When XBox “stole” Rare from Nintendo, I thought it would kill the big N. After all, Rare produced some of the most engaging third person platformers on that system – and perfected the console FPS back when those things were so clunky.

With their prior console, Microsoft had already grabbed the hardcore gamer – and had laid a solid foundation for an excellent online environment. So, the Rare acquisition looked like another trump card. They could continue to deliver on the Halo and Gears fronts – while catering to other gamers who enjoy getting lost in a grand adventure.

That’s me. A longtime Zelda fan. And Kameo looked and played like a riff on that beloved Nintendo classic – while bringing some new elements to the table. It was my most anticipated launch title – and an experience I was glad to play through.

So, sad that Microsoft paid through the nose and never really knew how to properly present the Rare games. In retrospect, they should have used Rare as their prestige production house – much like Hollywood studios do with their indie labels. Twentieth Century Fox may produce X-Men and rake in the cash; but they have Fox Searchlight for flicks like ’127 Hours’ which brings them the awards and recognition. With Halo padding the coffers, I think Microsoft could have let Rare breathe and add an additional dimension to their pretty fine catalog of entertainment.

Oh well. As long as guys like this land elsewhere, and the expansion of digital distribution allows for creative types to continue dreaming, we’ll be OK but it is sad that so many beloved genres have fallen from grace.

Very sad my friend. The variety of and scope of games is geting narrower with every year that passes

MS is blowing it by not offering games that are attractive to girls the way Kameo. My Daughter LOVES Kameo. Get with it MS and realize there is a market for girls,

Kameo was RARE’s last good, creative, awesome adventure game imo-I’ve just beaten it by picking it up on sale. *sniffle* I do like the stylization, bit of a weird jump to have had her so realistic for this but alas-now nothing is happening at all. DAMN YOU MICROSOFT FOR FORCING THEM TO FOCUS ON KINECT SPORRRTS!