Baumusu screams "Fua Toko Rutu!"
He leaps into the air and time slows as his blade penetrates a bloodied corpse. The sword is plunged with such force that it pierces deep into the earth.
"Rise of the Kasai," published by Sony Computer Entertainment America and recently released for Playstation 2, brings a fresh dose of virtual violence to the gaming scene.
The single-player combat adventure game, developed by Bottlerocket Entertainment, is the sequel to "The Mark of Kri" released in 2002. Fans of the series will notice some trademark interface features retained for the latest installment.
An innovative 'lock-on' system is one of the key features in the series. Utilizing the right joystick of the DualShock controller, players can control a radar-like sweeping aura to target enemies, assigning each their own button. This allows players to easily aim at a specific enemy in a group simply by pressing the corresponding attack button.
A scouting black bird named Kuzo returns in the sequel, aiding adventurers by flying ahead and allowing players to see through his eyes. The talking bird also narrates the background stories for each mission.
While previously successful features have been brought back, new additions have invigorated the series.
There are now four playable characters separated into two teams and spanning two different time periods. The result is a sequel that takes place both before and after the first game.
The powerful Baumusu is teamed up with the agile Griz to combat evil in the past. Their mission is to stop Rau, the hero from the first game, from being killed. They must be successful since Rau is one of the characters in the other team.
The mighty Rau and his speedy sister Tati make up the second team. They battle in the future on a quest to find out the origins and meaning behind Tati's birthmark, an ancient and powerful symbol with links to black magic.
Apart from going solo, "Rise of the Kasai's" team format allows the gamer to form an artificial posse with a friend.
A downside to this sequel is the extremely limited and awkward camera angles, which have been clumsily reincorporated and pester an otherwise decent series.
Some might compare the 'cartoony' graphics to Blizzard's new game "World of Warcraft." However, the surreal visuals that some may frown upon do not detract from the gaming experience.
Realistic depictions of severed torsos, bodies pinned to walls, and decapitations are rendered well enough to turn any weak stomach. Various combat elements, like the hacking off of an enemy's armor, add to the game's authentic quality.
Minute details such as weapons deflecting off of walls are things rarely found in modern gaming.
Another distinctive feature in "Rise of the Kasai" is unarmed stealth killing. If a player is quiet and quick enough, they can snap the neck of an unsuspecting adversary. This type of kill, made famous by games like "Tenchu: Stealth Assassins," is a welcome break from the brainless hack-and-slash mayhem of other adventure games.
The background music and ambient sounds fit the mood of the game, consisting of a mixture of African tribal drums and traditional Asian flutes and bells.
"Rise of the Kasai" is a well-rounded adventure game. However, detractions like limited camera angles, controversial content, and a surrealistic visual landscape prevent it from reaching its full potential.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
