Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dawn of Destiny [Xbox]

With collectible card games more popular than ever, one can't blame Konami for milking chief cash cow Yu-Gi-Oh! as if the teat could never run dry. Unfortunately, the brand's first foray onto the Xbox won't be remembered as the franchise at its best. The lackluster visuals, an unsophisticated setup, and tepid pacing render it more curiosity than keepsake, even for series die-hards.

Forget deep plotlines: you won't get a whit of story here. This makes play blissfully -- some might say erroneously -- simple. Participants begin by choosing an AI opponent from amongst several nondescript adversaries, and then square off against their chosen rival in turn-based duels. Defeat lesser personalities, and you'll earn a shot at battling star characters, with appearances by notable individuals such as Seto Kaiba and Yami Yugi eventually guaranteed. But in sparing audiences a convoluted script, the game also relieves them of any personal connection to the action depicted on-screen.

There's little in combat worth getting excited about either. Battle, draw and main phases occur, monsters are summoned, spells are called forth, and all with barely any showmanship. Playfields simply hang in the air atop crude backgrounds. Melee scenarios and occasional text blurbs from your adversary are the only developments that spice up the proceedings, but there are no definable conflicts here. Creatures engage in mortal combat solely as pop-up 3D pictures with insipid attack animations attached.

The exercise isn't entirely without merit. Utilizing the latest real-world ruleset and incorporating over 1000 cards (including several exclusives), The Dawn of Destiny offers hobbyists a great opportunity to perfect their technique. Owners can enjoy multiple game variants as well, including new "triple duel" options and support for multiplayer match-ups via system link. No provisions exist for Xbox Live compatibility, which is a glaring omission.

Casual gamers aren't the product's target market -- that much is apparent from the outset. The fact no tutorial is offered in any form speaks volumes about the designers' mindset, as the fruit of their labor is obviously only enjoyable by the hardest of the hardcore. Jump into the mix without knowing the difference between an Anti Raigeki and an Ancient Tree of Enlightenment, and you're in trouble. Perseverance is rewarded, as fundamental game mechanics largely revolve around basic card strength, but the title's learning curve will throw most for a loop. If you can't tell a Leogun from Little D, just give up now.

The payoffs for those who extensively know Yu-Gi-Oh! are minor at best, though. Deck-builder utilities and a library that lets you view cards seized via conquest will hold your attention longer than the actual skirmishes. Audio-visual quality is so unremarkable and the battle system so gruelingly apathetic that it's almost masochistic to stick with it for a prolonged period.

The Dawn of Destiny is a game with miniscule presentation, little fun factor, and barely functional support for live humans. True, as a glorified database, the package performs minor functions like shuffling and keeping track of life points that players would otherwise be physically saddled with. But who besides someone that eats, sleeps, and dreams Yu-Gi-Oh! would really care?

Considering that anime buffs will find handheld cousins The Eternal Duelist Soul and World Championship 2004 more gripping, spending cash on The Dawn of Destiny would be unwise. If you absolutely must have the only Xbox-based Yu-Gi-Oh! experience, wait until the game hits bargain bins. Trust us, it won't take long.