Combat is as important as exploration here, and as thoughtfully built too. No slouchĭon’t be fooled by the cute creatures and little hats, though: Kena gets deceptively tough. Every new tool, platforming puzzle, or buried treasure brings another delightful surprise that rewards anyone who’s willing to lose themselves in a digital adventure. That speaks to the core strength at play in Kena: it’s always playful. That doesn’t have any gameplay implications, but it sure is a fun diversion. There’s also a whole bunch of tiny hats that can be found via chests and combat challenges, and each Rot can be outfitted with a different one. The Rot themselves serve as a clever, yet functional collectible, as the swarm levels up and gains new abilities when Kena finds enough creatures. There’s a lot of optional items to find throughout the world, but each one is actually worth tracking down for different reasons. Another vintage part of Kena’s DNA is its collect-a-thon setup. Every time I discovered a new interaction, I’d squeal with joy - both because I was delighted by how many creative ways the game could stretch a simple system and because they’re just so darn cute. They can lift objects to reveal collectibles, lug rocks around that create new platforms, or form into a water-like swarm that can break through thorny roadblocks. The Rot infuse Kena’s traditional adventure systems with its most inventive ideas. Kena can collect and control adorable black creatures called Rot, who swarm and squeak around her like Spirited Away’s soot sprites. Its most delightful idea comes from a surprising game, though: Pikmin. Exploring in Kena: Bridge of Spirits always feels satisfying, because each tool has a clear purpose that’s easy to keep track of there’s no mechanical fluff to slow the pace down. Her arrows allow her to zip onto flowers like a hookshot, she can scale walls a la Uncharted, and a mid-game spirit bomb magically rebuilds broken structures to create the game’s most clever platforming puzzles. Kena doesn’t have as many tools as Link, but each one is equally crucial to navigation. It’s a classic video game premise that is somehow nostalgic to every era, but each bit of it is shined up until it sparkles.Įxploring in Kena: Bridge of Spirits always feels satisfying, because each tool has a clear purpose that’s easy to keep track of. Players tackle well-designed platforming sections, hunt down relics that take them to each corner of a sprawling map, and find a whole bunch of collectible secrets scattered in every nook and cranny. ![]() Many of its structural beats are familiar, but in a warm, comforting way. The general framework feels timeless Kena is a staff-wielding hero who sets out to find a mountain shrine in a poisoned world that’s been abandoned by everyone, except monsters. It’s bursting with inspirations that build upon decades of video game history. ![]() ![]() Those were certainly warranted, but it doesn’t paint a full picture of the game. When it first debuted, Kena: Bridge of Spirits drew some early comparisons to The Legend of Zelda series. That’s all topped off with a poignant, Miyazaki-like story told through deep worldbuilding and cinema-quality cutscenes. Whether it’s riffing on Pikmin with its inventive creature-controlling mechanics or serving up deceptively challenging battles, it excels at everything it does. Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an exquisitely crafted adventure that fuses classic and modern game design concepts with ease. ![]() It’s no surprise that it’s gotten a massive spotlight during Sony’s State of Play streams and this year’s Tribeca Festival this is the kind of statement debut that demands attention. It pulls elements from Zelda, Uncharted, Dark Souls, and plenty more heavy hitters above its weight class to deliver a knockout blow to its genre. Kena: Bridge of Spirits - State of Play Trailer | PS5, PS4ĭeveloped by Ember Lab, Kena: Bridge of Spirits bursts onto PS4, PS5, and PC via the Epic Games Store with the confidence of a first-party Sony game.
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