value.”
- “This is my first time playing the game; it's so fun, a real great classic adventure game with memorable characters, a great combat system, and replayability.”
- “There isn't much replay value to this game, so I don't really see myself playing it again. But if they ever made the sequel they said they were going to, I'd definitely check it out!”
- “Not much replayability though.”
- “I knew the replayability wasn't high from my experience back then, but after not playing the game in like 15 years, I picked it up again on sale and replayed it.”
monetization
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users praising its value and expressing disappointment over a lack of advertising, while others criticize the potential for exploitative practices like microtransactions and the release of a broken port as a cash grab. Overall, there is a strong desire for a sequel without the pitfalls of aggressive monetization strategies.
- “This review only refers to the game itself, not the cash grab tactics of Ubisoft.”
- “It seems they've put this game on Steam 'as-is', one would assume as a cash grab.”
- “So they released this broken port as a cash grab.”