Capcom had a pretty good presentation at E3 this year. Granted, some parts of it weren't as memorable, like the cans of iced coffee they gave out as goody prizes and the fact that Final Fight Streetwise left a few fans unfulfilled. But there was mostly good news, especially with the arrival of Legend of Kay, a platformer that looks to be pure joy for all ages. The game has a distinct flavor to it, like Capcom's Maximo games, but without replacing the darkened atmosphere with something a little brighter and more colorful.

Let's go over the plot real quick. A group of cats have been living in peaceful harmony for years on the island of Peng-Lai, located centrally in the Chinese sea. They live with other animals and have even developed their own culture in the martial arts, using them only when necessary. In the middle of all this is Kay, who's being taught by his master, oddly enough named Master, in these arts. Suddenly, without warning, an army of gorillas strikes fiercely onto the islands, led by the evil Shun. Their attack has left Peng-Lai in ruins, and Master soon issues Kay a quest to find out the truth behind these attacks and to stop Shun from whatever he has planned. This will lead Kay across a variety of islands to explore before eventually landing at Shun's volcanic fortress, ready to do battle. But Shun has come prepared, teaming with the Clan of Rats for a final showdown that will be anything but easy.

One thing you'll notice about Legend of Kay is that it's not your basic platformer. The game features a gameplay system that's rich in diversity and magical attacks, and will allow users to take on Shun and his forces with a combination of moves and weapons. Combos also come into play, which will come in handy on larger enemies with bigger health bars. Back flips, somersaults, double blows, triple blows, and the use of magic will all find their use in the game, putting Kay's much-learned skills to the test. He'll also have access to a number of weapons, including a pair of razor-sharp claws that allow him to swipe at enemies, a hammer that can pound stronger enemies to pieces, and a traditional sword that will allow you to pull off quick attacks. Throwing all these together into one play style is a great idea, and one I'm happy to say is showing promise from the build of the game I checked out.

As far as looks, the game has an appealing visual style that Capcom fans may recognize. It has its similarities to the Maximo games, but it replaces the dark, foreboding levels those games are known for with something more tropical. The animation looks refreshing and the level design seems to have some good points to it, even allowing Kay to ride along animals at some points or slide along an electrical wire as he knocks away enemies that are trying to catch up with him.

Legend of Kay will have the right balance of challenge, making the game easily accessible to kids and yet having the kind of enemies that will put veteran platforming fans to work. Those who make it through the game's offerings will be heartily rewarded by a number of bonuses, including new weapons that Kay can use on his quest, as well as an art gallery, new mini-games, and more. You may even be able to take control of Kay's friend Su Ling, a fellow student of Master who's looking for her own revenge.

I admit, Legend of Kay really surprised me. What could have been another wanna-be platformer is actually offering up something wonderful and awe-inspiring. It could be the combat system, the attention to the visuals and music, or just the mixture of it all that could make this another great franchise for Capcom. Mega Man's got some company. Look for Legend of Kay to arrive later this year.