Enter GUNVALKYRIE, Sega's third-person platformer/shooter for the Dreamcast that many felt would be the true 3D successor to Nintendo's classic sci-fi adventurer. And not just because of its fetching female protagonist, either.

But, alas, the game's future with Sega's console was not to be. Not too long after the Dreamcast's exit from the industry, Sega took GUNVALKYRIE out to pasture and...decided to port it to the Xbox.

Sega fans were no doubt quite miffed at this development, but it's doubtful that they'll avoid such an enticing game simply out of spite.

GUNVALKYRIE takes place in a parallel universe in a time similar to the 19th Century, where a prodigious scientist by the name of Dr. Hebble lets his talent get away with him, resulting in the creation of an energy that could make or break mankind for the foreseeable future. The government steps in to help a group of scientists establish GUNVALKYRIE, an organization whose mission is to protect and oversee the implementation of these new discoveries. All is peachy until Dr. Hebble winds up missing and hordes of hostile creatures appear in his stead.

At that point, you take control of Kelly, a GUNVALKYRIE agent with a nifty jetpack and plenty of firepower at her disposal. From what's known of the control scheme, it makes use of the analog sticks for movement à la Halo. Also as in Halo, GUNVALKYRIE will thrust you headlong into extended firefights with waves of baddies. If the screenshots and videos we've seen are indicative of the gameplay, expect to be using the jetpack as much as possible, because staying on the ground for too long is akin to suicide.

Visually, the game is shaping up to be quite a feast. GUNVALKYRIE is already showcasing some great texture work and impressive effects. The look and feel of the game is also distinctly Japanese, which could help to dissipate the Xbox's reputation as "the American console."

Toss in eight unique, customizable weapons, and the legions of disenchanted purists craving a next-generation Metroid might get what they want after all.

Now if only Sega could figure out a way to remedy that "Cel-da" debacle....

· · · Soakrates