The latest action/adventure game on the Xbox comes your way in the form of Enclave, a single player slaugtherfest in a medieval setting: Some time at the beginning of recorded history, the world was torn asunder by powerful magic. A great rift opened in the ground and separated the good from the bad, the Enclave from the Outlanders. As the story opens, that rift is beginning to close and you're asked to help defend the city of Celenheim from the approaching horde.

It's not the most original story to find its way to an RPG, but the setting does have its moments. You'll find the standards of fantasy with which most of us are familiar: Orcs, goblins, knights, wizards, etc. One new entry is the unfortunately named Snotling, but maybe I overlooked them in other works. (I'm sure if I had encountered a Snotling before, I would remember. But other than family events filled with little nieces and nephews the term doesn't ring a bell.)

There are two sides to any story, and in Enclave there are two paths for you to walk: The Light and the Dark. Unfortunately, you must complete the Light campaign in order to unlock the Dark and play as an evil character, so you'll begin the game as a standard fighter. The controls follow the same basic setup as most Xbox games: Use the left thumbstick for movement, the right to change your view and the right trigger to attack. You can play the game from first or third person perspectives and switch between the two at will, with no annoying camera problems. Halo veterans will feel right at home.

But that's where the comfort ends, because the combat system is disappointing. The attempt at creating a deep fighting system falls quite flat: You can change the direction of your sword swings by moving the left thumbstick in different directions while attacking. But this is difficult to pull off without also moving your character in undesired directions during a fight. And once you learn to make it work you realize that the results are quite meaningless. You'll do just as well with the standard attack and the occasional standard combo, and you can leave the left thumbstick alone. The only control change offered is the reversal of the X and Y axes, so you have to play the hand you're dealt.

The first levels seem intended as training opportunities and start you off with only a few options to keep in mind. Things get more interesting as you progress, however, and you're given the opportunity to buy new equipment before each mission, assuming you found enough gold during the last one. Unlike most RPGs, where your equipment can be sold back to the shopkeeper later and for a lower price, you can trade in weapons and equipment at any time without penalty. So when you outgrow that small buckler and want some real armor, you get all your money back for your used shield.

Before each mission you can also choose a different character. As you progress you'll unlock distinct classes, like a huntress (who is far more skilled with a bow than your fighter), a druid and a wizard. There are twelve classes in all and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some of the missions are obviously intended to take advantage of certain class skills. You won't know much about the mission until you play it, so in some cases you'll want to start over once you get killed enough times to figure out that you chose the wrong character for the job.

The missions themselves can be quite long and difficult. The learning curve here is very, very high and impatient players, or those with a short attention span, probably won't enjoy the process of completing levels. The complete lack of mid-level saving opportunities doesn't help matters, and it's probably to blame for making the levels feel longer than they are. It will take even the most skilled player a few tries to finish a level without dying. The flip side is that Enclave offers an excellent challenge; getting through each level is an accomplishment. They're hard, but fun. This isn't a flash in the gamer's pan - it will take anyone a long time to complete. You'll become intimately familiar with the controls, the world and nuances of the game if you're willing to put in the time. Did I mention that it's hard?

The graphics in Enclave are first rate, at first. The scenery is jawdroppingly lifelike and both your character and the baddies move fluidly and realistically. The menus are gorgeous, the cut scenes solid. There are just a few problems. First is the water, which looks great until your character gets in and you realize that the water doesn't react to his movements at all. The bottom half of the character's body is shaded the same color as the water, but that's about it. No splashing here. Secondly, if you kill a baddie on stairs, a ledge or other uneven terrain, the body will jut out from wherever he was standing. Even David Blaine would have a hard time suspending a dead Snotling in midair. These are the details that separate great graphics from the merely good, and they certainly don't help you stay immersed in the experience. Superficially superb, but detail deficient.

The sound effects are pretty good, but nothing legendary. Characters and opponents make lots of grunting noises during a fight, and the clash of steel on steel is spot on. I found the music to be good background. It didn't get on my nerves over time like most in-game music.

Despite some mixed messages about this game before its release, it's just you against the aforementioned hordes. There is no cooperative play and no opportunity to use these hard-won skills on your friends. In the end, I can't escape the feeling that the lack of a multiplayer version is a damn shame. The maps, weapons, equipment and character options set the perfect stage for a great multiplayer experience. Maybe next time.

Those with the patience and interest in developing the skills required to play it and finish it will love Enclave. Those looking for a casual, short session won't be able to return this one fast enough. The bottom line is that it's a good game, if you're willing to make a project out of it. It could have been a long-time keeper had it included multiplayer options like those found in other RPGs and first person shooters. As it stands, though, it's a good game that stands above others in its genre, but just barely.