It’s been too long…
Fans of Beyond Good & Evil have been tortured for years. Being a huge fan of the original, I have been waiting to see how things will resolve after that cliffhanger ending for over two decades. Instead of finally seeing the sequel, Ubisoft has instead given us a remaster of the original game on its 20th anniversary. While I love this game and think this remaster does a lot to bring it into the conversation with gamers who might not have even been alive when the original came out, it feels like pouring a bottle of water on a forest fire. I loved revisiting this game, but it just made the fact that we haven’t seen any news about the sequel in years, even more painful.
Let’s not go too deep into the disappointment about the sequel and instead focus on the matter at hand. Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition is an overhaul of the original game. This is not a remake, instead it is more of a cleaned-up version of the original with some quality-of-life improvements and some questionable changes.
Somehow, these missions don’t entirely suck.
MSRP: $19.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $19.99
For those that don’t know or who are new to the series, you assume the role of Jade. She is a young journalist who is handy with a camera and is very good at uncovering the truth. The story revolves around a big corporation, alien invasions, and a lot of behind-the-scenes villainy that Jade slowly unearths throughout the adventure. It is a very intriguing story that has resonated with me for 20 years. The ending is simply stellar and left me waiting with bated breath to see how it resolved. Sadly, I still don’t know.
The characters really make this game what it is. Every NPC feels crafted and full of personality. The dynamic between Jade and the world makes it feel alive. This was when Ubisoft was hitting on all cylinders. This game delivers one of the most gripping narratives of the time, and it still holds up today.
Playing this game again still feels great. Yes, it is a game of the early aughts, but it holds up. The combat feels a little stiff, but I got used to it. The exploration is still amazing. The worlds are so full of life and color. There are stealth segments that don’t irritate me. This was Michel Ancel firing on all cylinders. This game has aged gracefully.
So, the big question about this release, what is new? Well, a lot actually. For starters the biggest change is that this game now autosaves. Now I know that doesn’t sound like much, but the original used a disc system like ink ribbons like in Resident Evil. Now that is all a thing of the past. Players can just worry about what they are doing instead of waiting to find a save spot.
The world is amazing to explore.
There is also the visual upgrade. This game’s art style has translated well into a modern game. The bump in resolution makes areas pop out even more. It also runs at a silky smooth 4K at 60fps. It is beautiful in motion and really showcases the design. There is also a new speed run mode, which I found little use for, but the biggest addition comes in the form of extras. There are a ton of videos and behind the scenes assets about the original game. It is nice to dig deeper into its development. There is also a tie-in to the sequel, which I feel like we won’t see for another 20 years.
This package is really well done, and I absolutely adore this game. If you have never played it, there has never been a better time. It is more than worth the price of admission, just know going in that some things may never be resolved. Some of us have been waiting 20 years, and still we wait. I hope it happens soon, but until then this is still an amazing experience that should be played by anyone who loves a great narrative, gorgeous world, and memorable characters.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
