Beyond Good & Evil HD

Beyond Good & Evil HD mixes a variety of third-person gaming elements to create a fantasy story full of mystery and intrigue, all with updated graphics and refined gameplay. This remastered version of the original game offers all the same characters and levels, but with a fresh set of textures and high-definition video resolution. Playing as photojournalist Jade, you'll investigate a conspiracy revolving around an alien invasion on your home planet. Featuring stealth, action, and a solid story, this is one adventure you won't want to miss.

Main Game Features

• Immersive world with high-definition graphics
• Third-person stealth and action
• Photograph evidence and solve mysteries

Story

Beyond Good & Evil HD is set in the year 2435 on a distant planet called Hillys, a peaceful mining planet that is overtaken by an invasive group of aliens known as the DomZ. Although the government-installed resistance group called the Alpha Sections promises to defend the Hillys population, some suspect that they are actually working in tandem with the aliens. In the game, you control Jade, a budding journalist who uses her camera to uncover secrets and expose the truth. Along with some family and friends, Jade runs an orphanage for Hillys children and has her suspicions about the DomZ invasion. Desperate to find the facts, Jade sets out on a dangerous adventure where her skills will be tested.

The story in Beyond Good & Evil HD is one of the strongest parts of the game, as it feels massive in scope yet personal at the same time. Jade and the other companions you meet along the way feel like real people with real problems, making it easy to understand their struggles. As the game moves on and the stakes get raised, the realistic portrayal of oppression makes the story hit even harder. Even if you don't love the gameplay, the story is worth checking out and seeing through to the end.

Gameplay

The levels in Beyond Good & Evil HD are often open-ended, but you progress through the game in a linear manner. While controlling Jade, you're free to explore your surroundings, talk with characters, and try to solve puzzles when they pop up. Your main objective is to investigate a handful of areas around Hillys, looking for solid evidence regarding the truth of the alien invasion. Much of your time is spent navigating the environment and solving puzzles, but you'll also need to fight every now and then.

Similar to light stealth games like Sly Cooper & the Thievius Raccoonus, Jade can use the shadows to her advantage, sneaking around enemies and taking them down. Using either her ranged disc weapons or trusty staff, Jade is also a talented fighter and can pack a punch when it counts. That said, it's often better to take things slow, as your primary objective is to photograph evidence. Using your camera like in Dead Rising or Life is Strange, you must snap pictures of important items to continue, forcing you to examine the levels and keep an eye out.

Conclusion

Beyond Good & Evil HD is an exciting tale that blends sci-fi and fantasy while maintaining themes that feel relatable to the audience. The combat and camera mechanics keep the action from growing stale and the imaginative world design will leave you eager to move forward and see what's next.

Pros

• Mysterious characters and story
• Stealth feels good
• It's fun to take pictures along the way

Cons

• Some puzzles are hard to figure out
• The beginning of the game is slow
• Simple controls