Gameplay: 9.5
Graphics: 9.5
Sound: 10
Replay: 7
Multiplayer: No

Beyond Good and Evil definately doesn't have much of a name to live up to. Ubisoft makes it, so naturally one would expect it to at least be pretty good. But the game just hasn't received much attention. There was little to no hype surrounding this game. It just quietly slipped into the store shelves during the night. And so far, the sales definately have not been good for this game. The sales are so low, in fact, that the game has already dropped to $19.99 and if was only released a few months ago! Wow. But what do sales mean? Is this the sleeper hit of the year?

If it isn't then it is right up there with whatever is. This game is really surprising. Honestly, I have to say I didn't expect much out of it when I purchased it due to the low price and no hype. But what does all that mean anyway? This game shows hype means absolutely nothing. This should even be in the runnings for Action/Adventure game of the year, it's just that good. Read on to find out why.
The gameplay in this game is surprisingly deep. The game starts out by some alien type creatures attacking your home and you must destroy them. Well, this game doesn't have a tutorial, so you'd better learn fast. Luckily, there are unlimited lives (except every time you start over you are left with only half of your maximum health). Well, once the aliens are dispatched, that's when the game really begins. What I must say has really impressed me with this game is the fast loading times. They are few and far between and the game loads up the new areas very quickly. You won't be leaving to go get some lunch or catch a nap as with some other games. This is a free roaming game, which makes it so much fun. Feel free to explore the lighthouse and talk to people (they can give you very good pieces of information), but don't forget to take pictures!

Yup, that's what this game is all about, pictures. You play the role of Jade, a reporter that runs her own small business. You receive missions for reporting in e-mails. At the beginning of the game there is one missions that spans most of the game, taking pictures of different types of animals. Be sure to photograph as many as you can as there are big rewards for doing so. In a fight, even a boss fight, it is smart to step back and take a quick picture as some of them give big cash rewards. Also, upon completing a roll of film you receive more bonuses like pearls (pearls are used to upgrade your hovercraft and spaceship).

The hovercraft and spaceship are the transportation in this game. Use the hovercraft to travel the land, go into caves and cities, etc. The spaceship is obvious, it takes you to outer space where you can go to different planets! Very nice. You can also use the hovercraft in races to win pearls and money. Both vehicles have weapons, and both vehicles upgrade fairly similar.

The fighting portion of this game is pretty straight forward. One button to attack, press it over and over until the enemy is killed. Simple. Of course, there are more options. Holding down the same button will power up a super attack. Also, you can have multiple allies tagging along. They help out quite a bit and it is smart to provide them with health upgrades and also items to replenish their health. These allies do a lot of things for you. They have their own special attacks to allow you to enter certain places and defeat certain enemies (using when to use an ally's special attack in battle is critical for many enemies). There is also a stealth portion to this game.

Stealth is not the easiest thing in the world. Once you reach a certain point in your missions, however, stealth is required. The fact is, you aren't stronger than most of the enemies. So you either have to avoid them or hit them where they are weak. For instance, one of the enemies has a gas tank on the back of his suit. So hide out behind a wall (yes, you can press yourself against a wall, look around corners, crouch, etc), wait for the enemy to turn, then pop out and throw a disk into his tank. Easy enough. Then run up and kick him to finish him off. Watch out, however, as later in the game the enemies become more abbundant. Pretty soon they are in two's, three's, and four's. Then you have to be smart and hit an enemy, duck down, wait for another to try to help him out, take him down too, and repeat until all the enemies are running around helplessly because their gas tanks have been pierced.

Yes, I know, I'm still talking about the gameplay. I'm sorry, but really, there is just SO MUCH of it. Like I said, this game is incredibly deep. For instance, always be sure to explore the map as there are a lot of hidden areas to find money and pearls. Also, just because you have finished an area doesn't mean you should leave right away. Go back in when you can. Explore more. Certain areas can only be reached with party members. These areas provide many special prizes.

Alright, moving on finally. Now let's talk about the graphics. As mentioned earlier, Ubisoft made this game. What does that mean, you might ask? Well, that means you should expect solid gameplay and GOOD graphics. Yup, this game is no exception. It is obvious a lot of effort went into the graphics of this game. The characters are VERY well modeled. Their lips move when they speak, their body motions are fluid, there are curves in the right places, the bodies are in pretty good proportions (although the game is cartoony so a lot of the character models do look somewhat strange). There are also many different kinds of creatures in this game, both friend and foe. And I mean MANY. Ubisoft did a good job of making everybody look different so you don't run into the same looking guy too many times.

The environments are extraordinary. The maps are huge and well detailed. The buildings are bump-mapped very nicely. The game just runs smoothly and looks smooth, and it is therefore, smooth. I love it. There aren't jagged edges or faded graphics. This game is bright, colorful, and very detailed. There are posters on the walls saying different things, crates with insignias stamped on them, signs above stores, things in the backgrounds, etc. There is just always something to see. Because there is so much, it makes the game look better.

A few more things about the graphics (I normally don't dwell too much on the graphics, but this game really surprised me with how massive it is and yet how detailed it is). The water looks very good. When riding around on your hovercraft, shiny and somewhat transparent water will split and waves will form. That's the thing, everything moves at just the right pace and there is so much going on. There are always creatures or hovercrafts flying around. There are fish jumping out of the water, people going about their daily lives. It makes you feel as if you are in the game rather than simply playing the game. Kudos to all the designers.

Sound...wow...that sums it up. There is just such a variety in the different sounds in the game. Creatures all make their own sounds. There are footsteps when running around, the sounds of the water spashing when riding around in the hoverboat, the hums of engines from your own hovercraft and spaceship and also those of many others. When in a city, there is the usual background noises of people talking, walking around, etc. Everything just fits together to make it sound like a real city.

All of the characters have very good voiceovers. And that is saying a lot because there are a lot of characters in this game (a TON, to be more precise) and they all have a lot to say. And not just a lot to say, but a lot of unique things to say. I like it when the NPC won't answer two questions the same way. I also like it when the main character actually talks rather than just choosing an option but hearing to voice. Your allies are also very vocal. They keep in touch and say a lot of funny things (and the things they say change as the game goes along).

What I like most about this game's sound, however, is there is so much going on in the background. While walking around the base you will hear announcements over the speakers talking about shipments, company things, etc. When walking around the city you will see many television monitors on walls and such and they all have something fairly interesting to say and show. There is a lot of talking. Even walking around your own house you will hear the news over radios that are turned on in the house when you walk by them. Very cool.

I must say that my only disappointment with this game is the lack of more replay. There really isn't anything to unlock in this game, there is no multiplayer, nothing. It would be cool to be able to have Xbox Live so that people can come on and play with a bunch of other people in the game. The game is HUGE so it could be kind of like Freelancer or something where you could climb up the ranks. That would be awesome. This game just needs something to give it replay. More mission choices would be good.

This game is still good though. Other than the replay, this game is solid in all the other departments. Seriously, I can't believe this game isn't selling. I have told all my friends to buy it because it is awesome. Now, I'm telling you too. STOP READING THIS REVIEW AND GO BUY THE GAME!! IT'S CHEAP!! That's a fact. At least give it a rental and play through it once. This game is dirt cheap and it is freakin' awesome. Definately one of my favorite action/adventure games of all time. It will be yours too if you like the genre. Even people who aren't fans of the genre won't be disappointed because the game is just plain fun and it costs next to nothing. It's just so sad that this game is so short.