Remember when there used to be a time where if a game doesn’t sell well, that’s it. It’s dead and buried forever. Well, doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Either through crowdfunding or a ton of dumb luck, games that were hidden classics back in the day seem to be getting brought back. And one such game is the classic Beyond Good and Evil.
Beyond Good and Evil takes place on an alien planet where humans and totally not furry anthro creatures coexist. One character, a human named Jade, is a reporter for a media group that exposes the wrongdoings of the planet’s government. Jade, along with her uncle, a pig creature named Pey’j, travel across the planet in their little raft as they solve puzzles, fight off ravenous wildlife and aliens, and try to find the truth about what is happening on the planet. The game has a lot of interesting moments in it. One moment, you could be sneaking through a factory that ships humans off to alien planets, and by the next moment, your racing down a runway while listening to loud rock music. Did I mention this game is very French? I definitely get some Fifth Element vibes in some of these areas of the game. But the game doesn’t feel as insane as that movie. It feels more grounded and interesting. Like how you photograph the wild life in order to get some extra cash. Seeing this strange creatures is a real spectacle to behold. Some of them are impressive, like the giant whales in the ocean. And some, like the strange slug creature living in a dark cave, is one of my favorite moments in the game. Just you, this creature, and the soft music that plays behind it. Something about it just feels so calming and I love it. There’s also a ton to do in this game, all revolving around collecting the Pearls, items you use to upgrade your car. Getting these items is a lot of fun, from fighting off Looters, to solving puzzles around the game, and when you find a massive cluster of them, like entering a secret cave or getting them as rewards for completing story missions feels so damn good, and I don’t know why. Maybe I like collecting big shiny balls. Hell, just driving around in the ocean of this game is a lot of fun, because I love going through this world.
Beyond Good and Evil is an atmospheric spectacle that I can’t get enough of. Even after 100% the game and collecting everything, from pearls to anime photos, I wanted to explore more of this world. And it looks like I’ll get to real soon with Beyond Good and Evil 2. Even if the trailer makes it seem a little more edgy.