Every developer must have a mascot game.  Nintendo has Zelda and Mario.  Sony has Sly Cooper and Ratchet & Clank.  And Sega has Sonic.  Now Acclaim can join the ranks of those developers for making one of the most enjoyable multi-console action/adventure games ever released.

Vexx looks predictable.  The lead character (named Vexx) is an elf-like character with special claws that enable him to do many incredible things.  Five minutes into the game, you're hooked.  The camera appears to be a little unstable, but the gameplay is so good that you really don't care.  20 minutes later, the camera doesn't seem so bad anymore.  60 minutes later, you begin to wonder just how much time it took to develop a game this deep.  From the start of each level, it would appear as though there is very little to do or see.  Once again, looks are deceiving.  Every level -- all 9 of them -- is huge.  The back of the box refers to them as "monstrous, non-linear worlds!"  That's almost an understatement.  These worlds aren't just non-linear.  You'll find hidden passageways that lead to several more hidden passageways!  And like any good action/adventure, one wrong move is all you have to make to end it all.  Sure, you have extra lives, but when the game forces you to start all over again, do you really care?  I didn't think so.

Regardless, Vexx is rarely frustrating.  I covered my face a few times, looked at the floor and asked the game why I had to die again, but it was never overwhelmingly difficult.  The vast environments were exactly what I had desired from games like Banjo-Kazooie, Crash Bandicoot, and even Mario Sunshine.  All of those were great games, but not a single one of them felt truly expansive.  Vexx takes the word expansive and expands on it.  Seriously, I may sound like I'm being a little over-praising, but the size of Vexx's levels really blew me away.  They have exquisite designs that have not been seen before.  Navigating them is a joy.  Whether you're climbing to the highest peak, or swimming deep within a watery maze, Vexx is a true, undeniable masterpiece.

Level architecture is extremely important, but Acclaim didn't stop there.  Vexx moves at a smooth, quick, entertaining pace, with only technical issues holding it back.  (The game tends to stutter slightly every now and then when spinning the camera around, among other minor problems.  I've played Vexx for Xbox, and none of these problems appeared to be present in that version.)  When Vexx runs, he truly runs.  (That sounds strange, I know, but there are a few games out there where the characters run so slow that it appears as if they're walking.)

Virtually all of Mario 64's trademark nuances have been applied to Vexx.  Mario had a butt-stomp to complete various tasks, but if timed right, you could use it to prevent Mario from being damaged after a huge fall.  Vexx doesn't have a butt-stomp, but he has an aerial attack move that's very similar, as well as a handy jump-kick, both of which can be used to slow Vexx down while falling.

Vexx has a cool, unique addition to the genre: combos.  Both button-tappers (press the square button multiple times in a row) and jugglers (knock an enemy into the air and jump-kick him repeatedly) are present, and serve an important purpose.  Standard, one-hit attacks earn no more than a few points.  Combos, on the other hand, earn several points, and the points multiple with each consecutive hit.  The more points you earn, the faster your power meter will be filled.  As you may have guessed, the power meter unleashes Vexx's super powers, which enable him run faster and shoot a powerful, enemy-seeking blast.

Those giant claws on Vexx's hands aren't just for attacking though -- they can also be used to climb designated spots on mountains, large rock formations, waterfalls, etc.

Vexx runs on an artificial clock, which quickly changes from day to night and back again.  The change isn't merely aesthetic though.  Visually, it looks very cool, but nighttime is just way too dark.  I brightened the colors on my television and it was still too hard to see everything clearly.  The gameplay changes are nothing major, but are a step up from previous games with a night-to-day clock.  At night, some of the monsters become more difficult.  Their exterior changes slightly, indicating that they have become stronger.  Puzzles also vary in difficulty from day to night, and some areas are only accessible at specific times of the day.

One thing that might turn you off at first is the camera.  It's not perfect, and if you've been playing games with better cameras, such as Splinter Cell or Mario Sunshine, you're going to have to be patient.  It'll take some time to get adjusted to Vexx's camera, but I found that it's best to just leave it alone most of the time.  You'll have to swing it around Vexx in order to see the world around you, but for the most part that isn't necessary, especially when you can just press the circle button to re-center your view.  Please don't let this minor frustration turn you off from the game.  It is so entertaining and so incredibly deep that you will be making a huge mistake if you stop playing just because of the camera.

Sometimes a conclusion is needed for a review, but right now, I think I pretty much said everything that needed to be said.  Vexx is a stellar, high-quality, praise-worthy game that deserves to be enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of gamers.  This is the first third-party action/adventure that has the potential to compete with Mario, Sonic and Ratchet & Clank.  The depth is unprecedented.  Mario and Ratchet have their strengths, and both of those games have excellent level design.  But Vexx goes even further.  This game is an absolute masterpiece.  Buy it for whichever console you own.

Gameplay: 9.1
Nine enormous, wonderful worlds were not enough for the developers of this game.  They had to go and include hundreds of hidden items, numerous hidden passageways and an abundance of challenges, too!  Their hard work has resulted in one of the most entertaining action/adventure games released for all three game consoles.

Graphics: 8 
The PS2 version has some technical issues, and the graphics don't appear to be as crisp (or as refined) as they do on Xbox.  But other than that, Vexx is a really good-looking game.  The animation is fluid, the levels are detailed, and the day-to-night effects are pretty cool.

Sound: 7.5
Vexx has a good, unobtrusive soundtrack, but there aren't enough songs to entertain your ears for the long hours of gameplay you're sure to experience.  The sound effects are a little repetitive, and the voice-overs consist of typical voice-actor jargon.

Difficulty: Medium
Vexx has a good, unobtrusive soundtrack, but there aren't enough songs to entertain your ears for the long hours of gameplay you're sure to experience.  The sound effects are a little repetitive, and the voice-overs consist of typical voice-actor jargon.

Concept: 8.5 
Play it for a few hours and you'll see what I mean.  Vexx does things that have never been done before (in an action/adventure).

Multiplayer: N/A

Overall: 8.9
Vexx is right up there with Crash Bandicoot, Ratchet & Clank, and is superior to every action/adventure available for the Xbox.  Next to Mario Sunshine, this is the best action/adventure GameCube owners can get their hands on.  And it is definitely one of the best PS2 games you can buy.