Darkened Skye, an odd title to say the least, is brought to us by our good friend at Simon And Schuster (the people behind the Outlaw series of games as well as numerous PC games). At first, this game seemed a little odd, nay, too odd for it’s own good. That was before any reading about it had been done. After reading all kinds of info, this is becoming one of my more highly anticipated titles. Now, this sounds very strange, but the game is apparently based on all those “Taste The Rainbow” commercials for Skittles. Don’t ask me how they did it, I didn’t design the game, but that alone is a concept in and of itself.

The tagline reads as “Magic Evil Fantasy...and some pretty good one-liners!” I’m sorry, but when you include magic, evil, and fantasy into one game then add good one-liners, I have to have it. Being heralded as Zelda without the childish appeal, it seems as though this could be the next best thing. As a third person action/adventure, it seems somewhat reminiscent of Vivendi Universal’s “Enclave,” only, well, a good game.

To squander the childishness of Nintendo’s image, this is yet another teen/Mature title that is aimed at the market of 15-26 years old. From screenshots we’ve seen, it looks to be quite the thing.

See! Even dwarves and imps get to meet beautiful women.

With over 5 different worlds full of lush environments, Darkened Skye provides quite the variance in terrain and culture. Screens have shown a wooded area, a green and hilly area, and what appears to be a dungeon or cave.

The basic storyline: You play as Skye Lynlora, a Shepard girl who discovers the world of magic and must fight off some impending darkness. Skye becomes very rancorous and jaded about being a videogame character rather than a real person, and having a side kick named Draak who doesn’t do anything, but she still marches on. This game is supposed to have dragons, fire-walking, and shadow vision. You embark on a quest to fight the evil lord Necroth and collect the five prisms that will save the world, as well as end up on the floor laughing from the humor that has been included in the game (supposedly).

If this involves the words “Ten Dollar,” I quit here and now.

Wait! Stop the Presses. I’ve found out what the relevance is to Skittles brand candy…you collect small colored objects that combine to make magic spells, and get this, the names of the small colored things are…Skittles. Isn’t that funny? No? Ok, I’ll stop now.

If Simon and Schuster’s work on Outlaw Golf for Xbox was any indication of what’s to come, I say bring it! I want more!

Darkened Skye is available for purchase later this month along for Nintendo Gamecube and PC. Also available from Simon and Schuster this month is a port of Outlaw Golf.

Alright…maybe just one more screen shot.

Is it just me, or does it look like he has exposed pork loin for a hand?

Kevin McGinnis