Kameo: Elements of Power

Kameo's been in development for a while but, unlike a fine wine, this game hasn't gotten better with time.

It's been a long and hard road to release for Kameo: Elements of Power. Originally slated for the GameCube, and then shuffled on to the Xbox and later the Xbox 360, Rare's much-hyped adventure game is finally here and ready to play. But, unlike fine wine, this game hasn't gotten better with time.

Eye Candy At Its Sweetest
Kameo: Elements of Power has a lot of things going for it. For one, it has some of the best visuals you'll see in any Xbox 360 launch title. Environments and character models are incredibly detailed and well-animated, lending the game a tremendous amount of personality. The more expansive levels will also usually throw in hundreds of on-screen enemies, the results of which are jaw-dropping. While some other games out there for launch look good, Kameo: Elements of Power is perhaps the first game that truly looks great.

Beauty And The Beasts
As you play through the game, Kameo will gain the ability to call on a number of special element-based animals, such as the icicle-throwing Chilla (the gorilla) and the fire-breathing Ash (the dragon). Each animal has its own unique attacks and powers (as well as embarrassing and juvenile name); it's just a shame that most them prove only useful when solving puzzles.The combat engine in the game is woefully repetitive and at times unresponsive, turning even routine enemy encounters into a frustrating mess. Granted, the puzzle-solving is pretty spot-on, but I literally cringed whenever I had to break out of that mold and turn my attention to actual fighting.

Disappointingly, the storyline of the game is also quite hit and miss. It seems that Kameo's sister has awakened an evil Troll king, but good luck getting that from the game's inane and sometimes confusing cutscenes, including perhaps the worst "game over" sequence ever put in a game. With so much of the game looking absolutely stunning, it's a crying shame that the parts of the game that actually tell the story seem so amateurish and rushed.

Just like a supermodel, Kameo: Elements of Power is all about outward appearances. The visuals are stunning, but the weak and repetitive game-play, the vapid cutscenes, and the groan-inducing attempts at humor make this game perhaps one of the most disappointing of the Xbox 360 launch.

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