Kameo: Elements of Power for Xbox 360 Reviews by Gamers

Rare sure did take it's sweet time with Kameo. The game has been notoriously under development for years and it shows in the way it plays like a game from the 90's. As far as platformers go, this is an enjoyable time. I finished it in about 13 hours. I like how easy it was and that you never had to wonder what to do. As Kameo, and elemental elf, you can change into many strange creatures, all with unique powers to help survive the level. I will keep the review as short as the game and just say that it was an average experience.

Kameo is a difficult game to review because it's so great in some areas and so faulty in others. The graphics are vibrant and colorful, and even now in 2007 look genuinely impressive. It has the feel of an early showcase game, really out there to show you what the 360 is capable of without necessarily going all out to be a satisfying and engaging gameplay experience.

The object of Kameo is to save your family through the use of creatures who you find, and can then willfully transform into. Each creature has different powers and abilities, as is to be expected, and each can be used to solve different kinds of usually simplistic puzzles.

The pacing, combat, and level design is vaguely comparable to a game like Zelda or Okami, but nowhere near that level. Every battle and every room in every dungeon is a puzzle of some sort. The problem is that these puzzles are either too easy or just completely illogical. With up to 10 creatures to transform into, you're often left juggling around with them trying to figure out which one needs to be used, when realistically there are 5 or 6 that seem like pretty logical options. Fortunately you can always consult an in-game guide who takes all challenge away from the game by telling you exactly what you need to do.

It should also be noted that this game is short. After six dungeons and about 13 hours, the game is over. That's not much for this genre of game. It's over too quickly and without much of a challenge along the way. It might be an okay rental, but not likely a game one would want to buy.