Geek for Less – Beyond Good & Evil

Being a broke geek, I have taken it upon myself to go out and find the cheapest things possible (by that I mean anything under $25) which will give you the oh so respected “Geek Cred”. Whether it is online, in-store, or something I found in the garbage. I’ll bring it back to you (slightly used, but sanitized of course).

This week I bring you a Muti-Platform classic. Beyond Good & Evil.

I found it in the “Previously Owned” bin at EBGames for $7.99 for the PS2. I had heard some minor rumblings about the game but never “YOU MUST PLAY THIS GAME!” Well now that it has been said. “YOU MUST PLAY THIS GAME!” The storyline to this game is an amazingly joyous ride. It takes you on an epic journey with Jade and her Uncle Pey’j as they try to find the truth about the Gestapo-like Alpha Sections and there connection to the Domz , an alien race attacking there planet. The game has its serious and emotional moments but it also throws lots of humor into the mix as well. Some parts had me literally laughing out loud. For being a game that came out in late 2003, the graphics are a thing of beauty. They really help tell the story and you can see the emotion on the characters faces. The gameplay is simple enough as the game does most of it for you (ex: Jumps, Hanging etc.) It’s a platform style game with lots of puzzle solving and sneaking around. During the sneaking portions of the game, you sneak around the environments and take pictures of evil doings by the Domz and Alpha Sections.There are some fighting elements as well, which mostly involve button mashing. There are boss fights and like most games there is a specific strategy used in taking him or it down.

I only have one really minor complaint about the game and that is the run-time. It’s about a 5-6 hour game (that’s being generous). I was having so much fun with the game that I didn’t want it to end. I guess if you want it to run longer you can play all the side missions which include anything from racing to taking pictures of all the species on the planet (which have never been my cup of tea). These side quests help you collect “credits” to purchase items through out the game. The game also has another way for you to purchase rarer items. You collect pearls while you make your way through the game and they can be used for buying all the important items which progress the story along. You can get them through killing bosses, completing puzzles, races or even taking enough pictures of the species on the planet.

So if you are looking for a grand adventure, have a free weekend and have $8 to spare. This is definitely a must have. You won’t regret it. Also, with the just announced sequel coming out now is the perfect time to find it on the cheap. You will have a blast.

Verdict: Buy

-The Pennyless Geek