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Review: 'Kameo' makes impressive Xbox 360 debutBy Marc Saltzman  In "Kameo: Elements of Power" you play a young female elf princess. RELATED
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSIf Microsoft Game Studios' "Kameo: Elements of Power" is any indication, the new Microsoft Xbox 360 video game console has an incredibly bright future. In this fantasy action-adventure game, you take on the role of Kameo, a young female elf princess who sets off on a journey to rescue her family from the evil Thorn, the self-appointed king of the Trolls. It appears Kameo's wicked sister, Kalus, who is envious of her younger sibling's popularity, is also in cahoots with Thorn. Kameo has the ability to morph into various warriors. This shape-shifting skill comes in handy as she will face many enemies and obstacles on her quest, each requiring a different strategy. While scaling a castle wall, for example, Kameo must change into Major Ruin, an armadillo-like animal who can turn into a ball to roll up ramps and access small tunnels. Then, Kameo turns into a giant yeti named Chilla who can shoot icicles to activate a button atop an iron gate in order to raise it. But when the gate only raises a few inches, Kameo must then morph into Pummel Weed, a small plant creature that can crawl under such areas. While Kameo can only morph into four of her alter egos at the beginning of the game, six more become unlocked later, including a fiery dragon and a monster made out of rock. Once you become comfortable with this game-play mechanic, Kameo will need to change into new warriors quickly. In one instance, Kameo rolls up a ramp at high speed as Major Ruin and then while in midair over a chasm, she changes into Chilla who can latch onto an ice wall with his pick to begin climbing to safety. You also can upgrade the abilities for each of the Warriors. Along with fighting enemies and solving puzzles, you also must collect various items, including hearts, ruins, elixirs, fruits and crystals, and you may purchase items in shops, as well. Side quests add some length to the game, and a cooperative option, playable via split-screen on the same television, lets two gamers tackle missions together, but the co-op mode isn't terribly exciting. Kameo is played from a third-person perspective so you will always see the protagonist on the screen. The left analog stick on the Xbox 360 controller moves Kameo around while pushing the right analog stick rotates the camera. The game is surprisingly easy to control. This colorful fantasy adventure is a visual masterpiece -- like an animated Lord of the Rings -- especially when viewed on an HDTV. Each of the characters is richly detailed and the environments are huge with lots of action, such as hundreds of dragons flying across the skies or battlefields with thousands of dueling Orcs, each with its artificial intelligence. The Dolby Digital music soundtrack, sound effects and convincing voice talent also add to the game's high production values and epic feel. Gamers interested in purchasing the Xbox 360 should definitely pick up the Teen-rated Kameo: Elements of Power for its fun and engrossing 10 hours of game play and stunningly beautiful visuals. 
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