Beyond Good & Evil is a game somewhat shrouded in mystery and deceit. Though for the first hour or so you’re not really sure what you’re clouded from or even what the story is about, BG & E develops into quite the action/adventure (and stealth I might add) experience. Playing out a character named Jade and living on the planet Hillys as a caretaker of small children (or the closest thing resembling children), a brand of evil known as the Domz attacks the planet creating chaos and all sorts of ensuing disaster. While it might seem like a straightforward case of survival… knowing who to believe and trust might not be as clear cut.

Like any good action/adventure game, BG & E offers gamers a bunch of different gameplay situations. First and foremost is Jade’s camera. Being an action reporter Jade will use her camera to seek out the truth and identify different species on the planet. Taking snapshots of all the different creatures and inhabitants on Hillys turns out to be a lot of fun. Not only will this help earn some quick cash, you’ll also feel like some type of National Geographic photographer going out into the wild looking for some rear creatures. You’ll also have to take pictures of evidence to shed light on the truth about the Domz and who they really are. And if you’re being particularly silly one day, you can take personal pictures of your friends or of the beautiful Hillian sky.

Of course taking snapshots isn’t all you’ll be doing in BG & E. Jade is also equipped with a wicked staff known as a Dai-Jo stick. Reminiscent of Star Fox Adventures, individual combat in B G & E is simple, fun, but never really gets too sophisticated or in-depth. It would have been nice to have some RPG elements and allow for some new flashy moves. For now you can look forward to a combo whirlwind attack and the ability to attack in all directions with ease. This allows some fast-paced fighting in a sort of button mashing way. Definitely not BG & E’s strongpoint but there’s an added twist to give the combat scheme some life. Sometimes you’ll have the help of a companion, and get this; they actually do help from time to time. With the press of a button you can command your friend to perform a special move that’ll leave the enemy open for one extremely cool matrix-like wallop. Pulling this attack off you can send your enemies flying into each other, explosives, or into walls. Probably one of the cooler things I’ve seen this year.

So when you think action/adventure you can’t help but have Link on the brain. Fighting, collecting weapons, but more importantly, getting engrossed into the world that Link existed in. The people, atmosphere, and the land are some of the things that made that series so fun to play. With BG & E you can tell a lot of time was taken to produce a similar effect. In Hillys you mode of transportation is a hovercraft. Zipping across the water going from place to place like your lighthouse home, a city (albeit a small one), a garage populated with aliens who, for some reason, have a Jamaican accent, and even caves that hold some special treasures you’ll come to love and need. Since there is no really urgency in BG & E you’ll also have plenty of time to explore these different locations. Go to the bar in the pedestrian district and play an addicting game of what can only be described as futuristic table hockey or have some small fun racing your hovercraft for money. Though all of these possibilities will keep you occupied for so long, and that in fact, is probably the only problem with BG & E, not enough to quench my thirst. Every part of BG & E has a great touch of futuristic and sci-fi blend but just not enough. I wanted to see what lays outside of this small part of Hillys, what type of creatures are there? What other species lay on this planet? So many questions and curiosities that I have; I can only hope that a sequel will shed light on. Beating the game in about 10 hours, you can’t blame me for wanting more. Because of this, BG & E falls just short of becoming something memorable and special as something like Death Mountain or the Lost Woods. That being said, no matter how short BG & E ends up being for you, you’ll enjoy all the moments with it.

The artists and special effects makers of BG & E really did a top notch job of creating Hillys and bringing it to life. This is ever so apparent when you look up to the sky at night (there is a constant switch between day and night) with your camera and notice star constellations. It’s a very omniscient sight to behold. The quiet night, stars in the sky, the water cascading ever so slightly, it looks gorgeous. BG & E also displays an abundant amount of colors and life, whether they’re crystals hanging in a cave or walking around the semi-lush lighthouse area.

When making a new planet you’ll need to come up with new life and new inhabitants. Taking pictures throughout the game you’ll notice most of the life in BG & E. There are plenty different species, monsters, and even little critters that sort of resemble iguanas that populate Hillys, each with a unique look. Jade also seems to have her own heroine look down well. Green lipstick, clothing, nice array of kick-ass moves, yep it’s all here. You’ll see Jade back flip, side-step, jump, climb, and dazzle her enemies with plenty of little special effects and lighting particles.

Probably what impressed me so much about BG & E’s graphics are the multitudes of imagination at work. Every where you look you’ll see something that’ll make you go, hey that’s pretty neat looking. I think that is what best sums up its graphics, beauty, art, and imagination; the blending together to give gamers a whole new world (well a small portion at least) to witness.

BG & E does another great job with its sound effects, music, and voice acting. Though the sound effects are more subtle like a tip toe through a metal grate, or that rustling of water on a quiet night, all of them are crisp, clear, and clean. What’s better than the effects is the voice acting. Dialog between characters is humorous and each character displays the perfect attitude whether it’s Double H and his somewhat Buzz Lightyear persona or Jade’s Uncle Pejay who has a fatherly approach in the game. The only person I felt lacking at times is probably Jade, and to no fault of her own but more of the script not giving her a whole lot to say. That being said, every bit of voice acting from the characters, to the enemies, and even the robotic voices of the vending machines are great.

The music is also done well and follows a subtle eerie approach during stealth situations and upbeat rock music during combat situations. Never tiring or old, the music paves the way for all situations in BG & E.

Staying in tune with its futuristic motif, BG & E’s interface is both new and welcomed. While the in-game interface only shows Jade’s health and current item as well as her companion’s health, what really caught my attention is the item screen. You’ll be able to look at your photographs, map, objectives, items, as well as give items (card keys, food etc…) to your sidekick in case he needs it. While this is all typical stuff in an action/adventure the look and feel fits the ambiance of the game perfectly. And as with virtually all Xbox games nowadays you’ll also get your in-game Dolby Digital sound and 480p support.

Beyond Good & Evil is a perfect addition if you’re looking for something to get you through the month. While it’s over way too early, you’ll still have a sense of gratification when finishing out the story. BG & E gives action/adventure junkies just what they’re looking for: a well made story that needs to be played out and experienced for all its worth. Being one of the prettier and more interesting games of 2003, there is no reason this title shouldn’t be one of the first titles you play for 2004.