Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 879 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

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 879 reviews
story72 positive mentions
optimization33 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 value for fans.
  • The game runs smoothly on modern hardware, including the Steam Deck, making it accessible for new and returning players.
  • 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 controls clunky and the inability to remap keys on PC to be a significant drawback.
  • story213 mentions

    The story of "Beyond Good & Evil" is generally regarded as captivating and engaging, featuring memorable characters and a unique atmosphere, though some critiques highlight its predictability and clichés. While the narrative is not considered a masterpiece, it effectively ties into the gameplay and offers a satisfying experience, especially with the addition of new quests that expand on the protagonist Jade's backstory. Overall, the remaster has reignited interest in the franchise, leaving players hopeful for a sequel that will further explore the story's mysteries.

    • “The story remains as captivating as ever.”
    • “I adored the story, the world, the music, the gameplay.”
    • “It's still a great adventure with a magical atmosphere, exciting story, memorable characters, and great music.”
    • “And even without any of that poor judgment in presentation, the whole story is cliché, predictable, littered with plot holes, and charmlessly amateurish.”
    • “I can summarize the whole plot in one boring paragraph.”
    • “For an adventure game with so much lore and mystery around it, it's not long enough to get the full story that they are trying to tell and you spend too much time sneaking past guards rather than having more places to explore and people to interact with.”
  • graphics204 mentions

    The remastered graphics of the game have received praise for enhancing the original art style while providing improved detail and lighting, making the visuals feel fresh and polished. However, some players noted that certain updates can clash with the original aesthetic, and while the overall improvements are appreciated, there are occasional graphical glitches and limitations in settings. Overall, the remaster successfully revitalizes the classic experience, though some aspects may still feel dated compared to modern standards.

    • “The game's unique art style pops like never before, and the music...oh, the music!”
    • “The updated graphics mixed with this art style completely hide the game's age.”
    • “With cleaned up visuals, good PC optimization, and fully functioning controller support, a classic is back to enjoy for new and old fans!”
    • “The additions in this release are minimal, and while the HD textures are a welcome update, they can occasionally clash with the original art style.”
    • “Graphics upgrades aren't even that noticeable, only slight tweaks here and there.”
    • “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.”
  • music150 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. While the remastered soundtrack is noted for its higher fidelity, some players feel it lacks the original's energy and charm. Despite minor bugs affecting music playback in certain areas, the soundtrack remains a standout feature, with many players expressing a deep emotional connection to both the original and updated compositions.

    • “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.”
    • “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. The new prequel content is very exciting and I love finally getting more lore.”
    • “The music just matches what you are currently doing, and the music and tone can switch in an instant to match the intense feelings when you get caught and you're in a fight or flight situation.”
    • “And some of the music is weird too; like you go to this garage or compete in vehicle races and there is this garbage music assaulting your ears.”
    • “The orchestrated soundtrack is personally a weaker version of the original.”
    • “There are a few music and dialog bugs that do make it a bit worse off in my opinion than the original.”
  • gameplay96 mentions

    The gameplay retains the core mechanics of the original while introducing subtle improvements, offering a mix of combat, stealth, and puzzle-solving that, while not deeply challenging, remains enjoyable and well-balanced. However, players have reported technical issues such as crashes and stuttering, which detract from the overall experience. Despite its dated mechanics and occasional lack of depth, the game is praised for its engaging story, diverse gameplay elements, and nostalgic charm, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

    • “We've kept the core gameplay intact, but we've also made some subtle improvements to enhance the experience.”
    • “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.”
    • “On the other hand, its gameplay is outdated.”
  • optimization71 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting significant stuttering, crashes, and poor performance, particularly on high-end systems. While some users experienced stable performance and minimal issues, the overall sentiment suggests that the game requires further optimization, especially regarding its frame rate cap and the impact of DRM. Players are advised to be cautious, as performance issues may detract from the experience.

    • “Ubisoft did a great job making the remaster feel as close as it did 20 years ago while delivering the best possible performance.”
    • “Performance is perfect, no freezing, no crashes, playing on my Steam Deck.”
    • “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.”
    • “The reason I refunded and am not recommending this game is because of its incredibly poor performance, most likely due to its DRM.”
    • “Do not buy this bullshit until it is fixed or somewhat optimized.”
    • “First of all, the game is capped at 60 fps. I would have loved an official uncapped version, but even capped at 60 fps I get quite a bit of stuttering during gameplay and cinematics even while I am way above recommended specs.”
  • stability38 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting minor visual and audio glitches, as well as some frustrating bugs that can hinder gameplay, such as freezing during loading screens. While some users have experienced smooth performance, particularly on platforms like the Steam Deck, others advise potential new players to wait for patches to address these issues. Overall, the remaster is seen as a promising but currently imperfect experience, with lingering problems reminiscent of the original version.

    • “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 run 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.”
  • emotional26 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its profound themes, heartwarming moments, and a nostalgic connection to its characters, evoking strong feelings in players. Many reviewers noted the impactful music and touching scenes, particularly those involving Jade and Pey'j, which resonate deeply and can even bring players to tears. Despite some minor visual changes to character expressions, the overall emotional depth and passion behind the game's development shine through, making it a memorable experience.

    • “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. The new prequel content is very exciting, and I love finally getting more lore.”
    • “No other game, at least when I was young, made me feel quite so connected to its universe or the characters within it.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its magical and immersive qualities, enhanced by a memorable soundtrack that complements the engaging story and characters. Many players appreciate the unique tone and the game's ability to create a captivating experience without overstaying its welcome. However, some users noted occasional issues with sound effects and background music that detracted from the overall atmosphere.

    • “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.”
    • “It has a believable atmosphere with some fantastic soundtracks to match.”
    • “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.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of genuinely funny writing and enjoyable characters, often blending sweetness with moments of sadness. While some players appreciate the comedic elements, others find certain aspects, like the changes in gameplay and texture quality, to be unintentionally humorous or even malicious. Overall, the game aims for humor but elicits a range of reactions from its audience.

    • “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?”
    • “And during the hovercraft race, there was a funny intro, countdown, and commentary in the original, but now the race starts immediately and the original audio can only be heard quietly in the background.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game has been criticized for not evolving beyond its 2003 iteration, leaving players wanting more depth and growth. However, the memorable character designs and cinematic presentation enhance the overall experience, making the characters visually appealing despite the lack of progression in their development.

    • “The character designs are all memorable, 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 get any better; it's still like the 2003 version.”
    • “Character designs are lacking.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's approach to grinding, noting that it feels engaging rather than tedious, with a completion time of around 20 hours. This contrasts sharply with the current trend of grind-heavy, open-world games filled with microtransactions and repetitive gameplay loops.

    • “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.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviewers express frustration with Ubisoft's monetization strategy, particularly criticizing the company's tendency to market their games as if they are available on platforms like Steam, while in reality, they require users to navigate through their own launcher. This has led to a perception of inconvenience and dissatisfaction among players.

    • “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 strategy feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that the game has a solid port, enhancing its playability and contributing positively to its overall replayability.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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