A Stunning Achievment
Every once in a great while, a great game will slip amongst the blockbusters, and no one will ever notice it. Many years later, elitists who have this game will deride those who don't, and it will be labeled as a rare game. You know the kinds of games I'm talking about. Beyond Good & Evil is one of these kinds of games. Its execution is brilliant, and it has a unique story that makes this one of 2003's sleeper hits. I'm writing this review so you know to buy this game, so you won't be attacked by fanboys a few years from now when it becomes the cool thing to do. You'll know to drive out the store and buy this game now. If you still aren't convinced after reading this, then I'm not sure what to tell you. You'll be passing up one of the most unique games on the PS2.
Beyond Good & Evil takes place on the once peaceful planet of Hyllis populated by humans, and a various other aliens in the form of talking animals that move around in a human-like way. You've got talking pigs, talking weasels, talking walruses... yes, walruses. But beneath this somewhat bizarre set-up, there's a fantastic story to be had with really great characters. Hyllis has recently come under attack by the Domz, a race of space aliens that want nothing more than to make slaves out of the innocent population. The Alpha Sections, an elite military force, combat the Domz as best as they can, but seem to be failing. Jade is a freelance photographer, and is free of conflict until the Domz attacks were lighthouse, where she keeps an orphanage. Directly after this, she is contacted by the IRIS Network, an underground group of radicals who believe that the Alpha Sections are actually working with the Domz. They hire Jade to prove this, and along with her talking pig (quite literally) of an Uncle named Pey'j, she sets out to top secret government facilities to discover the truth. Her adventure will take her through some of the dankest, darkest most dangerous places on the planet... and even beyond.
The planet of Hyllis is mostly covered in water, so you'll have to traverse the planet using your hovercraft. This can get you from place to place, and you can also use to attack sea creatures and looters. The world is no where near as big as the one found in Wind Waker, but it does a great job of providing freedom to the player. You can raid secret caves with it, and even enter into racing tournaments. But once it's time for the mission to begin, you'll most likely be on foot. Despite the fact that she's a photographer, Jade is a very good fighter. Armed only with a Dai-jo stick (like a staff), she can attack in all directions, and perform some pretty fancy looking combos. Holding down the attack button allows Jade to perform a charge attack, which can be used to clear out a room of enemies a lot faster. The great thing about the combat is how flawlessly teamwork is done. For the most part, you'll be fighting along side Pey'j, or the IRIS agent Double H. They each have a special attacks that will knock the enemies into the air. This is where Jade can strike an enemy while aiming for another object. This is great for taking out security gates and other contraptions that won't allow you to pass. Just slam the sucker into the gate and watch as they both blow into a million pieces.
It's not all just fighting though. Jade will have to sneak around a lot too, because those Alpha Sections don't go down so easily. By simply pressing a button, Jade will enter stealth mode, and that's it. She can creep without being heard, and she can duck behind any object. While in this mode, the player can rotate the camera in any way to get the best view of the situation. If you manage to sneak up on an Alpha Section, you'll be able to kick them in a vital area with hilarious results. Not the groin you pervert, their oxygen tanks! Jade can roll, sprint and hang from objects to complete her missions. For a photographer, I've got to say, she'd make a great spy. Another big factor in the missions is evidence. You can't prove conspiracy if you don't have evidence right? You're going to need photographs, which just happen to be Jade's specialty. By pressing R1, you'll raise your camera, and you can take a picture of anything you want. To complete your missions, you must capture certain events on film, but that isn't the only use for your camera. Since the Domz is bent on wiping out the population of Hillys, a research scientist needs a photograph of every species on the planet. Finding the little critters running around the environments is half the fun. Some can be easy to take a picture of, but then again, some are very tricky and require a lot of patience.
The graphics are very good, but they're also very unique. It does a great job of showing diversity and different cultures. The pedestrian district is bustling with people, with neon lights, crumbling buildings and vendors line the streets. The lighthouse is calm and peaceful, with kids running around and the perfect landscape to watch the sun set over the ocean. The factory is dark and gloomy, like some monstrosity awaits around each and every corner. You'll be glad to look upon the open sea when you return from missions, believe me. Especially when the water is so beautiful. The character models are really cool, from Jade's punk rocker chick attire to Double H's massive military armor, all the characters really stand out from each other. The animations are smooth as well, Jade flows as she attacks from one enemy to the other, there isn't an awkward pause as she changes targets. Knocking an enemy into an electrified gate will produce some spectacular results, in fact, all of the explosions are awesome looking. This game has a distinct visual flare to it, you have to play the game to understand.
This game features some of the best music I've heard in a game in a while. It adds to feeling of culture that I mentioned above. It feels like music that would be playing in a bar that houses an underground network of terrorists. The score will become more dramatic when necessary, especially during boss fights and a fantastic scene towards the end of the game. The voices in this game are perfect for the character. Pey'j sounds coarse and tough, but knows just what to say to make Jade feel better. I mean, how else would you expect a talking pig to sound like? The voice actors bring little quirks to their characters, which make all of them instantly likeable. The dialogue between Jade and her partners is always witty, and most of the time, it will make you laugh.
Considering the size of the planet, and the things you'll be able to do, this game has plenty of replay value, especially if you want 100%. The game as a whole is a little on the short side, but it'll be nothing but pure fun the whole way through. Beyond Good & Evil really has it all: sharp graphics, smart dialogue and a deep and relevant storyline. Here you are, one small person, going up against a tyrannical government and an entire race of aliens, simply to prove conspiracy. Somewhere in the middle of the game, you'll realize exactly how grand this game is, on so many levels. It's funny, touching and brilliant. Maybe you don't understand what I mean yet, though I hope that isn't the case. If it is, then you will understand when you're blasting off into outer-space. Literally.