Beyond Good & Evil

Money in the game is distributed as credit or in pearls. You will need these things in order to purchase the necessary tools to accomplish your missions.

The attack system is pretty simple. Jade has a staff that she can use to deliver a set of swift blows. It's a three-hit combo system, much like Starfox's. She also has some sort of telekenetic power that allows her to dish out a colorful explosion of particles at her enemies.

The music is excellent and unique. You will laugh at the hillarity of Mammago's, the auto shop where Jade will need to buy several parts to her vehicles. Even the music in Akuda's Bar will have you feeling as though you really are in a bar on some fantasy world.

There are several mini-games in this game. For one, if you go down the wrong path, you'll find yourself being held up by looters. You'll have to chase them down and catch them, if you want your money back as well as a way out of the trap. The second game is a race. There are 4 of them. Most of these are basically just another way to earn a pearl, if you're good enough to place Number 1. Another game involves playing some sort of ball game on a table. Then there's the shady man with the three walnuts. He hides something in one and then shuffles them around until he asks you to choose.

The fourth game is some sort of Star Wars type assault on the DomZ base. At first it will be you and your two buddies in a ship against an army of fighter pilots, but soon the sky will fill with fighter pilots from the IRIS Network.

The graphics are superb. I can't remember ever having to complain about any animation in this game. It all looks wonderful.

The story itself is magnificent. You will be totally into the happenings of Hilly's as you strive to get to the bottom of the conspiracy. All of the supporting characters make you feel as though you truly are part of their world. This is how a game should make you feel.

Beyond Good & Evil deserves an award for the oustanding storytelling, musical score, graphics, and sheer intelligent gameplay.

Spoiler Note: There is a chase sequence in the game that is absolutely fantastic. It happens right after you sneak past the guards on the rooftops in the pedestrian area. The dipping and dodging, while explosions are going off all around you, coupled with a suprising slow-mo scene will have you at the edge of your seat!

The major strength of Beyond Good and Evil is in its story. The setting has a homely feel, the characters are fun and interesting, and the struggle has a genuine anxiety about it. It's worth it to purchase this game just for the story.

The story, however, is not the only good aspect of it. It features a nice blend of differing gameplay styles, from sneaking past guards to hovercraft races to tabletop games in a tavern and everything in between. And it isn't just hacked together, it flows seemlessly, and it all has a place in the aforementioned top-notch story. My impression is that the developers created the story first and then built a game around it rather than the other way around, which is the way most games are done.

It is a bit on the easy side, but to me this is a good thing. This means that this game can be approached by all sorts of different people, even people that don't consider themselves gamers at all, not just long-time gamers such as myself. This is a great game to get if you have never played a game from start to finish, and at the same time the story makes it worth it for those that have no trouble with even the most challenging of video games. It really is an interactive movie of top-quality storytelling. From the opening sequence when Jade's home falls under attack to the ending when the full extent and nature of the conspiracy is finally revealed, the plot will have you glued to your console or PC until you finish, and you'll still be wanting more.

I'm still hoping for a sequel, though poor sales may prevent one from ever being released. But trust me, once you play this game, you'll care about Jade and what happens to her as much as I do.

• Games > More Systems > GameCube
• Games > More Systems > GameCube > Action

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