Beyond Good & Evil

Beyond Good & Evil is a 2003 action-adventure developed at Ubisoft under director Michel Ancel, following Jade, an investigative photographer and martial artist who uncovers a planetary conspiracy while protecting orphans on the embattled mining world of Hillys.

Gameplay mixes exploration, stealth, staff-based combat, hovercraft and later spacecraft travel, and photography, as Jade documents alien species for a science mission and secretly gathers photographic evidence to expose a military cover-up. Its likeable cast, notably Jade's boisterous pig-like uncle Pey'j and the soldier Double H, a distinctive lived-in world, an evocative soundtrack, and heartfelt themes of truth and propaganda gave it a personality that stood apart from its peers.

A commercial disappointment at launch, it earned lasting critical acclaim and a devoted following that turned it into a cult favorite and kept demand alive for a long-teased prequel. It was later remastered in high definition for several platforms, making this well-regarded gem far easier to play today.