DESCRIPTION

A sequel to 2002's unusual combat adventure The Mark of Kri, The Rise of the Kasai incorporates the innovative interface that helped distinguish the earlier game, while adding new elements to extend the narrative and gameplay possibilities beyond those of its predecessor. Rise of the Kasai story plays out along two separate time lines: one set about a decade before the events of the original game, and one that takes place about a decade after. A total of four playable characters become available; two in each period.

At the beginning of Rise of the Kasai, players hear a report that Rau, the hero of the first adventure, has fallen in battle. The game then allows them to follow Rau's story, both through recent times, which lead to this fateful conclusion, and also through earlier years, when past heroes explored the mysterious curse that would ultimately lead Rau to his destiny. Levels in the later period feature Rau and his sister Tati, while earlier parts of the story involve two new characters, Griz and Baumusu.

The unique targeting interface introduced in Mark of Kri, that allowed players to attack enemies to the side or even behind their hero, is revisited in Rise of the Kasai, but the new character types suggest new uses for the combat system. The tough, burly Baumusu fights much like Rau, but the nimble Tati and her earlier-era counterpart Griz offer great speed and agility, at the expense of strength and endurance. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide