Kameo: Elements of Power first caught my eye a few E3s ago when it was a very pretty (somewhat standard) adventure game on Nintendo GameCube. Then developer Rare cashed out for some major green to head over to Microsoft's camp, and Kameo became a very pretty (somewhat standard) adventure game on Xbox. Unfortunately, not one to just sit around, the green heroine made another move, this time for good, to the Xbox 360. And guess what? It's a very pretty (somewhat standard) adventure game.

See what I did there?

I wanted to really love Kameo: Elements of Power. It's the kind of game that's right up my alley, especially having been a big fan of previous Rare adventure games (even Donkey Kong 64 -- that game had me going bananas, hoho, groan). And don't get me wrong because it is a fun time, but for a game that's been in development for years and years and for being a launch title on what is now the most powerful home console of the moment, I expected more.

But really, that's my own problem. Let's lighten up the mood a bit with what Kameo does right. Every adventure game has to have a quirk, and Kameo's is pretty cool. You have the ability to transform into multiple creatures that have their own unique abilities. In fact, the game starts off with Kameo having a few transformations under her belt, including Chilla (a yeti-like ice beast), Pummleweed (a Tyson-esque boxer, sans biting), and Major Ruin (an armadillo with a penchant for rolling).

This is where Kameo really shines, because each of these transformations brings a new gameplay element. For example, when you get the ability to turn into Deep Blue, you can explore the deep seas (well, lakes) with dolphin-like agility and un-dolphin-like torpedos. Rubble, a pile of rocks, allows you to throw said pile of rocks at enemies, while Ash, looking like the tenderhearted dragon from the Shrek movies, is all about the pyro.

While playing the game, the vast majority of the fun came from acquiring new abilities and testing them out. Using the face buttons to call between three of your stabled transformations, you use the shoulder buttons to attack. This results in a method of attack that is pretty unique, as far as adventure games go, but it ends up working well. One of the downfalls is that it's a bit unwieldy to bring up transformations that aren't assigned to the face buttons, but you can handle it.