Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom

     If Disney and Team Ico had a love child, I'd imagine it would come out looking something like Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom.  The thief "Tepeu" (not his real name) stumbles upon an imprisoned Majin (a nature guardian) Teotl, and once the Majin is freed, you embark on a journey to free the land of an oily blackness infecting and corrupting the inhabitants.

     Through the lush lands, you use a buddy system to combo and level up the characters.  While Tepeu doesn't benefit a whole lot, the Majin gathers his trapped powers from fruits hidden around the land, and over the course of the game sprouts more and more vegetation upon his massive frame.  The system sounds frustrating, but actually works well with one exception- when you want to run away the Majin tends to ignore it and keep attacking enemies.  Otherwise all the other actions are quite well handled.  Command the Majin to kneel so you can use him to jump to a higher spot?  Done.  Want him to clear a pathway one of his regained powers?  No problem.  He'll even revive you if the creatures of darkness kill you.  

     I think the visuals of the 2D animation sequences, the great ruined landscape, and the general puzzle solving are what keep this game entertaining.  It isn't spectacular, but together the 3 things make something just magical enough to enjoy despite the predictable story.  By the end of the game I was thoroughly liking spending time in this world filled with talking animals and would recommend you give it a try.