Invizimals is a game for younger players, it has a "7+ rating" and the keenness with which they approach searching for creatures around the house is great fun to watch. Parents can liven up the rather non-descript quests, usually just "look for this beast" with "where would an Icelion live, what's cold in the house?" But, it's the combat they'll really be into, alas not introduced by Don King who could have added so much more than the basic "Fight!" you get. Imagine it; "He's the crab with the grab! The crustacean with engines on, It's Jetcrab!!!!"
Fighting starts simply enough using the face buttons, animals have three different level of attack, basic, quick and strong. Some animals are invulnerable or less resistant to particular types of attack, which is where the strategy comes in. Things soon get a little more complicated by the arrival of "vectors", elemental attacks inspired by fire, water and earth-style weapons like earthquakes, whomping trees or water spouts.
These are initially gifted to you by bearded boffin Professor Dawson played by a suitably enthusiastic BRIAN BLESSED. Later on, you can collect "sparks", generated in the heat of battle, by pointing the centre of the PSP at them as they burst off a struck opponent. They are used to buy more essentials like health and stamina boosts. These are your prime statistics during combat, health is your lifebar, while stamina is drained at various rates by using different strength attacks and by deploying the defensive shield.
When the battle heats up, this is where the game can fall down, just a little, but enough to dent the score. Trying to manage the three or four elements at once can confuse the younger player and sometimes the excitement has them lose camera control, which really throws them, and the game, out of sync.