Review by: Bob Mandel
Published: February 17, 2004

Every now and then a computer game comes along that mixes elements of so many different genres that it is impossible to place it in an unambiguous niche. Some of these hybrid or mongrel titles work well, while others fail miserably. Ubisoft has released such an offering in Beyond Good & Evil, mixing adventure, combat, exploration, photography, puzzle solving, chasing, racing, stealth, and teamwork. This unorthodox release, designed by Rayman creator Michel Ancel, hits you with frenzied action right from the start, and the pace never lets up. What you experience is most reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the Nintendo GameCube.

You play the role of Jade, an attractive and feisty young freelance photographer who shelters orphan children on the planet Hillys. Evil aliens known as the DomZ are attacking this world, and right from the start you get a humorous surprise as an unpaid power bill causes a shield to fail, resulting in the capture of some of Jade’s friends. It appears that the only defense is through relying on the Alpha Section, an elite military force, but Jade soon links up with the IRIS network and learns things are not as they seem. Interesting undercurrents of conspiracy, as well as military and media corruption, emerge as you progress, with numerous plot twists to keep you guessing. The story is a lot deeper and more absorbing than what is usually found in computer releases, and it communicates a distinct message.

One of the nicest features of the gameplay is the photographs of various species you encounter. Since a local scientist for research purposes is compiling a taxonomy of the species on Hillys, you receive compensation in the form of credits for every different species you photograph, with rare species worth the most. Thanks to sound controls, it is easy to line up a photograph. You sometimes learn useful information about each creature, and your camera has limited environmental scanning capabilities. Even if a creature is charging full speed at you, you need to quickly flip to a first-person viewpoint and snap a shot of it before dispatching the beast. This dimension of the gameplay induces you to avoid just racing through locales, and instead to stop and learn a bit about each one.

Unlike many virtual adventures that just emphasize action, Beyond Good & Evil contains quite a bit of puzzle solving. In virtually every setting you have to use your brain a bit to overcome the challenges. Examples of these include turning off a generator, getting a code from a reluctant character in a booth, hitting a pod in the right direction to destroy explosives, and finding ways to access locked or protected areas. One of the hurdles you face is to gather pearls, which you may acquire through several means including defeating adversaries, winning an in-game competitive challenge, or negotiating with unsavory vendors. The challenges here are always intriguing and never mind melting.