Aged like a fine wine
Timed console exclusives are weird. Kena was originally released back in 2001 on PS5 and was met with general praise. I played it and loved it but was curious why it was only available on one platform. Fast forward to 2024 and Xbox is finally getting this gem, and it is just as good as it was back then. Just three years later. Kena is a unique game in that it comes from a development team that was known for creating animated sequences and not necessarily video games. This is their first effort, and, in that sense, it is extremely impressive. The game has some of the best visuals of any game currently out there and it is quite a bit of fun to play. Underneath all that though is a sneaky difficult, but wonderful adventure that everyone should check out.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a single player action-adventure game that feels like a mix between a traditional adventure with a hint of mob control akin to something like Overlord. This is all wrapped up in a package that looks like a big budget Pixar movie with a sinister undertone of difficulty layered underneath. I hesitate to compare it to something like Dark Souls, as it is much easier to comprehend lore wise and not nearly as challenging, at least on the lower difficulties.
$39.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $39.99
Players take on the role of Kena, who is a young spirit guide who embarks on a journey to help the residents of a village return to their normal lives. Things have been taken over by a dark power, and only Kena can clear the world of this darkness with her abilities as well as the ridiculously adorable companions known as The Rot. The story feels like the aforementioned Pixar movies complete with excellent voice acting and endearing characters. For this being the first game from this studio, it really stands out in both its production values and game play.
When I mentioned how impressive this game is for a first-time effort, it wasn’t just in reference to the visuals. Kena very much feels like a throwback to games from the PS2 era. Not in terms of mechanics, but more in the idea they have this very distinct pacing about them. The game knows when to throw new puzzle designs or combat encounters at the player. Whenever I was about to grow tired of a specific section, it felt like things changed up at the perfect moment. Keeping the entire adventure feeling fresh throughout. This is a very difficult thing to do in games, which makes it even more impressive this was done by a first-time game development studio.
The combat in the game borrows from the usual suspects such as Zelda and the aforementioned Dark Souls. There is a lock-on mechanic with heavy and light attacks. What makes this game unique though is the ability to use the Rots in battle. You can have them distract enemies or activate parts of the environment during combat, which adds a bit of strategy to the mix. Don’t be fooled by the visuals though, Kena is a challenging game, even on normal. Heck, the “easy” mode is no cake walk. The bosses in this game require pattern memorization and skill to get through. Still, it isn’t as daunting as games like Dark Souls, just don’t expect a cake walk.
The rest of the game is built around exploration and puzzle solving. Using the Rots to move objects or open paths is paramount. Kena also has the ability to spark crystals, it is all standard fare. The checkpoint system can leave a little to be desired at times. There were instances where I lost significant progress in some areas due to the lack of checkpoints. The platforming works well, if not a little stiff until I got used to it. The game just delivers a solid experience all around and feels refined from the version I played three years ago on PlayStation 5.
Of course, we can’t talk about Kena without mentioning its superb visual style. Everything about this game is just gorgeous from the character designs to the lush environments. You can see the seams as you progress such as some linear areas and such, but it still delivers a graphical punch that few other games can match. There are various visual modes such as performance and fidelity, but I couldn’t really see a huge difference between the two, so I recommend going with the better frame rate as I usually do. The voice acting is amazing, and I really did love the characters in the game. It still baffles my mind that this is the first game coming from this studio.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits feels like a blast from the past. We simply don’t get a lot of games like this anymore, when they used to be a dime a dozen. The visual fidelity and outstanding production values round out an excellent package, and I think everyone should check this game out. I am happy to see it finally make its way onto other platforms, even after three years I am sure there are some people who haven’t taken the plunge. Don’t skip this one, it is well worth your time and money.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
