Overall Rating

Mark of Kri (PS2) - 3Some games get all the hype. Others are stuck with second-tier status and are quietly released when no one is looking -- often because they're not so good. When "The Mark of Kri" ended up at "Extended Play" a few weeks ago, we were ready to dismiss it as yet another poor 3D beat 'em up. In this episode of "Extended Play" we look at a game that has generated almost no buzz, but has all the makings of a hit.

"The Mark of Kri" tells the story of Rau, a barbarian warrior whose thirst for adventure eventually gets him and his world into all sorts of hot water. Marks of Kri are symbols of an ancient, evil spell. Whoever collects them all can bring much pain and suffering unto the land. Using his cunning and several very large weapons, Rau must make his way through several long levels to stop this from happening. The story's not much, but, let's face it, with a game like this you want action, and there's plenty of action in this game.

Disney was never like this
The first thing you'll notice about "The Mark of Kri" is its gutsy, original style. It has an animated look, but instead of jumping on the cel-shaded bandwagon, the developers of "Kri" opted for simple animation with detailed textures and a sumptuous color palette. The result is a game that looks like it came from a major animation studio. The fluid movement in this game is no less impressive. Every move Rau makes is done with a heroic flourish. And the battles that ensue look so remarkably choreographed, you often forget that you're the one controlling the action.

A thinking man's hack 'n' slash
On the surface, "Kri" plays like any other 3D action game, with Rau running from place to place, slicing people up with his big sword. But upon further inspection you'll find an elegant combat system that takes a page from "Zelda's" lock-on system and adds several improvements.

You use the right analog stick to lock on to multiple enemies. Each enemy is assigned a button on the control pad. When you press a button, Rau launches an attack at the corresponding bad guy. This greatly frees up your control in battle and lets you concentrate on attacking and blocking effectively. And it's quite a sight to see Rau lunging to and fro at several opponents.

Mark of Kri (PS2) - 2If you decide to lock on to only one or two opponents, the other buttons on your control pad are then used to execute special combo moves. Pulling them off is tricky and requires excellent timing, but the result is similar to a "Mortal Kombat"-style finishing move. Thus combat becomes a balancing act of deciding when to take on several enemies at once or when to chance it with fewer lock-ons and hopefully pull off a combo before you get overwhelmed. It's good stuff and keeps the combat interesting throughout the game.

Stealth
But combat is only part of the equation. Because Rau is horribly outnumbered through most of the game, it's often helpful to sneak up on your enemy and take care of things quietly. Rau's raven spirit guide will aid you in this task by flying ahead to scout out the level. Sneaking about is tricky but not impossible. By taking the time to plan your attack, you should be able to get through many encounters with minimal opposition. And here's where "The Mark of Kri" shows its true brilliance. This is a game that rewards patience and good planning, but doesn't kill you if you fail.

Unlike so many other games where failing at a stealth attempt just resets the level so you can try again, "Kri" follows the lessons of "Metal Gear Solid" and the "Thief" games. If you get caught, you're going to have to fight your way out. It won't be easy, but it's certainly possible. And since the game is all about combat, a failed attempt at stealth isn't really such a bad thing. However, it should be noted that the stealth option is particularly satisfying due in no small part to the number of different ways Rau can take down a foe. Sneak up behind an enemy and you'll be treated to all kinds of visceral delights.

So that's why it's rated 'M'
This game is violent -- over-the-top, Conanesque violent, but violent nonetheless. During combat there's much bloodletting, an occasional severed limb, and, if a combo is achieved, a rather brutal stabbing ritual that boarders of overkill. We're not making any moral judgments here, but "The Mark of Kri" is rated "M" and that's an accurate rating. Don't let the animated style fool you.

Mark of Kri (PS2) - 1Trouble in paradise
As mentioned earlier, the animation is astounding, but this occasionally comes at the price of control. It's easy for Rau to get stuck on corners, and nice touches, such as when he puts away his blade before climbing a ladder, quickly become frustrating in the heat of battle. And while the lock-on combat system alleviates most camera problems, there are still times when it will get stuck at a strange angle, leaving you wondering where you are. Also, load times are extremely long and even a seemingly simple thing, such as accessing the extras from within the game, takes about 20 seconds.

This is just a guess, but it feels like there was originally much more to this game. The levels themselves are long, but there really aren't that many, and an experienced player should be able to plow through this game in about seven hours. This is about average for an action game of this style, but it still feels like there are huge chunks of plot missing.

Nevertheless, "The Mark of Kri" is a real achievement. We wonder why Sony buried this title. It's easy to get into, action packed, and quite simply a lot of fun to play. Whatever the developer removed from this title's original design we hope to see in the sequel. And with a game this good there's bound to be a sequel.