From One Generation to the Next

Watching a next-generation console come into existence is always fun: Gazing upon screenshots, reading previews, playing a demo at the store … it's exciting stuff. Most of the hubbub concerns the gulf between the current generation and the next, and exactly what new sights, sounds, and experiences await us.

There's perhaps no better way to examine those differences than turning a discerning eye to a game that once was headed for Xbox® but is now bound for the new Xbox 360™. Kameo: Elements of Power cannot be disputed as a towering example of what Xbox 360 is capable of, so let us now examine just how substantial an effect this next-generation system has had on the blockbuster title from Rare.

Looking peaceful in the Enchanted Kingdom.

Console Standards
One of the more amazing shifts the Xbox 360 brings is the number of features it either demands of developers or offers itself as standards. For example, all games must:

• Run in widescreen (16x9) for TVs that support it.
• Run in at least 720 Progressive Scan (high-definition) for TVs that support it.
• Provide music play-lists as a standard, so you can play any song you've ripped to your Xbox 360 at any time.
• Provide access to your friends list at any time, provided you're signed in to Xbox Live® (which every game supports). You can even invite people on your friends list for a voice chat at any time; no need to be playing the same game (or any game), just so long as your Xbox 360 is turned on and you're both signed into Xbox Live.
• Offer Achievements. These are set goals for you to aspire to while playing, and as you earn achievements, they are tracked (on your console and Xbox Live) and will add to your Gamescore on your gamer profile. Kameo: Elements of Power provides 50 different opportunities for achievements.

These represent some of the more high-profile standards the Xbox 360 offers, which of course means you'll see all of them represented in Kameo.

Sheer Detail
Graphically, there can be little doubt of the influence the Xbox 360 provides, but let us take a look at a couple of screenshots and highlight a few points of interest.

Like a painting.

Gaze on this tranquil image from the Enchanted Kingdom location in Kameo. Despite its vibrancy and artistry, there are a couple of things to note:

• The lush grass and individual flowers are not just textures as we've seen in the past. They all move individually as Kameo comes into contact with them. They sway in the wind and are gently pressed down as Kameo's wings flutter over them.
• Note the waterfall in the background. Though hard to see in a still shot, you can get a sense of its translucence, and you can notice how the appearance of the rock underneath seems to warp and change as the water flows over it.

Rubble relaxing.

This image offers a clear view of just how detailed the world is. When running through, it's easy to just stop and gaze around and examine all the minute touches that make it not only look good, but seem tangible. Notice the lighting and bits of reflection on the spiny rocks that make up Rubble, and look a bit closer and see Kameo herself inside the creature she's controlling.

Take a look at the individual fissures and scoring on the rocky ground and walls, and the definition of the environments further in the background; no fog, no fuzziness, not lack of definition. It's clear and sharp, and assures us that there will be no need for "pop in" as you get closer.

A typical scene.

What you see right there are actually hundreds and hundreds of individual particles floating independently; they're swirling about, filtering through the light, and generally creating a superb atmosphere. Notice also the appropriate shadowing on Kameo as she's backlit by the streaming sunshine. Outstanding.

The Sheer Amount
Beyond texture mapping, exquisite lighting, and just plain good artistry, Kameo: Elements of Power also demonstrates just how much pure action can be displayed on screen at once, all moving and acting at once while still maintaining absolutely rock solid performance. Example number one:

A lot to take in.

We've got dozens of dragons flying about, trolls on the ground scurrying about with their dynamic AI. There's smoke billowing, lava flowing, and giant rocks on fire that appear to be in the background, but quickly come to fore, gleaming with particle effects. The sheer amount of independent visual brilliance on screen at once is stupefying.

If you thought the last screen was impressive, just realize that every troll here is an independent creature, moving and attacking as they see fit. The scope of this Battlefield area is enormous and the literally hundreds of trolls you can barrel your way through is astounding. If you thought that screen showed a lot, take a look at this:

All individual entities.

Kameo: Elements of Power is well on its way to becoming a premier example of what we can expect from this coming generation, of what we can expect from the Xbox 360. Most astounding though is the knowledge that this is just the beginning, just the tip of proverbial iceberg. Think about that.

Article by Alex McLain