The Trouble With Beyond Good And Evil

Do you remember the video game Beyond Good and Evil? Though it can best be described as a pretty good Zelda clone, there's a lot more to the legacy of Beyond Good And Evil than that. Buried by a sea of historic releases the same year, Beyond Good and Evil should sit on a much higher pedestal. But why doesn't it?
#beyondgoodandevil #zelda #nerdstalgic
Written by Ash Mitrano
Edited by David Sadvari

[@MrEf56]

The first game was so fun. I loved taking photos of the wildlife/insects.

[@flclhack]

it still holds up today!

[@danteshollowedgrounds]

Of course it was overall peak.

[@alexanderrichards6403]

I recently went back and replayed it and I loved it just as much as before, the graphics are a little dated but passable, and the camera is junky at times but everything else I still loved. Except that I beat it in 2 sessions, the only issue is the announcement of the sequel and the cliff hanger ending

[@ChooseLife.YourLife]

The second game is pretty good too

[@hcsnake]

I’ve replayed it at the beginning of the last year, been doing it regularly every few years I think, it always feels super fresh after a long break. Definitely one of my favourite games of all time, I’ve never really forgotten about it.

[@mcmakelove369]

DUDEEE I RESONATE WITH THIS SOOO MUCH! Last time I played it was early 2022, think it’s time to boot it back up again 🤔

[@DaveStriderMaybe]

100% same. Literally.

[@VongolaXZax]

My favorite game of all time, from the old days of gaming. Me and my older sister always played it lol. Story was awesome, gameplay never felt repetitive and the music was engaging. I never considered it a Zelda clone, it was good enough to stand up on it's own, I'm still looking forward to whenever BG&E2 may come, if it comes.

[@danteshollowedgrounds]

Hell yeah me and my older brother played it for hours... Praying that BG&E2 makes it safe and sound otherwise.... I don't want to say if that negative ending will even come now as it's just sad if it will not make it.

[@calebstephan2083]

I think the problem was them trying to make the beyond good and evil 2 world was made too big. From what I've seen they were trying to make a solar system sized open world with each planet being designed and made by the team and not have it being procedural generated.

[@TobiasTheWolf]

I actually think about this game regularly. I always like to think it takes place in the world of Treasure Planet

[@Yaxoi]

... which is also one of the great movies of my childhood that deserves more credit, just as Beyond Good and Evil

[@InvertedWIng]

The 2017 teaser was not Beyond Good and Evil at all. It didn't look like it and it didn't sound like it. It was just another Ubisoft sandbox game filled with microtransactions, only with (incredibly ugly) animal people and the "Beyond Good and Evil" name slapped onto it in a poor attempt to generate hype. It bore little to no resemblance to the game I remembered and fell in love with, and it wasn't the way I wanted to see it continue. Hell, I didn't want a PREquel to a story that ended on a CLIFFHANGER! In my experience, that just tells me the writers have no idea how to even continue the story, so they just spin or elaborate on a bit of backstory unnecessarily to either buy themselves time, or to functionally reboot the franchise. My hype and hope for a proper BGaE continuation died that day, and I'm not sad that this project is dead in the water in all but name.

[@matttran7161]

BG&E holds a special place in my heart. I was bedridden (I'm fine now) and all I could do was lift a controller and I put SO much time into this game. I was also rediscovering a whole lotta PS2 stuff I missed. Anyway I've given up. 1. It's Ubisoft and 2. The trailer tone was all off.

[@ShadowRoadX]

One of my favorite games on the PS2! I do hope they at least have the good sense to keep it available on modern consoles. Even if the sequel ends up being absolute dreck, the original deserves to be remembered for the quality it showed.

[@petersonp84]

It is playable on current Xbox series through backwards compatibility and playable with disc or digital. I'm going to replay it soon!

[@ryanakers1372]

It's also available on Steam and Good Old Games.

[@themaster1514]

I remember that when BGE2 was announced I was stunned beyond words by what I was seeing in the trailer, this sequel of a game I never played before had me speechless and I thought "I can't be this hyped if I haven't played the original" so I went and did just that. Best decision of my life, I loved the original so much I got all of the achievements, I had so much fun, amd I couldn't wait anymore for a sequel to this gem I found... But the sequel never came, and I watch the trailers every now and then, still waiting with excitement and a little fear of never seeing this come to life.

[@81stCommander]

I love Beyond Good and Evil. I remember seeing pre-release footage of it and couldn't wait to get it. I bought it on release and instantly loved it. When they did a HD version on xbox I bought that and 100% it again. If they ever remastered it for current gen consoles I'd probably get it again.

[@petersonp84]

Not remastered but the game is available on current Xbox series through backwards compatibility and is playable with disc or digital purchase. I'm going to replay it after I finish Jedi Survivor (I'm at 99%)

[@builttoscalevideos]

I’d happily play through it again on switch if they released it the HD port again, it’s one of my favourite games of all time. Unfortunately I’ve pretty much given up on the sequel now. The first new trailer showed promise that we were finally gonna get it after so long, joined the space monkey program, then we started hearing less, gameplay started dropping, and turns out they were turning it into a shooter game. And I felt so deflated from there. Why take a game known for it’s stealth espionage and turn it into a shooter. Then they showed a trailer with Jade in it, when it was supposed to be a prequel. And that’s when I realised it was also just gonna be fan service the game. Then Press Rec came along and we’ve heard nothing since but the lead creator of the series has left ubisoft. All I’m left with now is a handful of really good looking trailers and a whole load of disappointment.

[@healingvisioner1]

Wasn't there a time when the development was getting put into the hands of the public? Iirc Joseph Gordon-Levitt's site, Hit Record, was, at least for a while, put on for development, which functionally meant that anyone could just go in and work on assets and music and stuff. I remember having doubts at the time about whether that could even work, and I guess it didn't, since I never heard about it again. Oh well.

[@alexroby3256]

I still start this up every few years because I adore it. But its usually because its randomly mentioned in a video like this, not because I'm expecting this sequel to ever actually happen 😢

[@KillahBounce23]

I love the First game so much. I've played it at least 4 times and everytime I finish it I'm getting sad because there won't be a conclusion to this amazing story. The first annoucement to BGE2 made me so excited because the story should be continued. After the second announcement I was devasteted because it was a prequel. Nevertheless my hopes were high because if the game is good there would be possibility to a conclusion of the story of the first game. But there is nothing until today and that makes me sad

[@cthellis]

The trouble is we didn’t get more, and faster.

[@SergioLeonardoCornejo]

Unfortunately the present isn't a good moment for the sequel to come out.

[@cthellis]

@@SergioLeonardoCornejo Indeed not. A shame.

[@calvinmatthews1527]

I've long accepted that Beyond Good and Evil 2 isn't happening. The first game was great and definitely was dealt a bad hand, but if it's taking THIS long, don't even bother.

[@anonymousalien7417]

Same, I don't think it's going to be released. But honestly, I don't really feel too bad about the fate of BG&E2. I never really looked forward to it, it just seemed like it was going to be a GTA clone

[@gabry2328]

​@@anonymousalien7417Or more precisely,another Cyberpunk 2077 clone

[@anonymousalien7417]

@@gabry2328 Never interacted much with Cyberpunk, so I can't confirm or deny, but either way, the trailer I was referring to was released way before Cyberpunk iirc

[@MonderMurshed]

finally found it!, i have great memories in this game in 2009, i came here again to see the towers when u try to leave the map xD

[@thedebunkers5992]

This just in, beyond Good and evil 25th anniversary edition has just been rated by the ESRB.

[@CrispyHulk1]

I’ve never been as hyped for a game as the 2017 reveal trailer got me. I never even played the first but damn that trailer was epic.

[@hiteshk1]

i used to watch Ubisoft's E3 press conferences just in hope to see a trailer of the BG&E 2. and when it did drop, I had tears in my eyes (Ancel wasn't the only one crying). BUT then... they slowly killed my hope. now i m dormant. i have no hope. even if it would come out in future it won't make me happy (I know it).

[@Spidernick88]

I think about this game all the time. It was one of my favorites of all time.

[@stakuga0519]

At this point, I feel like BG&E2 is doomed to fail. Imo, considering the long time of development, the amount of money they spent on this project and the fact it's Ubisoft we're talking about, they won't be eager to abandon the game so easily and will be desperate enough to release it with a few cut corners if you know what I mean. It would be a miracle for this game to live up to the hype or cover the budget. (edited) And if they actually decide to scrap it after all this time, wouldn't that be troubling for them from the financial standpoint? I doubt they would be able to get up after that. Correct me if I'm wrong

[@kevingame3198]

It's best they abandoned it and rebooted into beyond good and evil remake using unreal engine 5

[@anonymousalien7417]

Yeah, the only actual news of the game I've heard recently is just accounts of staff members walking out of the project. I don't think BG&E2 is ever going to happen

[@Omgacow1000]

I finally got around to playing through this game for the first time and I think it holds up very well. Gameplay wasnt amazing in any one aspect but there was a ton of variety, and I loved the world and story

[@beatnicksodyssey]

I never thought of Beyond Good & Evil as a Zelda clone. I originally played it on the PS2 years ago and loved it. It's one of the few games I've played to the end. I do have the HD remaster on the PS3, too. I started it on there a bit back and enjoyed it just as much as the first time. I need to get back to it. I think I heard about Beyond Good & Evil 2 once a bit back, but since I didn't have a newer console at the time I didn't pay attention to it. If it does come out now I probably won't be able to play it unless it's on PS4, but I would be very happy to play it if I could.

[@jasonblalock4429]

The sad thing is, I know I've played it at least twice - near launch on Gamecube, and some years later on PC... and yet I didn't remember 90% of the footage shown. As much as I recall playing it and enjoying it, in general, very little about it actually stuck with me. Although I do remember the bullshit reversed-controls boss fight at the end. That stuck, for the wrong reasons.

[@81stCommander]

I just turned my controller upside down for that bit. 😉

[@VongolaXZax]

​@@81stCommandervery clever

[@ArcadeMarx]

holy shit that meme you showed at 6:04 was made and posted by me a long time ago. glad to see it didn't go to waste 🤣

[@MrSpy13011]

Funny enough, what was promised in 2018 was the game I was hyped for. I loved the OG but I always wanted an open world sandbox in that universe. I hope we see some traction in the next couple of years.

[@rolfathan]

I didn't want a prequel. I wanted the conclusion to the first game. Real bummer.

[@Kevin51611]

The saw this game at Best Buy during the 2003 holiday season. I had no idea what it was, or about. I told my mom the following day to go back and get it for me. It was one of the back games I've ever played.

[@AidanRatnage]

No joke, I actually had a conversation that included it yesterday.

[@cal5365]

I unironically think about this game multiple times a year and cant get pey'j and double H lines out of my head, please I need help

[@TheJojoso]

Can someone recommend another fun game like this one??

[@ko0oz00]

RIP Emile Morel

[@acmiguens]

At this point, my hope is that the sequel/prequel eventually releases and even that seems to be farfetched

[@No-onesgayformoleman]

One of the lead team members on the sequel just passed away recently. The team wished him their condolences and will miss him dearly on the project. By that statement at least, it seems like the project is still alive, shame that type of confirmation comes from a loss at least.

[@Gofer]

Played the game in 2012, according to steam.. Remembering all the times people would talk about how great it was. Thinking such an old game wouldn't hold up but I had no issues with it for the most part. Today as this video states I barely remember anything. I'd guess the reason they're doing a prequel is to reboot the series for this reason. All I really remember is wanting the next game. With how positively people talk about it, sure it'd get one? As long as they can capture the original game I doubt people would mind how they went about bringing it back. But after so long and with key people missing that may be hard to do.

[@flclhack]

just recently replayed it on xbox. very thankful for their digital backwards compatibility.

[@lucasandrade234]

I never even had hope to begin with

[@kashikitsune8724]

Been playing the PS3 HD version recently after more than 10 years of beating it on the PS2. I absolutely love this game. In my opinion it's one of the best games ever made.

[@ceasarmontoya8793]

What releases first? The sequel to this or Metroid Prime 4?

[@ninthundertow]

Never even played fhe original game but i was excited about it after seeing 2017 trailer. Still waiting....

[@barrysmith4610]

Its best they remaster the first game to gain interest for the franchise then make a sequel thats as simple as the 1st game

[@aidenpearse2940]

This the sad sad future of the 3d zelda-like game that we love, but that no one want to play anymore.

[@Victorcolongarcia]

One of my favourite ps2 games. I remember the day I played for the first time. I got so hooked that I played like 7 h straight.

[@fabdvl]

Beyond Good and Evil was an amazing game at release and it's a cult classic now. It's an immortal game and will always be no matter what. It's too unique and greatly at that. And PLEASE stop calling it a Zelda Clone just because it borrows some mechanics. It's an offensive understatement for the uniqueness of BG&E.

[@overdev1993]

well the video says it's not a Zelda clone, thats was just bait at the start

[@TheGoodDoctor049]

It is a Zelda clone, a game with gameplay inspired by Zelda. If games like GoldenEye were Doom clones, this is a Zelda clone.

[@sunderark]

I wish they'd continue with the original story and goddamn tone. Turned it into a Guy Ritchie movie.

[@JoopyWeezer]

This is my favorite game of all time, if you couldn’t tell by my pfp 😂 played this game for the first time so many YEARS ago, it’s amazing and the first look at bg&e 2 made me cry so hard, but atm… not looking to good.

[@danteshollowedgrounds]

My childhood game me and my brother played nonstop and seeing it thrown down the rabbi hole of today well the sequel if not prequal of it being made and not getting finished over time like that new Cyber punk 2077 game that came back out then but is out again now just blows my mind with fatigue and overall bitterness with confusion and rage.... It makes me personally just want to burn up all newspapers into ash and start all over again, anew and be free from this madness.

[@gleaming999]

I played this game at least a dozen times.

[@alexthekill6715]

I literally thought of it like yesterday

[@HarmonixJourney]

As soon as I heard it was going to be a prequel, I lost all interest in the game. Especially because of the cliffhanger we got in the first one. THAT was the story I was interested in.

[@PlantPorn]

Ikr I would of even preferred a remake to what bge2 was going to be.

[@ennzzo48]

I played this game in 2011 even though the game was released in 2003. It wasnt my favourite game or so and therefore I couldn't remember a lot about it. But all of a sudden I remembered about this game after years like it was a core memory. And I found the game by searching "the girl and the pig game" because thsts all I could remember. 😂

[@calebstephan2083]

Beyond good and evil was my first and favorite ps2 game.

[@swede7581]

Yes this 1 i couldnt play in 2000s n got last year n started to play up to a few hours into it+Loved it.. But the problem is i really love the thought about to play n really dont like to actually play it....

[@LeeJohnson-zn9tl]

I need to revisit this game and actually finish it🎉

[@ndjnbr3730]

At this point I am no longer hyped about BG&E 2. I remember I devoured 2008s teasertrailers and felt so much excitement; same with the big cinematic trailer for BG&E 2. But as soon as I realized it was going to be a prequel instead of the long waited sequel to the cliffhanger of game one and the retire of Ancel himself I had a really bad gutfeeling what this new game is going to be. As soon or let's say if this game is ever released it will feel like a disappointment because it is simply something none of us had hoped for.

[@Bigbabki]

"it's been a while" well wrong, I still have the installer on my PC every thime I want to play it. Love this fucking game, one of my favorites out there

[@Kret_OT]

I kinda dont want it to come out anymore, im just afraid it wont be good, its been in development for so long there's no chance it'll live up to the hype

[@DaveStriderMaybe]

I´ve been playing this game since childhood, I can play it within a few hours, and I still never get tired of it. Also as a very big fan of the zelda series aswell, I find BGAE NOTHING like zelda at all. It has certainly is my #1 choice for the xbox. Stll waiting for it to come back for the switch. I wll keep my hope.

[@tz64nk41]

I let it go a long time ago, and Ubisoft probably should too at this point.

[@Dontcareidc]

Ubisoft is mor focused on releasing the same AC game every year then actually ever releasing BGNE2

[@LeeJohnson-zn9tl]

I've never understood the Zelda comparisons its nothing like it

[@adurpandya2742]

Whenever I think of France, I think of this game.

[@808Mark]

I wouldn't mind a remaster of the first game

[@bbreimm]

There was a remaster of the first game. I have it on PS3 and PC.

[@808Mark]

@@bbreimm i mean modern remaster like last of us got another one

[@overdev1993]

@@808Mark they would need to remake it, no studio in their right minds want to learn the code and engine of a 20 year old game. that would take ages. even the last of us isn't 100% a remaster (even if they call it that)

[@overdev1993]

currently replaying it and trying to get 100% I lost hope for BGE 2, to be fair yeah back in 2017 when it was properly shown off it was exciting but now it changed for me, not cause it probably never gonan release, because it just doesn't feel and look anything like the first one, just looks like a generic reboot of a game in my opinion also even if it would be released at some point Im really skeptical if it even would be a decent game, you know Ubisoft and their open world forumlas, when was the last time they released a GREAT game?

[@miangd6321]

This game is just incredible played it so much that i finished a 100% playtrough in a day (also the hobbit 2003 is amazing do not hate on it please).

[@Mysticgamer]

I would rather have a remaster or remake. I have no faith that ubisoft won't try to turn it into the assassin 's creed or far cry at home.

[@dennisdavidov782]

Ubisoft need to at least port/enhance the 2011 HD version of the game to modern systems and PC.

[@alexzaric]

i just start again to play this awsome game, for me its back to the past, easy gameplay and Good story, easy to fallow, not like newer games. For 2nd part, i dont think i will play it, it will be some other game, not like this one. three allgreen games for me are: This one, Mafia 1 and ofc GTA3, give to the game good story and the game will be great.

[@Peanutchex]

The problem is Ubisoft. We don’t want it anymore

[@K-J-A]

Speak for yourself We may not want Ubisoft anymore, but surely there are many who still want to see this game to be born.

[@SourStrawberrys]

This game was nothing like Zelda. It is a game of it's own.

[@ACook94]

Always felt more like Sly Cooper than Zelda imo

[@electricindigoball1244]

I played BG&E back when it was new and I was a massive fan. I was looking forward to the sequel even though the original art direction of BG&E2 was a bit jarring compared to the cel shaded style of the first game. All of my hype for the game disappeared with the 2017 trailer due it being a prequel (thus not resolving the cliffhanger from the first game) and because it deviated even further away from the original game to the point where it was almost unrecognizable. Now that Michel Ancel has retired I think it's for the best to just cancel BG&E2 since there is no way for it live up to the hype even if they decided to make a sequel again. If the devs want to continue working on it they will be better off making it its own game unconnected to BG&E.

[@finlaywhiskard3965]

Is it oobisoft or youbisoft? That is the question.

[@wylerXL]

good news. this will get ported to Nintendo Switch. so the franchise is still alive.

[@semirionu]

Joke's on you, I think about it at least once a month

[@user-xe8hh5wt9o]

how about they make a mobile port

[@TequilaToothpick]

The first game's legacy is fine. It remains one of the greatest games on the PS2.

[@matthewhoutteman4428]

Thought I was watching a nietzche video

[@Medicalguy]

A fantastic game.

[@Picnicl]

If Zelda, the movie Waterworld, and Stars Wars Episode 1 got together. The sequel will be far too different, far too late.

[@392sasuke]

It’s like hunter x hunter, there will never be a conclusion 👀

[@friendlynightmares]

I kind of gave up on whatever the sequel may or will be. It isn't BG&E anymore, it's something entirely different. How could you create an incredible game, with a cliffhanger, and then decide to make a prequel that has nothing to do with the original? It makes no sense to me that they spent what I assume is millions on a game that either 1. Will never see the light of day or 2. Will not be recognizable and will be underwhelming when compared to what already exists

[@thelastgamurai]

If you want something done right turn it into an anime lol

[@TrueInvisible]

when was the last time you thought about "beyond good and evil" me: the only "beyond" game i know, is "beyond 2 souls" ... this will be interesting! by the way, any chance Jade's design inspired the design of "Kya" from Kya dark lineage? both girls have pants with belly shirts, and both look attractive! the more you keep kissing zelda's behind, the more my attention and respect for you.. will fall. you want games to continue and to keep getting sequels? you'll need a radical replacement for all the publishers and IP holders teams, finish them permanently and hire new people! this is what happens when too much power is given to the unworthy of it. studios want to make sequels.. LET THEM. but management is beyond corrupted and only interested in money.. remove them and hire new ones!

[@LabyrinthMike]

I've given up on it. To be honest, the game was enjoyable but I was rather put off by the ending and then the revelation at the end that Pey'j was infected caused me to wonder if I even wanted to play a sequel. The game play in the first proposed sequel looked fantasic. The 2017 teaser just left me totally cold. Apparently you start off as a low level criminal and then work your way up through the crime organization. No thanks. To be honest, there's only question that I want an answer too: Why is it called "Beyond Good and Evil"?

[@djutmose]

Hated the touchy stealth sections. Loved the fighting. Stealth eventually became too much for me. I know that's not a popular opinion.

[@overdev1993]

fighting was a pretty weak point IMO, it's just spamming one button and sometimes evading, but most of the time you stunlock enemies anyways with your attacks

[@meerminman]

I was more hyped about the 2008 trailer then the 2017.

[@maddogfargo3153]

BG&E was not a Zelda clone. The two are not even remotely similar. Your hot take is so off it's ridiculous.

[@SuperSky9]

The first one was VERY grindy. I rolled my eyes seeing the same rooms and puzzles repeated and uninstalled half way with no regrets. ALSO, NO! The New Beyond Good and Evil is not a prequel because it showed Jade as the villain. paydj even recognized its Jade!

[@MrRobot1984]

Started playing it 2 years ago for the first time, got side tracked halfway to play God of War, and haven’t gotten back to it since.

[@fabdvl]

What are you waiting for?

[@dain9001]

One game isnt a ''Franchise'' Also, it's obvious beyond g&e 2 has ben transformed into that new star wars game that has been announcent.

[@philliphaynes8439]

It’s gonna be a Masterpiece when … you know what I mean 😪 💤😴🥱😅😂😆🤣😂🙏🏽