$20 Game of the Week: Beyond Good and Evil (PC, Xbox, Gamecube, Playstation 2)

Although this game was a flop in terms of sales, its clever gameplay, awesome musical score, bright atmosphere, zany characters, and deep storyline have seen this game earn itself cult status amongst fans, as well as high praise amongst reviewers and gaming critics. It was created by Michael Ancel, who also created the Rayman series. It was because of this game that movie director Peter Jackson handpicked him to develop the video game tie-in to his remake of King Kong. Players take the role of Jade, a female photojournalist. Using her camera, she and her pig-uncle Pey’j earn a living anyway they can until one day, when they get caught in a conspiracy involving mysterious alien creatures, government manipulation, and a resistance group.

The game is a blend of several different genres. An easy way to describe this would be a science fiction version of Zelda. There are equal parts exploration, combat, puzzles, and stealth. Jade uses her camera to photograph clues about the conspiracy, objects of interest, and the various alien creatures that she encounters throughout the game. She gains access to upgradable vehicles, which can be used to travel and participate in races. There are even several minigames to play in order to earn items and break up the action. During the on-foot segments, Jade has a staff which she can use to attack enemies. Many times during the game Jade travels with a partner. While the AI controls them, players can use a button press in order to get the partner to preform certain actions, such as opening a switch or activating a button. She can even team up with her AI partner to use a super attack. There are lots of secrets to unlock, and there is a lot to explore.

Although the game takes place in a fantasy universe, its storyline about a reporter using her camera to uncover government corruption tends to hit a cord in this post 9/11 world. According to Ubisoft, the game’s title comes from the need to look beyond the themes of good and evil. The game ends kind of abruptly, but thankfully a sequel is on the way. If you haven’t played this game yet, now is a good time to check it out. Although it didn’t do the numbers that it deserved to, Beyond Good and Evil stands as one of the finest games of the last console generation.