Kena: Bridge of Spirits

'Kena: Bridge Of Spirits (2021)' is an action-platformer in which you play as Kena, a young spirit guide who helps restless spirits move onto the spirit realm where they can rest in peace. It was developed and self-published by a small team known as Ember Lab and it runs using the Unreal Engine 4. It's incredibly impressive for an indie title, with stunning visuals reminiscent of an actual animated feature and several ambitious elements such as a fairly larger interconnected world presented with very few loading screens. In a way, the level design is similar to that of 'Jak And Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (2001)', with several distinct locations spinning off from a central hub area to create the illusion of a single seamless world.(with the help of hidden loading areas). The whole title feels like something from the PS2 era in terms of its design, actually. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. It does mean that the controls are slightly clunky, the environment is peppered with more-obvious-than-usual invisible walls and the gameplay feels just a bit old fashioned. The latter isn't really a problem; whether you like that style of game or not is entirely subjective. For me, the throwback design is a bit of a breath of fresh air and it carries with it quite a bit of nostalgia. With a wholesome aesthetic, some beautiful music and a surprisingly moving story, the piece crafts its own distinct atmosphere that I find really charming. The gameplay is surpassingly enjoyable despite its occasional flaws, leading to a really entertaining experience overall. The combat is relatively layered, even though it is simple when compared to similar contemporary titles, and it can be quite challenging at times. The boss fights, in particular, can be surprisingly hard; the title undergoes a distinct difficulty spike during these battles, which is a bit of a shame but doesn't ruin the overall experience. The exploration is satisfying, primarily because the collectibles aren't frustrating to find and generally come with their own little challenges. In many ways, the joy of finding the collectibles is that they provide the opportunity for more time playing the game. Most of them have tangible gameplay consequences and are tied into the story, too (even though some of them are entirely aesthetic and, thus, less rewarding to find). The platforming is simple but effective, making exploration easy and enjoyable, and the puzzles strike an almost perfect in terms of their difficulty. Overall, this is a satisfyingly wholesome experience. It has a few flaws and can be somewhat frustrating on occasion, but it's mostly just really pleasant to play (which, in itself, is rather refreshing). It's a blast. 8/10.

Kena is a game that you cannot miss. It's amazing that Epic has given these smaller studios the tools to enable their true potential giving them the chance to get under the same spotlight as bigger studios. More and more of these indie studios are popping up out of the shadows and it's great to see.

Kena is a game that always makes you feel happy and you can't help but smile whilst playing it. Everything feels really smooth and well thought out. The mechanics are really good, the story is really good and all the characters work really with the game aswell. The voice actors all did a great job. You can tell when playing a game when all the people involved were pationate and enjoyed what they were working on and that is clear with Kena.

I would keep a close eye on this studio and wait to see what else they got in store for us!

To talk about this beautiful experience, first I had to tell the whole anecdote:

Everything took place a year ago, during a time when all of us have watched Youtubers top lists of 2021 new up coming games; and then all of sudden, a certain game caught my attention (Kena Bridge of Spirits).

It's graphic, and it's small gameplay (back then, since it was just a clip from a trailer), that's what I was attracted of it.

Today I finished it, and honestly to those of you who want to play a new fantasy-action game; this one is for you.

Kena bridge of spirits. This is game that that is most notably a CGI masterpiece. I feel like that what attracts most people to this game. No surprise, the graphis and world design are the strongest aspects of this game. It's a beautiful game to look at and it's fun to explore to appreciate these details.

At a glance, the combat seems pretty simple. The upgrage system in't all that and you only have one and a half weapons. But the simplicity goes away as you progress through the game, encounter different and harder enemies, and are encouraged to make use of the upgrades you have and are also forced to learn the combat, get used to your abilities, and actually strategize to get through tough bosses. Though I still wouldn't play this game exclusively for the combat.

Gameplay is nicely balanced between combat, exploration and puzzles. The puzzles have such a nintendo vibe, making use of you skills and platforming to solve them.

Kena is a game that is like a feel good cgi ghibli experience that's not ni no kuni. Combat and puzzles are nothing. Rots are what it's all about. I will go through the the dangerous quest of those Challege chests just to find them new hats. These little pikmin guys can be useful in combat and puzzles, but I honestly just want them to look cute, which they are.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an enchanting action-adventure game that takes you through an emotional journey of helping lost spirits find peace. As a spirit guide named Kena, you embark on a mission to heal a village overtaken by dark forces. The game's story is bittersweet and emotionally charged, revolving around the spirits' struggles to move on from their past. While Kena is the protagonist, her backstory is largely left in the shadows, with only vague hints scattered throughout the narrative. Still, the hauntingly beautiful world and its themes of redemption make for a captivating experience.

The gameplay is straightforward yet elegantly designed. Players engage in exploration, puzzle-solving, combat, and various upgrades to unlock new abilities and progress through the story. The game is a blend of action and adventure, reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda series, with its focus on skill progression and boss battles.

Combat is simple in concept but challenging in execution. You have a basic set of attacks: light, heavy, and ranged. However, even on normal difficulty, the fights can be brutally difficult. The real challenge comes from managing your health since there's no way to heal mid-combat, making it very difficult to avoid taking damage. The rots, little spirit companions that follow Kena, are key to easing the difficulty. They not only help in combat but also in solving puzzles and navigating the world. But of course, the game takes a twist where you may feel overly dependent on them, making their absence more noticeable.

Arguably the best aspect of Kena: Bridge of Spirits are the rots. These little creatures are irresistibly adorable, and they play an essential role in both gameplay and emotional attachment in the game. They assist in various tasks, such as carrying items, creating platforms, or triggering mechanisms for puzzles. Other than that, they can be customized with cute hats and masks, adding a personal touch. Their role in combat grows as you unlock new abilities for them, and they truly become a vital part of your journey.

Overall, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a stunning game that's perfect for newcomers like me. Its design is absolutely breathtaking. While the puzzles are challenging and the combat may not be the strongest aspect, the story delivers powerful themes of heartache, growth, and redemption. I would recommend this game to anyone looking for something fun yet challenging to play. 7/10.