Of the four 360 games I received, one of my favorites was Kameo: Elements of Power. (PGR 3 is my top pick, but that's for another review.) This surprised me as much as I'm sure it's going to surprise you.

I had absolutely zero interest in the game through E3 and even leading up to the day I received a copy. I sort of saw it as another Bubsy: Too cute for its own good and not nearly enough play elements to keep me interested. Boy was I wrong.

The basic premise of the game is that you're a fairy of sorts that has the ability to morph into 10 different elemental warriors. Each warrior has special abilities and different types of attacks and you have to use them to solve puzzles and take down the bad guys.

The first thing I noticed about the game is that it is just stunningly beautiful. Microsoft is obviously using this game to show off the muscle-power of their 360. The game uses a sort of detailed animation that ends up almost looking like you're controlling very detailed action figures.

The backgrounds in the game are teeming with action from explosions and flying dragons to floating bits of dust or pollen. The overall effect is a feeling that you are more a part of the world than just playing around in front of an animated backdrop.

Another spectacular bit of graphic ingenuity allows you to see Kameo morph into your warrior of choice in a split-second, in the middle of a battle. I'm not talking about some mini cut-scene, you can actually morph as you play. It's as easy as jumping or attacking.

The controls taking a little getting used to, but once you master them they turn out to be the best way to use Kameo's unique abilities in combat.

To morph into a creature you push one of the colored buttons, a diagram floating in the top right corner shows you which button turns you into what. Attacking and special moves are controlled by the triggers or trigger combinations.

For example, if you're playing as Kameo pulling the right trigger lets you jump, pulling the left lets you hover and pulling both lets you do a flip kick. But if you are playing as the living rose plant Pummel Weed then pulling the right trigger lets deliver a right hook, pulling the left lets you pop someone with your left and pulling both lets you drop into the ground. In this mode you can then pull a trigger to deliver an upper cut or other special attack. Other warriors, like the armadillo-like Major Ruin, use the triggers to both attack and move in special ways.

As you play Kameo you can upgrade attacks and warriors, giving the game a bit of a Gauntlet feel to it at times.

And don't think this is just a game of graphics and button mashing, there quite an intricate plot involved, which I won't go into. I'd hate to ruin the experience for you. I'll just say it centers around Kameo's elemental powers.

Instead of just relying on awesome graphics and the morphing gimmick to churn out another action adventure game, Rare has managed to create a game that blends the best elements of action, adventure, puzzler and even platformer into one great experience.

I'd give this game 4 out of 5 stars.

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