Beyond Good & Evil HD
- Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Developer/Publisher: Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft Shanghai/Ubisoft
- Release: 02/03/2011
When you think back on a game, what thoughts do you have? There are a lot that are generic and indescribable; linear roller-coaster shooters that hardly linger in the mind, sports games with so little difference that they all blur into one mess of mediocrity, adventure games in which the adventure is no more than firing bullets into enemies from a third-person perspective.
Beyond Good & Evil HD is an admirable update of an already fantastic game that’s just as good now as when it was first released
But some games leave an indelible trace in your mind; games that become an experience, not a loosely tied set of visuals and actions, games filled with believable, likeable characters, games that build vivid worlds you never want to leave.
When it was first released in 2003, Beyond Good & Evil was one of those games. But the story of photojournalist Jade, her Uncle Pey’J - an anthropomorphic pig, and an evil government conspiring with alien invaders was woefully under-appreciated.
Critics raved but the gaming audience largely ignored it, a shame as even now, over seven years later, the game is an ambitious, imaginative and beautiful masterpiece.
The structure and overall feel of the game is akin to the Legend of Zelda; you can freely explore the over-world of Hillys, traversing through dungeon-style sections that splinter off the map in order to complete specific investigative goals. Jade, a refreshingly normal female protagonist in this world of Lara Croft and Wet, is a competent fighter when it comes down to it, but a lot of tasks require stealth and cunning and the use of her camera.
Not all of these mechanics work well in 2011, and most of them are hampered by a disobedient camera, but the exploration and experience of the game – for my money better than a lot of Zelda titles themselves – more than makes up for its wrinkles. Although quite small, Hillys is dense and believable, filled with fantastic characters (and more anthropomorphic animals), stunning art design and a lot to do and see.
Ubisoft Shanghai have done a good job in cleaning up this aging game, rounding its edges and boosting its resolution, a task made easier by the simple and timeless art design. A lot of games from the era haven’t aged well, but Beyond Good & Evil was already part of a small group of 3D games that stood the test of time.
A few niggles and minor glitches aside, Beyond Good & Evil HD is an admirable update of an already fantastic game that’s just as good now as when it was first released. If you were one of the many who gave it a miss back then, do yourself a favour and play this excellent game.
Verdict: 9/10
Female First Michael Moran