Considering the long-term continuous development of Beyond Good and Evil 2 and the subsequent backlash from the diehard fans that Ubisoft has brought upon itself over the years, it’s easy to forget just how good the original game was. Originally released on the PS2, Xbox, and GameCube in late 2003, Beyond Good and Evil was one of the most unique adventure games of its time, presenting a world that Nintendo itself was proud to call its own.
This 20th Anniversary Edition The remaster updates the experience with improved visuals, (sort of) improved performance, quality-of-life upgrades, and more. But is it as fun now as it was two decades ago? Well, thankfully the answer is a resounding “yes”: Ubisoft’s rerelease is easily the best way to experience Jade and Pey’j’s epic journey on Nintendo hardware, but it’s not without its fair share of problems.
Speaking of the visuals to start, Ubisoft has done a great job upgrading Beyond Good & Evil without losing any of the charm of the original. Real-time lighting has been implemented, giving both the environments and cast of characters a whole new lease of life, while some models have been updated to look a bit, um… better. This is perhaps most apparent with Jade’s uncle and companion, Pey’j, who has slightly larger and more animated eyes than we’re used to seeing in the original. Overall, though, the game definitely boasts a ‘This is what you are miss looks like old times’ vibe; it’s familiar yet new.
We were concerned that the upscaled visuals might lead to some performance issues, but the game maintained a solid 30fps. This occasionally dropped when dealing with certain effects like explosions or heavy water flow, but it was minor enough that it never got in the way of our enjoyment. Now, it’s worth noting that other versions of the game on PS5, Xbox, and Steam run at 60fps, and even the 360 version of Beyond Good and Evil HD runs a lot smoother on the Series X thanks to Xbox’s FPS Boost feature (though without the visual improvements seen here). That’s a tough pill to swallow, but taken individually, 30fps is more than enough.
The game’s soundtrack received similar care and attention. More than 15 tracks have been completely re-recorded under the supervision of original composer Christophe Héral. Most of it will sound familiar, and you’d be forgiven for thinking nothing has changed if it’s been a while since you played the GameCube version, but it does help modernize the sound nicely.
However, the real joy of Beyond Good & Evil lies in its gameplay. That’s right, many aspects have actually aged quite well in 20 years: combat feels a bit forced, the camera can often get in the way, and some of the UI looks like it could benefit from a little TLC . The point is, though, that there’s so much variety on offer that it never feels like a chore to play. One moment you’re fighting a group of giant insects, the next you’re taking pictures of a strange-looking bird downtown before hopping aboard your airship to participate in a race.
Progression is largely linear in that you simply follow the story and go to designated locations. However, exploration is still encouraged, as you will need to complete quests to earn pearls. These pearls can then be used at the Mammago Garage (which has some updated tracks, by the way) to upgrade the hovercraft; an effort that is often required if you want to get to certain locations. The pacing is truly exceptional and it never feels like any gameplay mechanic outstays its welcome.
In addition to the main game, the 20th Anniversary Edition adds some exciting bonus features. You get a new speedrun mode that allows for significantly longer playtime, along with new outfits for both Jade and Pey’j. Finally, a comprehensive gallery section delves into the game’s production process and includes both still images and video. What’s great is that each section is enhanced with contextual information, guiding you through each segment and its relationship to the main game. It is not on par with, for example, Atari 50but it is clear that this has been done with care.
Ultimately, it would be easy to dismiss Beyond Good & Evil as a ‘jack of all trades’, but the truth is, its shooting, melee combat, racing, decoding, and world exploration mechanics are all superbly executed, making for an experience that’s truly unlike any other. There’s no doubt that the game has aged considerably in many respects, but like the GameCube Zelda: Wind StrikerThe positives will outweigh the negatives and with such a reasonable price, we have no hesitation in recommending this to both new and returning players.
Conclusion
Nintendo has received criticism for the price of its recent Switch remakes, so seeing Ubisoft’s Beyond Good & Evil lovingly restored at a reasonable price is a real treat. The 20th Anniversary Edition boasts some lovely visual and audio upgrades, a great library feature, and a host of meaningful extras that make this return to Hillys worth the trip. Admittedly, the 30fps performance on Switch is a bit poor compared to other platforms, and there’s no denying that the experience has aged considerably in some areas, but the gameplay is so varied and the world so unique that you’d be remiss not to give it a try. Welcome back, ‘Yade’.
