Stunning graphics

Graphically, Kameo is almost faultless. At any given moment, even during fight scenes your eyes will wander to every corner of screen and marvel at the visual goodness on offer. It’s clear that the designers were passionate about using the power of the Xbox 360 to its full glory. From the fiery reds of dragons, to the icy blues of sky, the colour and detail of Kameo’s design is truly outstanding; you’ll feel cold in the game’s snow level and warm in the jungle level. Surfaces reflect the change from night to day and glimmer accordingly, whilst the density of the environments stimulate your brain and provide stunning backdrops. Even with huge battles, boasting over 1000 trolls, the explosions are mind-blowingly well executed. I can’t remember experiencing any problems with slow down.

Click for larger image

Morphing into the various characters emphasises RARE’s attention to detail; you’ll see yourself in the belly of a dragon or curled up inside an armadillo. Despite these stunning graphics there are a few of the game’s original graphics that slip in from time to time. Water in Kameo is particularly lifeless and some of the grasslands are repetitive and blocky. These minor flaws are easily noticeable when the rest of the graphics are so good.

The sound of Kameo comes from an original score written for the game, it reacts at the appropriate times and remains subtle at others. It’s a lesson in how to write music at the correct tempo, it gains the player’s attention at the correct time and builds up at appropriately tense times.

The Xbox 360 game also features multiplayer co-op play offline. The online co-op feature is due to be released shortly.

Kameo: Elements of Power is a great game to show off to those people who have not yet seen the power of the Xbox 360. It dazzles and charms with its stunning visuals, but can frustrate with dodgy camera angles, repetitive gameplay and abundance of button pressing. Some will love it, others will despise it. It’s a great effort for one of the launch games, but doesn’t provide the complete package. What is the complete package? I’ll tell you when I find it.

Pros
Graphically stunning
Well paced
Great end of level bosses
Cool characters

Cons
Frustrating camera angles
Repetitive
Too short

Kameo: Elements of Power...Good effort, could do better, see me after class...

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Steven,

Think you must be getting old and losing your sense of co-ordination if you can't get the characters moving in the right direction. I'm not sure how much of the hidden features of the game you've gone into but i can assure you there are some challenging parts to the game, (the 4 spirit gems which affect the creatures in different ways are most fun to get)

I'm suprised you also viewed it as repetitive. No matter how many trolls i fight with pummelweed to get slow mo, do i get bored. Its so much fun watching trolls fly left right and centre with brutal/carnage bonuses flying all over the place.

I'm also suprised there is no touching on the Award system for the specific grades you get for the replayable parts that can be used on co-op.

The upgrades also provide a nice touch especially early on where you can decide which characters you want to upgrade.

I still think one of my favourite bits is the water scenes killing the boats and submarines of the trolls.

The sum up of the end is quite correct, it is too short, but i've replayed the battles to try and get my grade up that many times both single and co-op that i'm well chuffed with the longevitity of the game. But i'm not sure that i felt that through the review.

TiG

Just got to say - im a 35 year old bloke, and me and my 3 year old son are thouroughly enjoying this game.

It's amazing :D

Luke loves gettting on the horse and running around knocking the trolls flying.

His excitement when we get a new “friend” (elemental sprite) is brilliant to watch.

TiG
Steven,

Think you must be getting old and losing your sense of co-ordination if you can't get the characters moving in the right direction. I'm not sure how much of the hidden features of the game you've gone into but i can assure you there are some challenging parts to the game, (the 4 spirit gems which affect the creatures in different ways are most fun to get)

I'm suprised you also viewed it as repetitive. No matter how many trolls i fight with pummelweed to get slow mo, do i get bored. Its so much fun watching trolls fly left right and centre with brutal/carnage bonuses flying all over the place.

I'm also suprised there is no touching on the Award system for the specific grades you get for the replayable parts that can be used on co-op.

The upgrades also provide a nice touch especially early on where you can decide which characters you want to upgrade.

I still think one of my favourite bits is the water scenes killing the boats and submarines of the trolls.

The sum up of the end is quite correct, it is too short, but i've replayed the battles to try and get my grade up that many times both single and co-op that i'm well chuffed with the longevitity of the game. But i'm not sure that i felt that through the review.

TiG

I agree about the old age co-ordination thing! Perhaps it is, but this is clearly how I saw it.

It was driving me up the wall for ages. It took me over 45 minutes to get passed a small section on the very first level, and it's not as though I don't play games. I'd previously passed the controller to my brother, who's an avid gamer (he nearly threw the controller through the T.V), and my girlfriend who gave up after 5 minutes. It does get easier but that armadillio needs shooting.

Attempting to shoot the armadillio into a tunnel that he only just fits through is so frustrating. The gorilla moves with the grace of Fatima Whitbread after a few pints, it's clunky, turns slowly and the aim function is dreadful.

You can replay battles for higher grades, but I'd personally have no inclination to repeat a level over and over again to improve my grade on any game. However it certainly was a point worth mentioning, and something people should know about.

Have to admit I haven't played co-op but I'll be giving it a go online.

I can understand how certain people would enjoy the game from beginning to end, I've spoke to a few people who absolutely love it, but the game is repetitive for me and ,despite stunning visuals, lacks immersion.

Fair point on the award system! I may well add something about it.

I've took your points on board, agree with some, disagree with others, and certainly appreciate the feedback.:)

To be honest, I've played the game and i fully agree with Steven, and i had the exact same problem on the first level. To be honest, i found alot of the game to be repetitive aswell.

I'm only 17 so old age isnt gonna be a problem for me ;)