Retrospective: Beyond Good & Evil

18 Comments by Blake Snow Dec 12th 2005 2:30PM
Filed under: Culture, Nintendo GameCube, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox

Ranked number two on our top 10 hidden gems of this generation list, Ubisoft's Beyond Good & Evil for the GameCube, PS2, and Xbox has somewhat of a cult following. It is considered by many to be the biggest sleeper hit of this generation but was a commercial flop. Edge magazine pays its tribute to the game and its creator, Michel Ancel via a retrospective.

From the article: "Beyond Good & Evil has a lot of code that it should be remembered for: the code that renders the lively haze of its world, Hillys; the code that governs its heroine Jade's lithe animations; the code which underpins its subtle storytelling techniques. But its place in videogame history wasn't assured until Ubisoft announced that it was through playing this game that Peter Jackson, then the undisputed king of the box office, had chosen the creator [Michel Ancel] he wanted to work on the game of his next film, King Kong."

Ubisoft could earn some killer brownie points from gamers with a sequel or similar game release, even if it continued the flop trend. Petition anyone?

[via 4cr]

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

ill trooper: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

'Beyond Good and Evil" was a really cool weird game, with a 'family' undercurrent, as well as the out-of-nowhere start-up option to play the game in Spanish! Also having the notion that you were out to photograph species to try to raise money to survive (an everyday reality) rather than 'kill everything in your path' made it one of a handful of unique games in today's releases.

I haven't really tried 'King Kong' other than the demos at 360 kiosks, but I do like the lack of a HUD - the health-level vial perpetually floating in the corner of 'CONDEMNED' is a major distraction...

CapAmerica: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

I loved Beyond Good & Evil its so sad that a sequel will never be created =(

I actually own the GameCube, Xbox, PS2 and PC versions of this game. The reason I own all 4 is not only because I love and support this game, But if I have a friend who has never played this game I can loan them a copy no matter what system they have.

Harry: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

The lady and I are playing through this game at this very moment, in fact. Not only is it a fantastic game, but it's eminently playable as a couple. We've been having a great time solving the puzzles together and trading the controller back and forth. I always find it surprising when a game mixes so many game styles successfully (stealth, racing, action, puzzle-solving, etc). But I can't agree more that this game deserves more recognition and more games should follow in its footsteps.

kelley barry: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

YES!!! Jade finally gets her propers! I've been a fan since seeing it at E3 when it was called Project BGE.

The gaming community spends a lot of energy griping about the dirth of innovation, but when something truly out of the box arrives folks don't tune in.

This game offers SO much variety of gameplay and a truly lovable story.

Many great game don't find their legs until later iterations (Grand Theft Auto anyone?). Jade and her whole tribe DEFINITELY deserve another iter.

dresden: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

Considering how the ending of the game pretty much guaranteed a sequel, it'd be only fair if the developers revisited the franchise...

It was a short game, and would have been great if they went with a 20 hour episodic kind of dealie.

Farey: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

Here's the link to petition for BG&E2:

http://www.petitiononline.com/bgaep/petition.html

Farey: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

Here's the link for BG&E2 petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/bgaep/petition.html

Jim Connolly: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

It was a sweet game. Maybe it will see a small revival due to Jackson's praise. And it's still pretty cheap, but getting harder to find. If they put some marketing bucks behind it, and maybe got Jackson's name on a quote or something, a sequel would probably do pretty well. Not to mention the rare fact that it can be marketed towards a wider audience. But do yourselves a favor and find this game, it's worth having.

scarfist: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

This is the platformer that made all others look like crap. Why it did not gain in popularity, I will never know. A sequel to this beautiful title would be heaven on earth.

JaSoN!: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

number 2, ur bananas. can i have some money? anyway beyond good and evil was pretty god alright. finished it and it was a nice chllenge. not too hard or easy.
itd make agreat environment for a MMORPG actually. plus didnt the end leave it wide open for a sequel. wont say anything more for fear of spoiling..
but ill always remember the life in the sky over hillys.

32_Footsteps: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

At E3 2003, I listed Beyond Good & Evil the second-best game at the show that year. It was one of the very few times in which the final product surpassed my expectations from the show. I still berate anyone with a current-gen console the second I find out they don't own BG&E.

scarfist: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

BG & E is the first game in years that has held my attention to the end more then once. More replay value then you can shake a chicken at.

Evil Closet Monkey: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

Possibly my favorite game of all time, with its only fault being play time (or lack there of). It is one of only two games I've bought multiple copies of for console and PC, and much of the fantastic music is on my media player. Absolutely fantastic.

Beyond Good & Evil's worst enemy was Prince of Persia. They came out at the same time and Ubi decided to put all its weight behind the other title. :(

scarfist: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

BG & E is the first game in years that has held my attention to the end more then once. More replay value then you can shake a chicken at.

Jason Anderson: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

Screw Prince of Persia. I want my BGE sequel! The damn game left itself wide open, it DESERVES to continue. We can't let the characters die like this. If a sequel came out on one of the next generation consoles, I would buy that console upon release. You hear me, Ubi?

Mark in Austin: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

I usually only come on here to make sarcastic, baiting comments, but I'll take a time-out from that for this topic.

I love BG&E. Aside from Zelda games, this has been my favorite game this generation. If the music had been in a movie, it would've gotten a nomination for 'Best Original Score in a Motion Picture' at the Oscars. The music was THAT good, I think.

Without seeming too partisan.. did anyone else pick-up on the political overtones throughout the story? Was the timing of this game a coincidence? A war-hungry leader (who seemed not-too-bright, I might add) wanting to "fight the terrorists.." and if you didn't support him, you were against him? A seemingly weak resistance? A French video game company creating this? This game was chicken soup for the liberal's soul, I gotta say..

My rating: FOUR STARS. If Ocarina of Time is 100%, this game is 95%.

Give me a sequel, Ubi!

Enemtee: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

Wonderful game, haven't finished it yet, but I'm loving it as I'm playing it through. Really nice, from the freedom, to the story, and the design falls perfect into my taste.

Brian: Dec 18th 2005; 9:02PM

Unfortunately Ubisoft can't pay employees with brownie points. It's a shame when great games like this don't sell, but if they don't then they're probably not going to get sequels. Sucks.

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