Kameo: Elements of Power is one of the first party launch titles available on the Xbox 360, courtesy of Rare. This is the one that has been in development since the Nintendo 64 days, so we were expecting excellent presentation and gameplay. The opening cinematic alone was visually breathtaking.

The beginning of the game explains that Kameo’f family is being held hostage at the top of the castle, as the elves and trolls are now at battle. You need to morph into different life forms in order to make it there to save them, and the game shows you the strengths of each form Kameo can take on. To make it through the first level, Thorn’s Castle, you are required to use the three different elemental warriors to get through the different situations layed out before you.

Floating hints guide you through the level, showing you new ways to use the powers that are at your disposal. We took about thirty minutes to get through the level, as we neglected to read a few of the hints. When we finally made it to the first boss fight, the game was intuitive enough that we had him down within two minutes. Unfortunately, it was all a teaser to whet your appetite! At the end of the level, Kameo loses all of her elemental warrior powers, and begins her journey to regain those powers, along with saving her family.

As a side note, this game is absolutely gorgeous. We loved how spider blood splashed onto the screen whenever we killed one.

After regaining one of the elemental warriors, Kameo is sent to rescue Halis. In this stage, you get a great look at just what the Xbox 360 can do, as hundreds of trolls appear on screen, with Kameo and a newfound friend running them down on their horses. If you remember the 128 Marios demonstration that was used a few years ago, it is similar to that, but amped up many levels. Seeing that many characters onscreen was a joy.