Xbox 360 UK launch review

Kameo

This platform-adventurer is a bit of an odd one. The gameplay feels like a cross between Mario and Zelda, but it comes off bizarrely well. The (slightly-obscure) premise is this: you are Kameo, and elf who can absorb the spirits of certain beasts and then transform into them. Each beast has its own unique features, and so the characteristics of these beasts can be used to solve puzzles, win battles etc.

Here's an example: you need to reach a tower which is, unfortunately, on the other side of a large chasm. As Kameo, there's no way you can get there. So, what you must do is transform into your tortoise-shell-beast, and roll quickly off the edge of the chasm, having built up some major rolling speed. As you near the other side of the chasm, you can change mid-air into your ice-monster-beast, and use his claws to grab onto the side of the tower (handily covered in ice) and haul yourself up it. See? The game consequently involves Zelda-esque 'How on earth do I complete this challenge?' bits, as well as Mario-esque 'I need to line up this jump perfectly' elements.

The game is heavily story and cut-scene drive and whilst this can add to the immersion, it does also get a little boring after a while. There are definite 'oh for God's sake, who cares about the ancient ring / prophecy / family / beast...' The voice acting is also less than awesome, with Kameo sounding less like an Elf princess and more like a spoilt teenage brat. With a So-Cal accent. Meh.



Undoubtedly, the game's strength is its sublime graphics, which we touched on earlier. Some of the mapping effects are equisite, with realistic stone and wood rendered with parallax mapping. The grass is the best we've ever seen in a game, swaying and parting as you run through it, and looking damn good when the camera is up close.

Unfortunately, the appeal begins to wane towards the end, and the gameplay - whilst stunning at times, with huge pitched battles taking place without so much as a drop below 60FPS - gets a bit samey. If you can stick with it, you'll enjoy yourself, and Kameo is definitely a top title. However, there's a little bit of lost potential in there.