Kameo: Elements of Power is a video game launched for the Microsoft Xbox 360 video game console and developed by Rare beginning circa 2001 for the GameCube.
Plot
When Theena the elf queen gives her daughter Kameo the power of self transformation, her sister Kalus grows jealous, and releases the ancient curse which held the Evil Troll King Thorn captive. Unleashing his troll army upon the world, Thorn captures the three Ancestors and the seven of the ten Elemental warriors. Guided by the Mystic, Kameo must rescue them all, and ultimately defeat Thorn.
Warriors
Kameo's main objective during the game is the 10 Elemental warriors, which she must collect to progress through the game. At the beginning Kameo has the power of 3 elemental warriors, but these are lost due to an attack from the game's villain Thorn. Kameo must defeat shadow trolls to regain the elemental warriors, although the ancestors will also reward her with a warrior. Also available throughout the game are elemental fruit, which can be either found, or awarded to the player for helping the villagers solve problems. These can then be used to purchase upgrades for the warriors. The concept of playing a shapechanger that collects more and more shapes was first used in the old Shadowcaster PC game.
The names of the warriors are as follows:
- Pummelweed - A plant warrior that packs a mean punch. Close combat fighter that uses jabs and uppercuts. The first elemental warrior you encounter.
- Snare - Another plant warrior. Snare has powerful jaws and has the ability to bite, swallow, or spit out enemies, as well as spit toxic bile.
- Rubble - Simply a pile of rocks. Though he may seem useless at first glance, this warrior proves to be essential on Kameo's quests. Rubble is able to shoot his stone limbs at enemies.
- Major Ruin - An armadillo. He is able to roll up into his shell and plough through the enemy at high speed, sometimes picking up the occasional 'hitch-hiker'.
- Ash - A powerful dragon often underestimated by his enemies. Although he is relitively small for a dragon, he can easily turn an imposing Troll into a mobile candle.
- Thermite - A small insect that carries a large volcano-like cauldron on his back. He is capable of unleashing several devastating attacks out of this cauldron.
- Chilla - An ice elemental warrior that resembles a yeti. He has multiple ice spikes protruding from his back which he can detach amd throw at enemies. Chilla is also able to climb ice walls and grab small enemies and use them as clubs.
- 40 Below - A large, legless ice warrior that travels around atop a snowball. 40 Below has an icy breath and can create a large, spiky snowball that he can use for a variety of attacks.
- Flex - A water elemental warrior with four tentacles that has the ability to stretch its body and grab and attack enemies from a distance. And whereas most people would use Deep Blue to go through water, not many think to use Flex to go over it.
- Deep Blue - A water elemental warrior resembling an octopus and a jellyfish who is most at home underwater. A weak-out-of-water creature that should mainly be used for underwater fights and fire creatures. He is able to swim at fast speeds and can shoot torpedoes underwater, as well as shoot water and oil when on land. Combine oil and fire to create a better flamethrower than Ash.
- Kameo also gains the companionship of a horse and a Raptor in the Badlands.
Development History
Kameo was originally slated for the Nintendo GameCube, and was set to be one of Rare's flagship titles for the system, along with Star Fox Adventures and Donkey Kong Racing. However, when Microsoft announced its purchase of Rare in late 2002, Kameo's future was put in question. It was decided that work would continue on the Xbox, and a planned release date of 2003 was given. After several revamps, causing repeated delays, Kameo was put on indefinite hold in late 2004. Following this, rumours began that the game was once again undergoing a platform change, this time from the Xbox to the Xbox 360, where it was officially, the first game for the system.
The launch of the game brought with it the sale of an official soundtrack featuring 27 musical tracks from the game.