Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond freakin' cool. Dig on one of the coolest games of the show from the creator of Rayman.
Published: May 20, 2003
After three different games across countless platforms, it's fair to assume that the Rayman games are something of a hit. This due in no small part the series' near-insane amount of detail that's ladled generously over every little nook and cranny, creating an experience that's as fun to play as it is to watch.
Imagine, then, if the minds behind the Rayman decided to craft something a little more story driven then Ubi Soft's flagship limbless platformer. Now imagine this story unfolding slowly, and cinematically with healthy helpings of plot twists here and there and a narrative that's rife with conspiracy, and you'll have a good idea of what Beyond Good & Evil is trying to accomplish. Given the creator's pedigree with gorgeous platform games, we're more than confident that they can pull it off.
BG&E takes place on the planet Hyllis, a world besieged by constant alien attack. Jade, a young girl caught up in the conflict finally crumples to the ground in exhaustion after defending her island, and experiences terrifying visions. When she comes to to find her world seemingly ridden of the alien menace, she begins to reflect on the visions, and despite claims to the contrary from her government, she begins to entertain the idea that the aliens are anything but finished with their invasion. When a rebel faction begins crying out, Jade's suspicions are further confirmed, and she takes up her belongings to explore the truth behind the government's claims of peace.
The thing that makes BG&E so attractive, however, is how incredibly well presented the whole experience really is. Rayman creator Michel Ansel has been toiling on the game for over three years now, and it shows. The game, powered by Ubi Soft's proprietary Jade Engine, is an absolute sight to behold and sadly still screens really can't show you how fluidly everything moves. The world is teeming with nuanced touches that help it segue seamlessly from one gameplay style to the next – from stealth sneaker to weapons-based brawler to hand-to-hand combat to shooter – and throughout the entire experience the same attention to art style and detail keeps the game visually stunning.
Being a story-driven game, we'll really have to plop down and digest Beyond Good & Evil's narrative, but if extended play with the game leave us with the same impression we walked away with during the non-stop clamor of E3, we could be looking at one of the best games of the year. Yep, really.
Imagine, then, if the minds behind the Rayman decided to craft something a little more story driven then Ubi Soft's flagship limbless platformer. Now imagine this story unfolding slowly, and cinematically with healthy helpings of plot twists here and there and a narrative that's rife with conspiracy, and you'll have a good idea of what Beyond Good & Evil is trying to accomplish. Given the creator's pedigree with gorgeous platform games, we're more than confident that they can pull it off.
BG&E takes place on the planet Hyllis, a world besieged by constant alien attack. Jade, a young girl caught up in the conflict finally crumples to the ground in exhaustion after defending her island, and experiences terrifying visions. When she comes to to find her world seemingly ridden of the alien menace, she begins to reflect on the visions, and despite claims to the contrary from her government, she begins to entertain the idea that the aliens are anything but finished with their invasion. When a rebel faction begins crying out, Jade's suspicions are further confirmed, and she takes up her belongings to explore the truth behind the government's claims of peace.
The thing that makes BG&E so attractive, however, is how incredibly well presented the whole experience really is. Rayman creator Michel Ansel has been toiling on the game for over three years now, and it shows. The game, powered by Ubi Soft's proprietary Jade Engine, is an absolute sight to behold and sadly still screens really can't show you how fluidly everything moves. The world is teeming with nuanced touches that help it segue seamlessly from one gameplay style to the next – from stealth sneaker to weapons-based brawler to hand-to-hand combat to shooter – and throughout the entire experience the same attention to art style and detail keeps the game visually stunning.
Being a story-driven game, we'll really have to plop down and digest Beyond Good & Evil's narrative, but if extended play with the game leave us with the same impression we walked away with during the non-stop clamor of E3, we could be looking at one of the best games of the year. Yep, really.