Kameo: Elements of Power
- May 27, 2005 15:31 PM PST
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Rare puts in a cameo at the GamePro office to show off Kameo: Elements of Power.
During an uncommon visit from U.K. developer Rare, we got a look at the latest version of Kameo: Elements of Power, a third-person action/adventure for the Xbox. Very much in the vein of Rare?s previous work for Nintendo, Kameo is chock full of stunning graphics, thoughtfully designed obstacles, and engaging characters.
Not Merely a Guest Appearance
Kameo is a feisty little pixie that has the power to transform herself into several different ?warrior? creatures as she fights to free her ancestors from a horde of trolls. The warriors unveiled so far are Chilla, an ice gorilla; Pummel Weed, a pugilist plant; Major Ruin, a spiked armadillo; and Deep Blue, a sea monster who is the only warrior capable of going underwater. As the game progresses, Kameo will have as many as 10 warrior forms to choose from, each with its own unique powers, strengths, and vulnerabilities. Warrior abilities must be combined in special ways to progress through levels and defeat bosses.
Keep the Walrus Alive!
The game unfolds over five worlds, which are split into action and adventure sections. During the adventure segment, Kameo explores villages and completes subquests to collect warriors and power-ups. The adventure segments lead into the action ones, which present Kameo with troll enemies and platform-based obstacles. During an action segment, you can switch on the fly between Kameo and three warriors. Connect with enough attacks in a row, and you enter Focus mode, which slows down your enemies and allows you to deal extra damage.
Rare Gems
Kameo?s boss battles tend to be arena brawls with a specific tricky ploy required for victory, though there can be several ways to win. To keep gameplay balanced, warriors are not available during certain boss battles. Likewise, there are multiple paths through levels, so exploration and creative application of warrior abilities have the potential to yield exciting results. Rather than rushing to get Kameo out the door for Christmas, Rare says it?s more concerned with taking the time to ensure a quality product. Sounds like a great way to ring in the new year.
