The Rare Pedigree

Rare®; the name alone possesses a magical quality for gamers the world 'round. GoldenEye, Banjo Kazooie, Jet Force Gemini, Perfect Dark, Killer Instinct, Battletoads, Blast Corps, Conker: Live and Reloaded, the titles go on like a wish list of critically acclaimed and fan loved games. While these games may run the gamut of genres, from the combo crazy 2-D fighting of Killer Instinct, to the sublime environmental platforming of Banjo Kazooie, and all the way to the godfather of console first-person shooter (FPS) games, GoldenEye, two elements rise above to tie all that Rare does together, brilliant and innovative game design married to a polish so bright you'd swear they wiped the whole game down with a diaper towel before sending it off to the manufacturer.

How does that pedigree relate to Kameo: Elements of Power though? Here's how:

Wow. Just…wow.

One Developer, All Talents
Unlike the larger companies that may develop and publish a myriad of games from different genres, Rare's talent remains in-house. It's not spread about over several smaller companies, so when a game like Kameo decides to implement gameplay mechanics from all manner of different genres, you know they have the in-house talent to get it done. Rare isn't a platform developer, a racing developer, or an FPS developer; it's a "whatever the game requires" developer. Like its direct predecessor in the Rare timeline (Conker: Live and Reloaded), Kameo: Elements of Power draws on the skills the entire company possesses, not jut a specialist team capable of one style of game.

The Artistic Touch
From the vast colorful vistas of Banjo Kazooie to the industrial chic of Perfect Dark's moody interior levels, Rare doesn't slap together its worlds; it crafts and molds them to fit a singular vision, with the end product resulting in a co-habitation of technical supremacy and artistic beauty. Kameo: Elements of Power boasts such rich, stylized worlds that you're liable to get smacked upside the head by an unseen enemy as you gaze at the game's unbelievable panoramas. The key here is Rare's willingness to go beyond the goal of "photorealism" and provide the gamer with its own unique artistic vision, but don't take our word for it, the in-game screenshots speak for themselves.

Next-gen effects.

That Extra Polish
What is that indefinable element that nudges a game from good to great? Outstanding design and gameplay are surely at the fore, but it's the lavish polish that coats the presentation and play mechanics that gives great games that last boost to stand head shoulders above the rest. Imagine Halo 2 with a shoddy frame rate, Madden NFL 06 filled with clipping problems and choppy animation, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords with awkward dialogue. The core of those games may have still been in place, but you can't achieve greatness with a rough around the edges product, and few companies if any can claim to have achieved the same level of outstanding polish that Rare provides. From gamers to industry insiders, their reputation for nailing down every last detail is fanatical. It's an old joke that Rare seldom ships on time (after-all, both Kameo: Elements of Power and Perfect Dark Zero were originally conceived as Xbox®, not Xbox 360™ titles), but that's because their absolute need for excellence dictates that the game ships when it's ready, and only when it's ready.

Some Rare beauty.

From what we know of Kameo—how it plays, how it presents itself, and its design philosophy—we can comfortably say that the much-lauded company's golden touch can be felt through every texture, puzzle, storyline, and gameplay mechanic that it boasts. Those that have known and loved Rare throughout their history will smile broadly with recognition when they see they're in top form with Kameo. Those that are experiencing Rare for the first time are in for a treat and the beginning stages of a beautiful relationship with this hallowed developer. Enjoy.

By Alex McLain