Good technology showcase for XBOX launch; mediocre game

User Rating: 6 | Azurik: Rise of Perathia XBOX
Azurik the elemental master is responsible for protecting the six discs: water, fire, earth, lightning, life, and death. A fellow elemental master turns evil and steals the discs. You job is to go recollect the pieces of each disc and return the full disc to the tower. A is a third person, over the shoulder view, action game. You have a gauge for each of 4 elements. Applying combinations of these elements gives your staff that power (i.e. water + fire gives steam). Certain powers are requires to open certain locked doors. Each creature also has an elemental power and finding the right opposite can make it easier to beat that type of creature. Scattered throughout the realm are gems of the 4 elements. Collecting 100 of one type will extend the relative gauge. Also throughout are 100 obsidians. For every ten obsidians, you can return to the tower for a new power up: extend life gauge, extra staff power, etc. This is a decent adventure game with a LOT of exploring. I would have been lost without the walkthrough. The environments are quite large but very nicely detailed.

+ Graphical detail
+ Large, lush environments
+ Elemental combinations
- Yawn