Beyond Good & Evil Retrospective - 17 Years Later

CORRECTION: The song "Peace" is a different track in the OST. The song on my computer was named something different. The appropriate song title is called "Blue."
Intro: 0:00
Development: 3:00
Gameplay: 10:37
Story: 30:20
Conclusion: 55:43
Thank You: 57:08
Written, Edited, & Voiced by Alex Curtis
Follow Me on Twitter: / mechassault_man
BG&E Leaked Script: beyondgoodandevil.fandom.com/...
ComicFoil's Character Study Playlist: • Character Study
References:
2002 Build Footage: BG&E Myth
Batman: Arkham Knight Footage: Swifty Unknown
The Last Guardian Footage: videogamedunkey
F.E.A.R. Footage: The Forgery
Ubisoft Behind the Scenes Footage: Ubisoft Montpelliler, Ubisoft North America, bgeNetwork, elliotkidner, Jake "Ziggity" Steven
Rayman 2: The Great Escape Footage: NintendoMovies
Ratchet & Clank 1 Footage: Full Playthroughs
Music Used:
Beyond Good & Evil OST by Christophe Heral
Saki Kaskas - Callista

[@shewing5649]

Just finished this game another time after 15 years and it is a masterpiece. I was so surprised by the storytelling, the art direction and the gameplay. The combat system and the puzzles are so satisfying. I think it is one of the best games ever, it is so sad that it didn't work well at that time. I'm happy that i'm not the only one to think that. Great video !

[@Mechassault_Man]

It's a great game but it's aged in some areas.

[@arigatomuffin-san465]

I remember playing this when I was 6, finished the game when I was 9. Now i'm going to finish it again on my XBOX 360 again.

[@teneesh3376]

I agree it's a fantastic game, but not because of any mechanical depth. Much like the Zelda series, exploring the world and its characters are what make them great. Beyond good and Evil does beat Zelda by having good voice acting though

[@ivanmedina6071]

Im playing it for the first time, and honestly i am not that impressed, its not bad but i would not call it a masterpiece, kind of boring so far

[@Gladius_Here]

Back when Ubisoft was Ubisoft, this game was literally one of the best games of all time. The story, the gameplay, it felt like being in a movie.

[@Kiterunner]

One of the only games where I felt "sad" during the story xD

[@SvenPinhorn]

Awesome video. My Dad bought this for me when it first came out. I spent thousands of hours playing this with him, getting stuck and buying the gamecude magazines that help you find everything. Possibly the greatest piece of story telling ever. This, Metriod Prime, Wind Waker and Star Fox Adventures were my childhood. Thank you for this!

[@mab_8731]

Loved this video. I am really scared Beyond Good and Evil 2 is gonna be nothing like the first. It's already super late, and I just hope they make it as good as the first one. This is a Masterpiece of my childhood.

[@deetwodcs4683]

I'm not only scared for that, I'm more scared that it will be cancelled again after hearing about the team even saying it's in development hell, and they're just waiting for Ubisoft to cancel it.

[@NoArcane]

That emotional speech that Jade had with Double H and her dog made me cry the first time I played this game, I was 14, and now at 30 I played this game again and I cried again even though I don't easily cry to emotional speech. In all of my gamer life, I've never seen a storyline so well made, interesting and powerful

[@Mechassault_Man]

It's a good scene. Something that I think everyone can probably relate to; what Jade says: "Who do you think you are? Did you actually think you'd be able to make a difference?"

[@yan-rayiller-may8443]

If you turned 30 last year when this comment was made, that means you would have been 14 in 2007. So that means you played it 4 years after it came out. Which at the time it probably felt like an old ass game but we are now in 2024. This game is now older than 2 decades. 4 years from now you will be 35 and it would have been 20 years since you first played the game. At that point, you would be closer to being a middle aged person than being a freshman in highschool.

[@rockettaco]

I spent countless hours playing this on my GameCube in the mid 2000’s. I’m probably a bit blinded by nostalgia but it’s still one of my favorite games of all time.

[@Mechassault_Man]

This game is still very good. Well, I should've clarified this better in the video; The game is dated. The story and everything else surrounding the game is timeless.

[@rockettaco]

@@Mechassault_Man The game itself isn’t without flaws, but it definitely is a very enjoyable experience. As for gameplay, it’s very much a product of its time when it comes to things like the camera. And as you said in the video the story is more relevant than ever before.

[@Mechassault_Man]

@@rockettaco Exactly.

[@agentooe33AD]

This is one of my favorite games. I play through it annually.

[@rajasnagpurkar]

best video on beyond good and evil. very informative with lots of useful info I didn't find elsewhere. great job~

[@marenelinea]

I LOVE Beyond Good and Evil🤩 probably one of my fave ps2 games. I still have the game and my old ps2, and replay it from time to time.

[@soulmechanics7946]

So I always thought it would be perfect if they revealed after the kids get taken that Jade and Pey'j were an antihero criminal element before they settled down at the lighthouse, having been on the run from the law.

[@Mechassault_Man]

I mean that could be an interesting plot point but I feel like what we got in the main game is good enough. It was cut content for a reason.

[@lunarx3dfx]

This is one of my favorite games ever made. I don’t know how many times I’ve finished it. It still holds up today.

[@NickTaylor-Phantom-Works2]

This's excellent work mate. KZbin's absolutely rammed full of gaming videos - most are lazy, poorly researched and generally low rent, so it was refreshing to see a video of this quality. Sir, I doff my cap. Subbed.

[@Emi_Alvarez]

I have never found another game that seamlessly blends genres like BG&E. And the world, small as it is feels more alive than many next generation game. One of a kind.

[@Thefellomens]

I'm pretty sure I read once that the fighting wasn't as complex because Ancel didn't want Jade to be a fighter in the first place, she was intented to be more of a thief type character, but they were kinda forced to add it because it was thought the game wouldn't be appealing to gamers at the time if only stealth was an option. You can still beat the game without fighting any of the alpha sections.

[@twelvenation6393]

one of the best games just because the pacing of the game is a masterclass, the way every part of the game evolves and never feels the same and takes the story to insteresting places

[@deetwodcs4683]

This is amazing, you did a great job! This documentary reminded me on how great an animated tv show or movie would be about the story of the first game. Beyond good & evil was or still is one of the few games that has Dutch voices, this made it very special for me as a kid and made the story hit even harder. I didn't finish it back then, but I started playing it again a few years after it came out when I was a bit older. The story and the character are so strong, I still haven't forgotten about it. Unfortunately the game didn't make enough money to get a sequel and Ubisoft just isn't capable of making the game they set to make, it is way too ambitious for them, and they should have just made another game like the original but add on to the story. I'm afraid that it's getting cancelled again, since the developers said it's in development hell (no way?) and they're waiting for Ubisoft to pull the plug already.

[@gwina64]

It’s now 20 years and I replayed the game and I’m amazed how well it plays, I thought “I used to love it but it’s got fixed camera angles it’s probably a bit janky” no it’s more accessible then some modern games, honestly shame on all of us for not appreciating it when it came out this should be a home franchise by now

[@loganscott8091]

During the final boss, I didn't have many hearts (I think I had only 4 or so) and I couldn't go back to find Starkos or KBups because of where I saved. As a result of this, I had to try at least 30 times to beat him!

[@Mechassault_Man]

The first time I beat the final boss I had a ton of hearts and healing items but I never used them out of...respect for the game? I was a kid back then so I wasn't really sure. Either way, it took me dozens of tries too, and eventually I beat him and I recall it being one of the most satisfying things of my childhood gaming career.

[@hunterbeatbilly9836]

I find his final phase a bit tough. You have to follow the pattern, but with the controls being reversed. Fail, and it's back to square one.

[@Plavie22]

Absolutely amazing and well put together video. Thanks a lot for making it, and I'm hoping and expecting to see a lot more from you!

[@juliab3326]

This is one of the first games I played by myself as a child. I loved it and you´re right, I remember every location. Will definitely play it again when I visit my family.

[@EvilApple567]

Great piece here. I've only played the HD version, but I don't recall many frustrations with the camera or hovercraft movement, possibly due to the relative leniency of the platforming and action elements. I also found the final boss phase just, epic for lack of a better word, both on the gameplay and lore side. It was very enthralling to have a climax like that where the fundamentals of the game inverted and forced you to learn and execute precise inputs. The priest battle also reminded me quite a bit of the Aparoid Queen from SF: Assault with the absorbing/mimicking characters and all, and afterwards I found myself reflecting on the moon battles in relation to SF64 (Kehck's battle is similar to the boss of stage 2 "Meteo") and Assault. It really wouldn't surprise me to hear Assault took inspiration from this game in multiple departments given its development window and just how far ahead of its time BG&E really was. Also hearing the game's plot was directly influenced by 9/11 was pretty shocking (despite how sensical it is in hindsight given the development window, content, and tone), but just made me respect the game even more. I really do think the relationship between Jade and Pey'J is one of, if not the game's strongest point. Their dialogue is so authentic that it makes for some actually realistic and relatable characters, along with their very solid voice acting (especially Pey'J), and is likely the reason the fake out death of him is one of the very few times I've experienced any real emotional distress playing a game. It's certainly not perfect, the game could've definitely used another plot point dungeon, a moderately larger over world, and some extra sidequests to fill it (especially outside of the Pedestrian District), but the most important thing is that what the game does, it does well, real well. I sincerely hope in the time since its commercial failure (which I have to imagine was in part due to said lack of content making a rental the preferred way to experience it monetarily, especially at the time when rental stores were thriving) the team has gotten the recognition and respect they deserve for creating something truly special.

[@DylanMixable]

Fantastic Retrospective! Thanks for the great work 👍

[@fullmetalarmourr8167]

Probably one of the best games made alongside Morrowind only game i know that was able to capture the feeling was Mass Effect 1 and 2.

[@fullmetalarmourr8167]

Especially Mass Effect 2 feeled very close. Mass Effect 3 was good but feeled more like a action game.

[@BIG_MUNKY]

Finished this game today and absolutely loved it, and will carry it in my heart. That said, the game still pissed me off a lot of times, and I completely agree with most, of not all, the negative points you have about it. I really enjoyed this video. Also, if someone has played Sonic Frontiers, the “Ghost” guardian theme sounds an awful lot like Christophe Heral’s “Fight”. Check it out if you dig finding similarities in different songs.

[@bobbylennon2365]

This is set well written! Keep it up and you’ll be swimming in subscribers. You go man!

[@Mechassault_Man]

Thank you very much!

[@freeckycakeOG]

Hey, that's a good video. I love KZbin channels that go into the history of games. I hope you'll do more in the future. You got a sub! Edit: As a side note, I focus on the history of obscure games. Games nobody cares about.

[@newdraftanimations]

Waiting for the sequel (prequel), this video is perfect

[@Mechassault_Man]

I'm glad to hear you enjoy it.

[@ShinjiIkariFTW]

One day... one day :(

[@newdraftanimations]

@@ShinjiIkariFTW we will get back here, in this comment section if one day it will get released

[@newdraftanimations]

@@Mechassault_Man I bought it thanks to you! On my ps2

[@horacejohnson1730]

I remember when I bought a copy of BGE years ago for a single core PC I had at the time. I had to run the game with reduced settings because it was pretty demanding for its time. I didn't care for all the stealth at first but got use to it. All in all, really good game. Dreamfall game series is outstanding...especially dreamfall longest journey.

[@doubleh4820]

Great video !

[@Kevin51611]

I absolutely love Peyj. He's hilarious.

[@SpeculativeConjecture]

For all its fault this was the first game I completed and I play it once every few months and everytime it gives me so much nostalgia I just love this game and everything that sucks about it!!!

[@bubblewhip382]

Please keep up the good work.

[@Mechassault_Man]

Thank you.

[@jakedanielsen4512]

Just was I was looking for

[@adamwolnik4789]

It is recommended in my yt feed at 4 am in Poland when im drunk. I'm gonna listen to it before sleeping

[@soulmechanics7946]

I am playing this for the first time since I purchased it at release right now. Holding out hope for that sequel. Joe Levitt is on it, it will happen.

[@thekodawolfgaming]

The areas it does age badly in would be good if it finally got its sequel.

[@oskarsiwik3517]

Fantastic video, how it has so few views is beyond me, keep it up!

[@Mechassault_Man]

Thank you very much, I appreciate it!

[@reviathan3524]

Interesting video. :)

[@Mechassault_Man]

Thank you.

[@simonec3893]

Subbed! Keep up the good work! Btw you forgot the end after the credits. There comes a small scene that confirmed (in that time) that there was coming a sequel.

[@Mechassault_Man]

I know that there was a sequel tease, but since BG&E2 was stuck in development hell for so long, I didn't feel like I needed to mention it.

[@simonec3893]

@@Mechassault_Man ooh okay I get it. Makes sense

[@TheAdekrijger]

On the playstation the camera and especially the hovercraft control way better.

[@denestoth414]

I played this only on PC and thought you can't beat up Alpha section guards but apparently it was just so hard with the camera

[@mrkarbon]

Some of the most lovable video game characters i ever came across, great genre mix and a superb and straightforward storytelling. Jade, Pey‘j and Double H are easily in my top 50 video games of all times. And i‘m a gamer since the later 80s. Absolutely puzzling to me why BG&E wasn‘t a major success back then. Don‘t expect a sequel to ever happen and especially to resolve the first game‘s cliffhanger… BG&E aged very well and is still very worth playing today (GameCube or Xbox HD version). Major recommendation. 🆙🆙

[@ChristopherMcLarenExperience]

Dude I only heard that home sweet home song once when driving the hovercraft around the water during my entire time with the game, is that normal do you know? Whenever I see gameplay of people in the hovercraft on the water there is no music either, so I thought it was odd

[@radiationgreene]

ik we’ll never get it, but i wouldnt mind a remake like final fantasy 7 for bg&e

[@xmaa9x]

sadly, from everything that was shown of BGE2... it's disappoint how different it'll be (if it ever releases that is)...

[@taavipent8901]

🔥❤️

[@ThousandairesClub]

*I'd love to see Jade get merged into the Prince Of Persia franchise....something open world time travely* 👌

[@shaniawray4571]

I'm Surprised you didnt put in the post credit scene

[@NiekKuijpers]

Funny that was almost called between good and evil, i always incorrectly translated the game like this in my native language. I geuss it makes more sense or something

[@ninaschmidt3619]

Beats this game I love about everything about it

[@ThePreciseClimber]

Did you play this with keyboard & mouse? It's much better with a gamepad.

[@Mechassault_Man]

The PC version didn't allow me to use a gamepad unless I purchased some third party software. I wasn't going to spend 10 bucks or whatever it was back then to play a game for 7 hours and never use it again.

[@thannerulavanya4117]

8:31

[@soulmechanics7946]

So you are gonna whine about the camera closing in know Shauni too much? Can you not see how awesome she is!?

[@soulmechanics7946]

Aya Brea and Samus Aran, also, are outstanding female protagonists.

[@whatwhatyep]

I love how ps2 claims that when it's clearly either the master system or mega drive which is still selling to this day in South America. Apparently those markets don't count.

[@genetenz]

Gameplay doesnt hold up

[@Radical_racist]

Everyone playing older games ur not da only 1 ur common

[@jacksisco1]

I think its become that new starwars game.

[@loki.odinson]

YEAH RIGHT! Nice try Ubisoft. In development for OVER 16 YEARS at this point! Beyond Good & Evil 2 is NEVER coming out. Stop lying to gamers already, admit your failure, and move on.

[@TheKrensada]

I didn't play this game cause I thought the art style looked ugly. And now with it's dated graphics it looks even muddier.

[@Mechassault_Man]

Yeah the graphics haven't aged the best but I'd argue it still look fine enough, even today.

[@deetwodcs4683]

I think the graphics looked beautiful on the PS2 compared to games that tried to look realistic back then. People should understand why graphics look the way they look in certain games.

[@millennium677]

ubisoft used to make good games then they went woke and destroyed games

[@OMA2k]

What is destroying common sense is everyone calling everything "woke" for no good reason. 🤦🏻 Now Ubisoft is "woke" too?