Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition review

Originally released in the early 2000s, Beyond Good & Evil is an all-time classic title with a raving fanbase to this day. The Ubisoft-developed action-adventure game borrowed more than a few cues from Nintendo's iconic The Legend of Zelda franchise but offered its very own spin with its distinct sci-fi setting and gameplay elements.

Two whole decades later, Ubisoft celebrates the nostalgic gem with a crisp new remaster titled Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition. Developed in collaboration with Virtuous, this allows a modern audience to find out why exactly protagonist Jade's sci-fi adventure to stop a rising evil is one to watch out for.

Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition is the definitive way to experience the classic

Major or minor, each NPC has a distinct personality (Image via Ubisoft)

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For all intents and purposes, this is a remaster. Whether you're a newcomer or a longtime fan, expect to step into the shoes of Jade, a reporter who must unearth a sinister conspiracy brewing behind the scenes on the planet of Hillys.

This realm is home to a variety of alien creatures, many of which are anthropomorphic animals such as Jade's adoptive uncle Pey'J or the Mei, editor and publisher at the rebel organization called the IRIS Network. Others are humanoid just like her, like Double H, another IRIS agent.

While Jade and her adoptive family largely grew up in peace under the protection of the Alpha Sections, things take a sinister turn with the invasion of the DomZ Armada. Wielding her trusty Dai-Jo staff and her handy camera, Jade slowly uncovers a plot that not only turns everything she knows on its head but also threatens the peace of Hillys.

Some segments are more challenging than others (Image via Ubisoft)

Aiming to arm the Hillyian public with newfound information that will help them fight against the oppressors and uncover the puppets in the shadows, Jade must navigate the planet, from lush natural environments where alien critters roam free to sinister factories that hide evil secrets.

Overall, the lore, characters, and atmosphere are the draw of the game; from the funny and likable characters to the breathtaking vistas, Beyond Good and Evil was ahead of its time in more ways than one. The game boasts mature themes like poverty, corruption, war, and how easily the common folk can be lured into a false sense of security by those who are supposed to protect them.

Pro-environmental sentiment is a big aspect of Beyond Good & Evil's story, and this is expressed through gameplay as well; Jade must photograph various organic lifeforms encountered on her adventure and she will obtain Credits in exchange as well as Pearls—the two key currencies. The former is used to buy consumables, like healing items and repair kits for the hovercraft.

The Legend of Jade

Challenging stealth and platforming sections await (Image via Ubisoft)

The gameplay highlights concern exploration and combat, both of which occur seamlessly. On foot, Jade will explore her hand-crafted 3D surroundings across Hillys, ranging from photographing the rare animals found tucked away in corners or battling threats using her staff. The interaction with the environment is contextual and often automatic as she shimmies along ledges and climbs as needed.

Jade can perform a basic strike combo or charge up her staff for a 360-degree spin attack for mob control, which is handy when facing multiple foes. She can also go into first-person at the tap of a button, which is great for clicking pictures of critters and precise aiming. Jade's health uses a heart system like the Legend of Zelda games. What sets it apart is that the heart upgrades can be allotted to companion NPCs accompanying her on the journey.

Progression influenced by Nintendo's major action-adventure IP is strong as players will find new tools and upgrades to help them reach new locations and areas. Teaming up with companions like Pey'J and Double H, players will explore lengthy dungeons, solve puzzles, fight bosses, and more.

More areas become explorable as the ship is upgraded (Image via Ubisoft)

The hovercraft will help Jade traverse water bodies and even the occasional races, all of which control well. Players will also buy ship upgrades at the Mammago shop where rare Pearls can be exchanged to buy abilities like a booster for jumping. Unlike Credits, Pearls are uncommon and usually rewarded for completing side content, dungeons, and most commonly, for completing one photo reel of animals.

Given its age, this game won't hold the player's hand; besides the mission objective and marker on the map, players must find their way around, especially in the bigger dungeons that ramp up in complexity as the narrative tuts forward. On the other hand, many of its elements don't stand the test of time.

The combat is fairly basic and the camera/soft lock-on mechanic does no favors during action segments. There are also basic stealth elements and while they are not particularly egregious, they can drag on. All things considered, the game still does a good job of balancing things as a whole even though it gets progressively tougher over its 15-20 hour story.

What's new?

While it is easy to assume that Beyond Good & Evil is a straight-up port, that is not the case. A ton of new changes have been introduced here, including an auto-save feature, artwork and video Gallery, a new Speedrun Mode for hardcore fans to challenge themselves, and more. There is also a brand-new side quest centered around a treasure hunt that ties into the upcoming Beyond Good & Evil 2.

Graphics, performance, and sound

The game is a massive visual step up from the 2003 original (Image via Ubisoft)

While the game did receive a PC version back then, this latest rendition blows it out of the water. Upgraded character models, revamped dynamic lights and shadows, and, yes, even a wholly reorchestrated soundtrack ensure this is the ultimate package

On the performance side, things are fine as this is essentially still a PS2 title. That means some compromises are in order and the biggest blow is the frame rate, which is capped at 60 even on PC. Plenty of PS2-era games use physics-based logic, and we assume the same is true here, which would explain the omission of a higher frame rate target.

In conclusion

The journey ahead is perilous (Image via Ubisoft)

Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition is a largely solid remaster whether you're a returning fan or diving into its immersive world for the first time. The upgraded visuals retain the aesthetic without losing the original vision while everything else that has remained the same has been refined as much as possible.

While those additions as well as the new side content are not enough to hide the game's dated elements, that still does not mean this trip is worth passing up on. If anything, players hotly anticipating the next-gen Beyond Good & Evil 2 have the most reason to check this out, especially if they haven't experienced Jade's journey before.