Game Review: Beyond Good And Evil HD

For fans of the original, the re-release of Beyond Good and Evil in HD format was an exciting announcement.  Once again we can play as fearless reporter Jade with her loveable "uncle" Pey'j and wacky sidekick "Double H".

The storyline of Beyond Good and Evil remains unchanged from the original.  You play as Jade - a reporter on the planet Hillys, which is currently at war with and constantly under attack from the aliens known as the Domz.  As the game unfolds, it is your job to uncover a conspiracy between the Domz and Hillys' supposed protectors - the Alpha Sections.  In spite of the main story's seriousness, there is a lightheartedness to the characters that makes the game fun and easy to play.

There is one main side-quest to the game that involves photographing all of the different animal species on the planet Hillys.  While it sounds easy, this can be a difficult task, as you are sometimes photographing animals that are shy, small, and hard to catch on camera.  It adds an interesting element to the game, however, when you're stopping in the middle of a boss fight to snap a picture of the creature you're facing.

While the graphics have been revamped up to HD quality, sad to say the camera angles are still as frustrating and awkward at times as they were back in 2004 when the game was originally released.  There also isn't much replay value to the game - once you've played it you've played it.  However, it is a fun break from some of the longer, more in-depth RPGs out there.  I will personally replay it trying to get all those photos, looter races, and other tidbits that are included throughout the world of Hillys.

As a girl gamer I have to say that my favorite part of the game is Jade herself.  At last we have a smart, innovate, funny character to play whose wardrobe does not make her look like a wanna-be porn star.  Even her proportions are appropriate!

The game was originally designed as a trilogy and therefore ends with a twist.  While the sequel hasn't been produced online, it's been hinted at by the game's creator, Ubisoft that if enough people download the HD release, the sequels will be given the go-ahead.  So get out there and get downloading folks, for 800 Microsoft Points, you really can't go wrong with this one.