Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 440 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition Game Cover
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Beyond Good & Evil - 20th Anniversary Edition is a remastered version of the classic action-adventure game. Join Jade, a reporter, and her allies as they investigate alien attacks and explore the world of Hillys. This edition offers new rewards, a treasure hunt, speedrun mode, and an anniversary gallery, allowing players to experience the game in up to 4K 60 fps.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 440 reviews
story38 positive mentions
optimization16 negative mentions
  • The remaster features improved graphics and audio, enhancing the nostalgic experience of the original game.
  • The addition of new content, including a treasure hunt and behind-the-scenes gallery, provides extra depth and context for fans.
  • The game retains its engaging story and memorable characters, making it a joy to revisit for both new players and long-time fans.
  • The requirement to use Ubisoft Connect and the lack of Steam achievements frustrate many players.
  • Performance issues, including crashes and stuttering, particularly on AMD hardware, detract from the overall experience.
  • Some players find the control scheme awkward and the inability to remap keys a significant drawback.
  • story109 mentions

    The story of the game is widely praised for its engaging narrative, memorable characters, and rich world-building, with many players appreciating the added depth from new quests and bonus content that tie into a potential sequel. While some critiques mention clichés and predictability, the overall sentiment highlights the story's ability to captivate and immerse players, making it a standout aspect of the game. Additionally, the remaster has rekindled interest in the franchise, with hopes for future installments to further explore the intriguing lore and character backstories.

    • “The world is beautiful and unique, the gameplay is polished and varied, and the story is top notch.”
    • “I played this game countless times and I consider it a gem for many reasons: cool setting, interesting and well-developed characters, a compelling story, an incredible mood, many different things to do, secrets... it's always a pleasure to get back to Hyllis.”
    • “Excellent music and gameplay, paired with an intriguing story and lovable characters.”
    • “Mr. Carlson and Peterson have no backstory at all. You see what I mean when you start playing this game.”
    • “The whole story hints at this mystery about Jade and a power within her, or another life/name, so you are always reminded of these things, but even to the very end of the story, you still have no clue about 'Shaunni' or the power within her after playing through the whole game.”
    • “And even without any of that poor judgment in presentation, the whole story is cliché, predictable, littered with plot holes, and charmlessly amateurish.”
  • graphics102 mentions

    The remastered version of the game features significantly improved graphics that enhance the original art style while adding new textures and details. However, some users report optimization issues, particularly with AMD graphics cards, and note that certain graphical elements can feel out of place or less polished compared to others. Overall, while the graphics are a welcome upgrade, they may not fully meet modern standards, and some technical glitches persist.

    • “The graphics have been improved a lot, which is great.”
    • “The game's unique art style pops like never before, and the music...oh, the music!”
    • “Positives: the graphical improvements in every instance are very good and keep the art style of the game intact while improving the general quality of the models.”
    • “The original is one of my favorite games; however, this remastered version apparently doesn't seem to work well with AMD graphics cards.”
    • “All in all, despite the polish, I find the image quality distinctly lower and the visuals less readable than the original.”
    • “Some models show weird texture seams, the hair on many characters looks worse and plastic-y, and many of the original animations look sadly quite bad combined with the new graphics.”
  • music76 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and emotional impact, with many players cherishing both the original and remastered soundtracks. While the reorchestrated tracks offer higher fidelity, some fans feel they lack the energy of the originals, leading to mixed feelings about the updates. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that enhances the game's atmosphere and nostalgia, despite occasional bugs and inconsistencies in playback.

    • “Hearing the music that's been re-recorded is an absolute treat to the ears, seeing the graphics in a way my five-year-old brain imagined it, and reliving that experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is beautiful, calming, and catchy; the animation is beautiful with a charming style, and the characters are fun and well-developed with great designs.”
    • “The music and sound design in general are superb; I even listen to the music outside of the game from time to time.”
    • “They've re-created the entirety of the soundtrack and while this absolutely is higher fidelity (take it from an audio engineer and musician), a lot of the tracks lack the same energy of the original.”
    • “For example, there are out of place sound effects, certain sounds are way too loud, and occasionally the incorrect background music is playing - ruining the general atmosphere.”
    • “The orchestrated soundtrack is personally a weaker version of the original.”
  • gameplay49 mentions

    The gameplay of the remastered version of "Beyond Good & Evil" retains its core mechanics while introducing subtle improvements, offering a mix of action, stealth, and puzzle-solving elements. However, many players report performance issues, including stuttering and crashes, which detract from the overall experience. While the gameplay is engaging and nostalgic, it lacks depth and challenge compared to modern standards, making it feel somewhat outdated despite its charming world and characters.

    • “Quirky characters, pretty diverse gameplay in terms of on-foot/vehicle, and a good story if you follow along.”
    • “The gameplay elements are really well balanced, there are some fun side activities, and the game is finished before you'll get the chance to grow tired of them (10-12 hours for one playthrough).”
    • “The world is beautiful and unique, the gameplay is polished and varied, and the story is top notch.”
    • “Crashes so much during gameplay and cutscenes.”
    • “Though it's not really outstanding gameplay-wise; neither the combat and stealth, nor the puzzles or platforming are that deep or provide a real challenge for the player.”
    • “For now, I don't recommend this game, as it has a lot of bugs such as your cursor flashing on your screen during cutscenes and gameplay, rushed 3D models, locked keybinds that are different from the original 2003 version, and much more.”
  • optimization35 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, even on high-end PCs. While some users report stable performance and enjoyable gameplay, others highlight the need for further optimization, particularly regarding frame rate capping and the impact of DRM. Overall, the game's performance issues have led to a recommendation for potential buyers to wait for fixes before purchasing.

    • “Being able to go from the PC to my Steam Deck and not having the performance take any noticeable difference also made the game a lot of fun to play.”
    • “Good remaster, personally had zero performance issues.”
    • “Ubisoft did a great job making the remaster feel as close as it did 20 years ago while delivering the best possible performance.”
    • “Apparently this option is just unoptimized for this PC and causes frame drops.”
    • “The reason I refunded and am not recommending this game is because of its incredibly poor performance, most likely due to its DRM.”
    • “Needs optimization pass for PC bad.”
  • stability19 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report minor glitches and frustrations, such as camera angles and AI issues, these do not significantly detract from the enjoyment of the game. Some users experienced more severe problems, like being unable to progress past the loading screen, particularly on certain platforms. Despite these issues, the game generally runs well at 60fps and features impressive visuals, though new players are advised to wait for patches to address the bugs.

    • “Not to mention the game runs great and everything feels just right.”
    • “This version also runs great with no issues (for me), even on Steam Deck.”
    • “Remastered assets are top-notch and runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “But as I try to launch it after playing for about 12 hours, I am now unable to get past the initial loading screen, and after even more hours of personal troubleshooting, I cannot play the game.”
    • “Love the original game, but I gotta admit that it's currently broken on the ROG Ally; it only plays part of the intro up until Jade is meditating, then the game freezes and crashes.”
    • “I truly love this game and waited decades for it to become available, but new players should beware and wait for all the glitches to be patched before trying this game out.”
  • emotional13 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming journey filled with nostalgia, touching moments, and impactful music that resonates deeply with players. While some character expressions have been criticized for lacking depth, the overall experience evokes strong feelings, particularly through scenes of care and tribute, making players feel a profound connection to the characters and the game's legacy. The anniversary edition enhances this emotional engagement with new content and a beautifully orchestrated soundtrack that evokes tears and fond memories.

    • “This takes you on a heartwarming, adventurous journey full of nostalgia.”
    • “It's filled with emotional depth, thought-provoking themes, and heartwarming moments.”
    • “Hearing the orchestrated soundtrack almost made me cry; this is my favorite game and it's so nice to see it get the love it deserves.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its magical and immersive qualities, enhanced by a fantastic soundtrack that complements the story and characters. However, some users noted issues with sound effects, such as misplaced audio and inconsistent background music, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, many reviewers still regard the game's atmosphere as a standout feature that contributes to its timeless appeal.

    • “I remember loving the game, the story, the characters, the tone, the atmosphere, and it's all still here.”
    • “The music in both the original and this version is amazing and it really helps give the game a brilliant atmosphere.”
    • “It's still a great adventure with a magical atmosphere, exciting story, memorable characters, and great music.”
    • “For example, there are out-of-place sound effects; certain sounds are way too loud, and occasionally the incorrect background music is playing, ruining the general atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels disjointed and lacks cohesion, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
    • “The overall ambiance is underwhelming, with repetitive soundscapes that fail to enhance the experience.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its enjoyable characters and genuinely funny writing, which balances sweetness and sadness effectively. While some players appreciate the comedic elements, others find certain changes, like the removal of original audio during races, to detract from the humor. Overall, the game is seen as intentionally funny, contributing to its beloved status among fans.

    • “The game is full of really enjoyable characters, genuinely funny writing and also manages to be really sweet at times while really sad at other times.”
    • “So Ubisoft did us a funny when we entered the hangar, huh?”
    • “I am so surprised, and elated, that these crappy '4K' textures aren't AI (or at least, if they are, they aren't disclosing it on the Steam page, which is, I'm pretty sure, breaking Steam's TOS. That'll be extremely funny if that's the case.)”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game has been criticized for not improving since the 2003 version, with some users noting that it feels stagnant. However, the character designs are memorable and contribute positively to the overall cinematic experience, enhancing the game's appeal alongside its soundtrack and mechanics.

    • “The character designs are all memorable, and the cinematic aspect of the entire game, as though being viewed through the lens of a camera yourself, just boosted everything about it.”
    • “This is a good game with great character design, soundtrack, and mechanics.”
    • “Character development did not improve; it still feels like the 2003 version.”
    • “Some of the character designs are lacking.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players appreciate the lack of tedious grinding in this game, noting that it can be fully completed in a reasonable 20 hours without the repetitive gameplay often found in modern titles. This contrast highlights a preference for more focused and engaging experiences over the typical grind associated with open-world and microtransaction-heavy games.

    • “You just don't see a lot of games made like this anymore; it seems like everything now is a grindy, open world, crafting and microtransaction-filled, padded out and repetitive mindless gameplay loop 'games as a service' slop.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers note that the game has a solid port that enhances its playability, contributing positively to its overall replayability.

  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers express frustration with Ubisoft's monetization strategy, feeling that the company's games are marketed similarly to those on platforms like Steam, while in reality, they primarily serve as a launcher for Ubisoft's own app. This approach detracts from the overall gaming experience.

    • “I'm really tired of Ubisoft advertising games like they're on Steam when in reality it's just a launcher for their app.”
    • “The monetization in this game feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game purchases.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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