Beyond Good & Evil HD

Beyond Good & Evil HD is a digitally distributed (Xbox Live Arcade) re-release of the iconic stealth action game created by Michel Ancel (previously released on PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube). The developers from Ubisoft introduced a number of adjustments, mostly focusing on upgrading the audiovisuals.

Beyond Good & Evil HD takes you on the planet Hyllis, inhabited by a peaceful race of Hyllians. Everything would be quite all right, if not for the fact, that the serene world has been invaded by an aggressive alien race, with the intent of conquering its natives. The main heroine is Jade, a young reporter, whom you meet while she is defending her home island from the invaders. After a desperate battle she falls down unconscious, and experiences disturbing visions. It is these visions that make Jade doubtful about the reassuring news that the threat has been averted and the inhabitants of the planet are safe. Jade feels that the invasion involves much more than the government officially admits, and when she learns that her concerns are shared by a rebel organization called IRIS (who rejected the official statement on the matter), she starts an investigation of her own, in order to discover the truth and reveal it to the people.

Beyond Good & Evil HD is a combination of dynamic TPP action game, puzzle solving, and and an epic story. On her journey across the world of Hyllis, the heroine battles various opponents (she has a wide array of both magical and physical attacks), traverses varied landscapes, and drives various vehicles (like a hovercraft or a flying machine). BG&E also sports a number of mini-games, one of the most interesting being hovercraft races. These extra activities are, of course, not obligatory, as their goal is to vamp up the gameplay.

As Jade, the player sets out on a multi-dimensional adventure, armed with a camera (pictures of rare animal species can be sold, and the money used for buying upgrades), investigative skills, and aikido staff. The mystery behind the invasion is not so obvious, and the unique narrative may fool even the most experienced players.

The expansive, varied game world was created with Jade Game Engine, written specially for this game. It is also worth emphasizing that the developers adjusted the original Beyond Good & Evil to Xbox 360 standards. The visuals were thus improved to HD (1080p). There are also better-quality character models, sharper textures, and remastered soundtrack. The game also includes a number of unlockable achievements.

Last updated on 09 January 2015