Many action based RPG's come and go. Some live on to be classics, like The Legend of Zelda. Some go on to be duds, like Azurik. Some get swept under the rug and forgotten like EGG. While some only get recognized by the hardcore gamer like Draken. Nonetheless, you can agree that the genre is crowded in this day and age, and it takes something really special to draw a person's attention to it. Summoner: A Goddess Reborn for the Game Cube is not one of those titles that will live on forever. It's not bad, and could've even been pretty good if certain things were attended to more properly. Unfortunately a poor camera system slipped though the cracks that keep it from being a remembered classic.

This sequel does one-thing well... makes you forget about the first game. You play as Queen Maia and it is your destiny to become the savior, fulfill your prophecy and save humanity... hmmm sounds like I've heard this before. Thankfully there are a lot of twist and turns in this tale from keeping the story mediocre, but I'll leave that to you to uncover for yourself.

Visually the game is fair, especially for the Game Cube. Weak texture quality, numerous similar looking enemies, and camera/clipping problems are the norm. The summon spells do look nice though, giving off great lighting and special FX. Character models are also a little too blocky, and look more like a first generation PS2 title than a 2nd Gen Game Cube title. The most impressive graphical feet are the many various areas that you explore throughout the game. No two areas look alike, which is a nice thing indeed. There also seems to be a weird filtering technique that gives the game a blurry appearance. Overall, the game looks dated, and the camera is a pain, which is thankfully Summoner's biggest problem.

Audio is a bit of a disappointment with the lack of any surround sound capabilities. The voice acting is terrific though, and seems more like acting than reading. The sound FX is average fair, with nothing that really stands out as impressive. The music score is quite nice, though, and fits each environment adequately. While nothing stands out as remarkable in the sounds department, the quality voices keep the story moving along.

Gameplay is an issue that came between the difference of making or breaking this title. The game does play rather well. The whole combination of strategy, RPG, and action elements are pulled off really well. The button layout leaves for easy access to spells, weaponry, and items. You do start off as a weakling, as combinations and fighting seem difficult at first, but is easily fixed once the story progresses and you have multiple players in your party. What hinders the game play a bit is the hideous camera that is panned in too closely and usually leaves you blind for attacks in the back. Which is a shame as the game is a blast to play.

Summoner does one thing exceptionally well in the end. It tells one great story, even though we've heard similar before it. The game will easily last you a good 40 hours, with all the side quests and exploring, which is impressive for the nature of this game. Game Cube owners don't have many Action/RPG's to look upon, but once you've taken on Zelda, and need a new fix, Summoner is better than Darkened Skye. I mean, who cares about the origin of Skittles anyway?