Sony’s 2000 brawler The Mark of Kri achieved cult status by getting three things right—an innovative analog-stick fighting system, a pack of intricate puzzles, and a wild visual style that blends Disney charm with copious gore. Kri fans can expect more of all three in Kasai, its sequel. “When we originally designed The Mark of Kri, we were excited by the [graphical] juxtaposition,” explains Producer Jay Beard. “The reaction to this look was overwhelmingly positive, causing us to look at the sequel with a little more confidence in terms of what we could get away with.”
As Rise of the Kasai proves, what Beard and his team at BottleRocket gets away with is another fine mix of action and stealth gameplay. Rau, the silent, lumbering hero of the original, is back...well, sort of. Actually, just like God of War’s Kratos, our hero meets his untimely end at the game’s outset. You’ll still play as Rau in flashback levels, but much of the game stars his friends and family (see sidebar). Each of the four playable characters has several melee weapons, as well as a special “remote view” ability—Rau can use his bird Kuzo to scout out ahead, while Tati has the rather unalluring ability to look through the eyes of corpses lying on the road.
With all these husky fighters at your disposal, Kasai rewards teamwork. Each stage is tackled with two characters; you control one directly while helping your computer-controlled partner take on enemies. (Sadly, Sony scrapped a planned online mode.) Knowing your mate’s personality will be just as important as knowing his abilities: “You could be attempting to sneak around,” explains Beard, “when Tati comes charging in, ax drawn, blows the scenario, and gets you into a fight. So when playing as Rau, part of the gameplay is to anticipate Tati’s poor judgment and play accordingly.”
This cooperative aspect adds a new angle to a game already laden with originality. Like Kri before it, Kasai isn’t just a bash-em-up or a Renaissance-fair version of Splinter Cell—it’s a game that combines bits from all these genres to create something new. “Every level responds differently to how you want to play it,” says Beard. “It isn’t about a type of combat; it’s about all aspects of combat.”
Platform: PlayStation 2
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: BottleRocket
Release: March 2005
Meet the Family
Rau’s brought the family over for the sequel. Be nice.
Tati
Rau’s little sister (still a child in the last game) is now a 20-year-old ball of pissed-off, knife-wielding girl power. Rock on.
Baumusu
Rau and Tati’s adoptive father, Baumusu is among the last of the Rakus, an ancient order of gruff, smelly warriors.
Griz
This calm Zen-master type (the leader of the Rakus) is surprisingly spry for such a crabby old dude. Cialis, maybe?P
Copyright © 2005 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Electronic Gaming Monthly.
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