Kameo: Elements of Power
Platform: Xbox 360
Publisher: Microsoft
Review Type: Touchy
Version: Retail
I just realized that this year's E3 will be the first I've attended that won't feature Kameo: Elements of Power in some way, shape or form. Back in 2001, before Rare was scooped up by Microsoft, the game was on display at the Nintendo booth as a pre-launch GameCube game. It's been so long, that I can hardly remember what I saw. I recall more dinosaur-type creatures back then. Nobody seemed to be paying attention because Rogue Squadron II was looking so sexy.
Then the game popped up as an Xbox title, looking very much as it does today. I spent quite a bit of time with the game in 2003 (it's second year at the Xbox booth) and wrote a preview for Gamespy. What most impressed me with the game then was the deep combat. By hot swapping between elemental warriors, Kameo could tie attacks from each of her elemental warriors into crazy combos. Fighting was so varied and fun, that I felt compelled to go toe-to-toe with every enemy just to see how many varieties of pain you could inflict on them. (Luckily, none of this melee fun was lost in translation from Xbox to 360).
Last year Kameo was featured among the thin smattering of games for the forthcoming Xbox 360. You couldn't play the game. And it was running on an tricked-out Apple computer emulating the 360 architcture. This time they were showing off the game's "overworld" -- a huge battlefield full of trolls and soldiers clashing ala The Lord of the Rings. They demonstrated how Kameo, on horseback, could ride through the fray, bashing enemies with her steed as she made her way from level to level.
After all this time I'm quite surprised at how good the game turned out. I tend to feel that the longer something takes to make, the more opportunities there are to screw it up. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule. But then there's The Phantom Menace -- the ultimate proof that delays make for mundane.
Anyway, Kameo: Elements of Power recreates the high-quality puzzle-centric action platforming that Rare delivered over and over again on the N64. Remember the intricate worlds in Banjo Kazooie? Kameo's levels dwarf those. In a way, the game is a sort of platforming grand guiginol -- taking the design of levels far beyond the call of duty in size, scope and intricacy. Last night, I steered Kameo (and her near complete collection of elemental warriors) to the top of of the Ice Temple. It was a long arduous climb that involved freeing chained cave troll creatures who bash doors and bridges down so that I may advance. My trek lasted to into the wee hours. Around three or four in the morning, I finally reached Queen Thyra -- an giant ice flea with a half-dozen green eyes. The boss battle was a knock down, drag out fight that finally ended in my tag team of 40 Below and Chilla blinding the beast, dooming it to impale itself on one of its own falling stalactites.
Two sticking points come to mind when searching for negatives. The aquatic character Deep Blue is a bitch to control in tight areas, making the water temple more difficult than it should be. Later, though, in a vast, water filled basin he becomes much more fun. Battling against iron-sided submarines and battleships with his Aqua Blaster torpedos almost makes up for his wonky handling.
And then there's the question of detail. I love the way the game looks. Here, somehow the plastic feel of next gen graphics works. The game sometimes takes on the feel of hand-crafted miniatures, like the fsculpted figures in The Nightmare Before Christmas or a Rankin and Bass special. But some areas, especially those that are particulary lush, feel like an overdose of detail. Like the new Star Wars trilogy there's too much damn stuff flying around, swaying in the breeze of whizzing past to really focus on one thing. Could be I'm getting old.
Overall, I'm quite happy with Kameo: Elements of Power (and a bit surprised at how much I had to say about the game). I can't speak yet since I'm still working though all of my Xbox 360 games, but I have a feeling it's going to wind up being my favorite of the system's launch titles.
Recommended
Publisher: Microsoft
Review Type: Touchy
Version: Retail
I just realized that this year's E3 will be the first I've attended that won't feature Kameo: Elements of Power in some way, shape or form. Back in 2001, before Rare was scooped up by Microsoft, the game was on display at the Nintendo booth as a pre-launch GameCube game. It's been so long, that I can hardly remember what I saw. I recall more dinosaur-type creatures back then. Nobody seemed to be paying attention because Rogue Squadron II was looking so sexy.Then the game popped up as an Xbox title, looking very much as it does today. I spent quite a bit of time with the game in 2003 (it's second year at the Xbox booth) and wrote a preview for Gamespy. What most impressed me with the game then was the deep combat. By hot swapping between elemental warriors, Kameo could tie attacks from each of her elemental warriors into crazy combos. Fighting was so varied and fun, that I felt compelled to go toe-to-toe with every enemy just to see how many varieties of pain you could inflict on them. (Luckily, none of this melee fun was lost in translation from Xbox to 360).
Last year Kameo was featured among the thin smattering of games for the forthcoming Xbox 360. You couldn't play the game. And it was running on an tricked-out Apple computer emulating the 360 architcture. This time they were showing off the game's "overworld" -- a huge battlefield full of trolls and soldiers clashing ala The Lord of the Rings. They demonstrated how Kameo, on horseback, could ride through the fray, bashing enemies with her steed as she made her way from level to level.
After all this time I'm quite surprised at how good the game turned out. I tend to feel that the longer something takes to make, the more opportunities there are to screw it up. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule. But then there's The Phantom Menace -- the ultimate proof that delays make for mundane.
Anyway, Kameo: Elements of Power recreates the high-quality puzzle-centric action platforming that Rare delivered over and over again on the N64. Remember the intricate worlds in Banjo Kazooie? Kameo's levels dwarf those. In a way, the game is a sort of platforming grand guiginol -- taking the design of levels far beyond the call of duty in size, scope and intricacy. Last night, I steered Kameo (and her near complete collection of elemental warriors) to the top of of the Ice Temple. It was a long arduous climb that involved freeing chained cave troll creatures who bash doors and bridges down so that I may advance. My trek lasted to into the wee hours. Around three or four in the morning, I finally reached Queen Thyra -- an giant ice flea with a half-dozen green eyes. The boss battle was a knock down, drag out fight that finally ended in my tag team of 40 Below and Chilla blinding the beast, dooming it to impale itself on one of its own falling stalactites.
Two sticking points come to mind when searching for negatives. The aquatic character Deep Blue is a bitch to control in tight areas, making the water temple more difficult than it should be. Later, though, in a vast, water filled basin he becomes much more fun. Battling against iron-sided submarines and battleships with his Aqua Blaster torpedos almost makes up for his wonky handling.
And then there's the question of detail. I love the way the game looks. Here, somehow the plastic feel of next gen graphics works. The game sometimes takes on the feel of hand-crafted miniatures, like the fsculpted figures in The Nightmare Before Christmas or a Rankin and Bass special. But some areas, especially those that are particulary lush, feel like an overdose of detail. Like the new Star Wars trilogy there's too much damn stuff flying around, swaying in the breeze of whizzing past to really focus on one thing. Could be I'm getting old.
Overall, I'm quite happy with Kameo: Elements of Power (and a bit surprised at how much I had to say about the game). I can't speak yet since I'm still working though all of my Xbox 360 games, but I have a feeling it's going to wind up being my favorite of the system's launch titles.
Recommended
1 Comments:
It's not just you. This game is ugly in a very precise, specific way that almost defies illustrative description. And I was an English major.
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